Castle Ring, Iron Age hillfort in Cannock Wood, England
Castle Ring is a fortified hilltop settlement in Cannock Wood with multiple lines of earth ramparts and ditches running along its slopes. The structure uses the natural ridge to create defensive layers that once encircled the settlement at its crown.
The Cornovii tribe built this fortified settlement around 500 BCE as a defensive stronghold on the hill. Following the Roman invasion in 43 CE, the site lost its original military purpose and was eventually repurposed for different uses.
This hilltop served as a place of power and protection for different communities across many centuries. People used the high ground in turn for defense, hunting, and keeping watch over the surrounding land.
You can reach the site using walking paths that loop around the hill through Cannock Wood and clearly mark the ramparts. The ground can be muddy or slippery after rain, so sturdy footwear is worth bringing along.
The hilltop offered a vantage point from which residents could spot other defensive structures across the wider landscape. This line of sight to neighboring forts likely played a key role in choosing this particular location.
The community of curious travelers
AroundUs brings together thousands of curated places, local tips, and hidden gems, enriched daily by 60,000 contributors worldwide.
