thesweetcheat

Pits on the slopes above the Punchbowl, possibly marking ancient flint mining activity.

The Devil’s Punchbowl from the Ridgeway.

The old straight track – The Ridgeway on Warren Down, Oxfordshire. This section connects the large Iron Age sites at Uffington and Segsbury Camp.

The fort from the NE.

Looking across Pwll Deri towards distant St David’s Head and Carn Llidi, from the top of the outcrop that forms the extremity of the fort interior.

Looking down on the ramparts from the outcrop at the tip of the headland. The circular parchmark may indicate buried round house foundations. Garn Fawr hillfort looms above.

Fallen slab lining the passage through the inner rampart.

The well-defined inner bank and ditch.

Looking across the space between the outer and inner ramparts.

Outer rampart.

The fort from the cliff path above. From here it’s easy to see how little usable space there is between the inner rampart (topped with purple) and the towering rock outcrop that tips the headland.

The fort dominates the landscape around Strumble Head. Seen from the NW.

Southern rampart.

Eastern inner rampart.

A more modern drystone wall bisects the enclosure (running l-r across the picture), presumably built from stone taken from the ramparts.

Western rampart.

The fort ramparts join several rugged outcrops to form the sides and corners of an irregular enclosure. This is the highest of the outcrops. At 213m OD above relatively low-lying surroundings, it enjoys terrific views over a huge distance.

To the north, a patchwork of irregular fields stretches to Strumble Head. The field system is likely to be based on a prehistoric layout, little altered over the millennia.

The western ramparts. St David’s Head and Carn Llidi can be seen about 15 miles away along the coastline.

Looking approx east-ish to the neighbouring hillfort of Garn Fechan. The North Pembrokeshire coast stretches away to Cemmaes Head on the left, Carningli and the Preselis rise over on the right.

The next door neighbours: the impressive Garn Fawr hillfort. St David’s Head and Carn Llidi can be seen in the distance, far left.

Coflein records an ancient field system immediately to the south of the fort, parts of which are in the overgrown area below.

Looking down on the stone rampart from the highest part of the outcrop.

The views eastwards from the fort. The nearest outcrop is Garn Gilfach (chambered tomb). Coastal views stretch as far as Dinas Head, while Carningli and the Preselis rise on the right.

The ramparts join with the outcrops to form the enclosure, as they do at the neighbouring Garn Fawr.

Looking north over the ramparts towards Strumble Head.

Substantial stone-built ramparts on the northern flank of the fort. Looking east towards Carningli.

From the WSW. The rampart encloses the relatively flat section between the outcrops.

Dinas Mawr fort seen across Pwll Deri from the south.

Dinas Mawr is the peculiarly blunt-ended headland, centre of image. Garn Fawr hillfort dominates the scene, and probably was linked in some way with the cliff fort below.

The badly eroded northern aspect of the fort, with Aber Mawr beyond.

The southern flank, looking to the sheltered harbour of Aber Bach.

The interior of the fort.

Northern end of the inner rampart, reduced to a rocky point.

At their northern end, the ramparts are in a poor state, stripped away to the bone by waves, rain and wind.

Looking down on the fort from the coast path above.

Carreg Golchfa seen across Aber Bach. The lines of ramparts are prominent.

From the SE, ramparts curving down the gentle slope, top left.

Warning, cliff forts can be dangerous. The western flank drops over jagged cliffs, and it’s pretty high up.

Looking across the bay to a further cliff fort.

The rampart is inevitably overgrown in summer, but still very obvious.

The fort from the west, showing the sheltered bay below the crumbling cliffs. Garn Fawr hillfort is the prominent skyline feature.

Long zoom from Trwyn Llwyd to the NE, with Penberry and Carn Llidi on the skyline.

Towards Strumble Head and Garn Fawr.

The ramparts from inside the fort.