Yarnbury Castle

Yarnbury Castle is an Iron Age hillfort in Wiltshire with three concentric defensive ramparts and ditches that follow the natural contours of the chalk downland. The fortification covers more than 28 acres and displays the layered defensive design typical of major settlements from this period.

The site was built in the Iron Age as a fortified settlement and continued to be used during the Roman period, as evidence from coins suggests. In the 1700s it became a center for sheep trading before military operations in the early 1900s redirected its purpose.

The site once hosted a major sheep fair that drew farmers and traders from the surrounding region over several centuries. This past as a gathering place shaped how locals understood this land as more than just ancient fortification.

The site can be visited year-round on foot and is accessible from the eastern side where the main entrance is located. Wear sturdy shoes as the terrain involves climbing over earthwork formations, and allow time to explore the layered defenses properly.

The fortification also serves as a nature reserve protecting rare chalk grassland plants that are found nowhere else in the surrounding area. This dual importance as both an archaeological and biological site creates an unusual combination that rewards close observation.