Great Hetha Hillfort

The English and Scots weren't always pals and liked the odd skirmish and so they needed to build defenses like bastles and hillforts up and down the border. They are quite a few hillforts in the College Valley, but an absolute cracker is the Great Hetha Hillfort.

Sitting on top of Great Hetha near Hethpool this Iron Age hillfort was actually created in three stages and is around 2,000 to 2,500 years old.

Phase 1 - The early hillfort followed the natural contours of the hill and was oval in shape approx 1.1 hectares in size.

Phase 2 - Using stone rubble a wall was built over the banks and had additional entrances making it a more defensive structure.

Phase 3 - A huge inner stone rampart measuring 0.4 hectares was constructed.

It was a decent walk to the top, so if you were off to attack this stronghold, carrying all your kit, then you might need a breather before your assault.

Some other little facts we found out were that the stone for the hillfort was most likely quarried locally. There is also evidence of at least nine circular hut platforms and some animal pens.

Sitting at 343m high, it has magnificent views over the surrounding hills too. You would have been able to see the enemy coming from a mile off.

If you fancy a wander up yourself, then park at Hethpool, walk down the valley for 5 mins and then look out for a fingerpost pointing up to Great Hetha. There are regular little posts pointing the way up to the top.

Follow the route on OS Maps. 1.6m to the hillfort and 215m of climbing.

Source: Historic England / Atlas of Hillforts of Britain and Ireland