Fin Cop

Fin Cop is an Iron Age fortified settlement on a hillside in the Peak District near Ashford in the Water. The site sits around 327 meters (1,072 feet) above sea level and features defensive ramparts and ditches on its southern and eastern sides.

The site developed as a fortified settlement during the Iron Age and was archaeologically investigated between 440 and 390 BC. Excavations uncovered remains of women and children beneath collapsed fortification walls, suggesting a targeted attack during this period.

The name Pennyunk comes from Old Welsh and suggests early settlements in this Peak District location. Such linguistic traces reveal how different peoples shaped this place over time.

The site is accessible through marked walking trails starting from Monsal Dale Hotel. Using maps OL24 Explorer or Landranger 119 will help with finding the way.

Artifacts found here came from distant regions, with materials sourced from the Lake District and Lincolnshire. This reveals an extensive trading network that stretched across Britain during Iron Age times.

Location: Ashford in the Water

GPS coordinates: 53.23476,-1.74016

Latest update: December 12, 2025 14:40