Camp Knowe Hillfort

If you've ever had a wander up Clennell Street near Alwinton then you will no doubt have spied a little spur off Clennell Hill. I had never paid much attention in the past, but as I was heading down from Silverton Hill (bagging for the Cheviot 99 challenge of course), I saw the ramparts and realised it was a hillfort.

A quick check of the map and its name was Camp Knowe Hillfort.

With all hillforts it's difficult to get a good picture from ground level unless there is a larger hill looming over it, fortunately I had brought Red5 with me today, so sent him up to have a better look.

The Camp Knowe Hillfort is around 250m above sea level and sits on a little prominence of Clennell Hill, with a little saddle between, so you don't have to walk too much down then up to get to it.

The slopes to the north and west and pretty steep so it would have been well defended there.

The hillfort is roughly oval in shape with a diameter of 96m at its widest. Apparently there are still stone foundations of three circular houses which are 7 metres in diameter, but someone is going to have to point them out to me.

The River Alwin flows past it to the west before meeting up with the River Coquet just south of Alwinton.

If you want to visit Camp Knowe Hillfort yourself, then park on the green in Alwinton village, across the little bridge and then head up Clennell Street. Follow the permissive path east towards Clennell Hall and keep on the track until you get to the foot of Clennell Hill. You should spot the hillfort easily and there is a clear path up.

Follow the route above or open on OS Maps. Just over 2km and 131m of ascent.

I love a hillfort and as I was heading back down, I realised there was a another one nearby called Castle Hills Hillfort. Obviously I had a diversion over there.