Castle-an-Dinas (St. Columb) Hillfort View all content for Castle-an-Dinas (St. Columb)

Thi is another of those sites in Cornwall that I have past many times but never bothered to explore.....and another that after you make the effort you ask yourself why you have never done it before. Castle-an-Dinas is LARGE! Easy to reach just off the A30...which will shortly be closer to it when the new road opens...there is a handy carpark so that even those who do not want to walk far can access the site. The whole place is full of history, not just the Iron Age fortress but also the 20th century wolfram mine buildings that flank the car park. But it is the prehistory that will entice those who read this... Fingerposts now guide you around the castle to preserve banks that have been badly eroded over the years by those who head straight for the top. Follow the posts, its worth it, you get to see far more of the site...in fact I would reccommend walking around in circles until you have done them all.... Once in the centre of the fort you will notice at least two mounds, all that remain of earlier tumuli, and a pond and eveidence of excavation, from a later period. I am sure the views on a good day are fantastic, it was a little hazy when I was there....good excuse to return! Was this THE Iron Age castle of Cornwall?, I think it's the biggest...and being central between both coasts I think it must be. The hill fort at St Dennis is just across Goss Moor where evidence of Bronze Age tin streaming has been found. Beyond St Dennis the China Clay waste tips have obliterated any other prehistory many years ago but to the north the Nine maidens and Pawton Quoit are not far away.... But I waffle....make a detour when heading west..climb to the top and take in Cornwall...its worth it.

Posted by Mr Hamhead 10th April 2007ce

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