Some Key Hillfort Sites
Great Hetha is one of the most impressive of the College Valley hillforts. Many of the stones from the ramparts still lie where they fell, so it is easy to imagine the size of these massive walls. From Great Hetha, there is a wonderful panoramic view of the College Valley and the high hills of the Cheviots.
Little Hetha occupies the summit of a spur with very steep slopes on three sides. It has two ramparts of earth and stone, except on the north side where a further rampart has been added. Stone-robbing and reoccupation of the site in the medieval and later times has disturbed the interior, though the footprints of Iron Age roundhouses can still be seen.
Ring Chesters, with its double earthen ramparts, is one of the most stunning hillforts in the National Park. Here the builders deliberately used the steep northern slope to lend the appearance of added strength to the northern ramparts, and they appear to have elaborated the entrance on the North West side. This suggests that display of wealth or status towards the North West was important. Perhaps the saddle to the north of the site was a route into the College Valley or maybe this fort’s ‘territory’ lay to the North West.
North Blackhaggs hillfort has two stone built ramparts on all sides except the east, where a very steep, scree-covered slope has been incorporated into the circuit. The interior contains at least four platforms for timber-built roundhouses, plus the remains of two later stone-built roundhouses from Roman times built against the south west side. A more recent sheep stell overlies the northern ramparts.
Sinkside is arguably one of the most atmospheric of the valley’s hillforts due, in part, to its approach through dark conifer plantations. The dry stone ramparts of this site are more complete than most. Here you can see one of the best preserved examples of Iron Age masonry. The hillfort was later adapted as a stock enclosure by local shepherds who built a rectangular house and a series of pens in the south west part. The site has been left ungrazed since the conifers were planted, and the grassy tussocks that have developed have obscured most of the hillfort’s internal features.
Mid Hill is another large and impressive site with tremendous views. Like Staw Hill the walls here seem to be larger where they face the neighbouring hillforts on Great Hetha and Staw Hill. Interestingly, the least impressive rampart is at the weakest defensive point. It seems that the ramparts here were, again, more about showing off to arriving visitors than defence against well-planned or prolonged attack. Within the enclosure are the circular impressions left by the original Iron Age timber-built roundhouses. During Roman times, the enclosure was divided in half, with a stone-built roundhouse in each, and the hillfort walls were rebuilt.
As part of the National Park Authority’s tremendously successful ‘Discovering Our Hillfort Heriatge Project’ a booklet of guided walks – ‘A Beautiful Highland Place’- has been produced. This will lead you to all of the sites mentioned above and it is available directly from our on-line shop or from our National Park Visitor Centres. Most recently English Heritage has produced a lavishly illustrated book entitled ‘Hillforts: Prehistoric Strongholds of Northumberland National Park’ which is available from all good book shops!
