On Saturday I walked up to Painswick Beacon and hillfort from the village of Painswick. I was surprised to find that much of the walk up towards the beacon is a golf course. Even more surprised when reaching the top, to find the golf course is also inside the ramparts of the hillfort.
I understand the hillfort to be a scheduled ancient monument, is a golf course on one unusual I wonder?
Terrific views, now inspired to explore some of the long barrows in Gloucestershire.
Cleaved Head, near Macduff, Aberdeenshire, is sited behind the 13th hole at the local golf course. I would say the 13th is at the entrance to the fort. One of the ditches is actually on the course and used as an obstruction!
Therfield Heath in Hertfordshire as well...... endless fun with that one. And to think all the nutters deeply engrossed in knocking a little ball around a Neolithic/Bronze Age barrow cemetery thought I was the odd one.......
Sadly golf courses + ancient monuments is a Gloucestershire obsession. Cleeve Cloud Hillfort also has a golf course right next to it, and Norn's Tump long barrow is right in the middle of a golf course.
There are some great barrows though, enjoy! I especially recommend West Tump, it's a wonderful spot in the woods.
Yeah, West Tump's a serious head's site, I must admit.