Cadbury Castle

Cadbury Castle is a significant hillfort site and a lovely place to visit on a good day (take a picnic). The atmosphere here is quite friendly. It stands atop a free-standing hill with enough space on top (18 acres) for a settlement housing several hundred people. Its defensive capability is clear - a succession of steep banks going down the hill which would have forced any attackers to climb a difficult slope and render themselves vulnerable to arrows and stones as they topped each ridge. It was the scene of a last stand of the British against the Romans, who had to lay seige for a long time before beating the inhabitants.

It was first built around 500 BCE. Cadbury is unique inasmuch as it was rebuilt in the post-Roman period. This gives weight to the tradition that it was the legendary King Arthur's Camelot. It lay above the ancient road from London to Cornwall (now the A303, which also passes Stonehenge). It had a fine view of Glastonbury Tor and, behind it, Brent Knoll - on a clear day you can see Wales. Fine as a beacon hill. It was certainly occupied during the Arthurian period, with signs of wealth such as a large hall close to the highest point. The hill was occupied for centuries in pre-Roman times and for some time in post-Roman times, with the ramparts being rebuilt in several phases. Legend has it that King Arthur and his knights ride out from Cadbury on fullmoon nights or at summer solstice, and their horses' hooves can be heard. Quite a lot of archaeological research is done here (see South Cadbury Environs Project

Well worth a visit. Accessability reasonable, involving an uphill walk on a cobbled, slightly muddy path. Go to South Cadbury, find the car park and walk up from there. Walk around the sides of the ramparts too, to experience some fine dingly woods and the two springs emanating from under the hill.

See also: Cadbury Castle by Geoffrey Ashe