Prestonbury Castle, Iron Age hillfort in Drewsteignton, England
Prestonbury Castle is an Iron Age hillfort with three layers of ramparts and ditches arranged in concentric rings. The site sits at roughly 240 meters (787 feet) elevation with views over the Teign Valley below.
The hillfort was built and occupied from around the 6th century BC until the middle of the 1st century AD. It served as a high-status settlement before being abandoned as defensive needs shifted.
The multiple ramparts and ditches reveal how Iron Age communities organized themselves and built defensive structures. These earthworks still show how people arranged their settlements on high ground for protection.
The site is accessible on foot via walking paths that wind through the different enclosures. Trails connect the inner, middle, and outer sections so visitors can explore the whole fortification.
This site is part of a wider network of hillforts in the region, including Cranbrook Castle and Wooston Castle nearby. Together these places show how Iron Age communities created a system of defensive positions across the landscape.
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