Desborough Castle

Desborough Castle is an archaeological site with defensive earthworks on the southern side of the River Wye valley near High Wycombe in Buckinghamshire. The complex contains multiple layers of fortifications built at different times on a slope overlooking the valley.

The site began in the Bronze Age and was expanded during the Iron Age as a hillfort. Later the Normans built a ringwork here, showing that the location remained militarily important across many generations.

This place served as a gathering point for people across many centuries. Visitors can see today how communities organized themselves through the layers of structures built here.

Access to the site is from Rutland Avenue in High Wycombe, where paths lead through the grounds. The area also has a playground and sports facilities, making it easy to spend time exploring different parts.

The site reveals three different types of fortifications from separate periods all built one on top of another in the same location. This layering makes it uncommon to see so many epochs of defensive architecture preserved in one place.

Location: Buckinghamshire

GPS coordinates: 51.63240,-0.77766

Latest update: December 12, 2025 17:42