Coney's Castle, Iron Age contour fort in Whitchurch Canonicorum, England
Coney's Castle is an Iron Age contour fort sitting on a ridge about 210 meters (690 feet) high, defined by linear ramparts running along its length. The enclosed space is divided into two separate areas separated by a small lane cutting through the site.
The fort was built during the Iron Age as a defensive settlement on a naturally elevated ridge. In medieval times, the site was repurposed as a rabbit warren, a use that eventually gave the place its modern name.
The site served as both a fortified settlement and later as a rabbit warren, showing how this place changed its purpose over time. Visitors walking through can sense these different layers of use in how the land is shaped.
A car park next to the north rampart provides easy access to the site, with the Wessex Ridgeway walking route passing directly through. The ground can become muddy and slippery in wet weather, so sturdy footwear is a good idea for visiting.
The name comes not from a castle owner but from rabbits that were raised there in medieval times as a commercial warren. This unusual naming story makes the fort one of few prehistoric sites where a later medieval use completely shaped its modern identity.
The community of curious travelers
AroundUs brings together thousands of curated places, local tips, and hidden gems, enriched daily by 60,000 contributors worldwide.
