This is the second in a series of events taking us to the sites of forts in Derbyshire, with this one bringing us to the Iron Age fort recently identified at Cratcliffe Rocks, near Birchover.
Forts were commonplace in Derbyshire from the Iron Age through to the Roman occupation & beyond. They pre-date more substantial castles, which were introduced by the Normans. Although forts were built primarily for defence, settlements often grew up around them & when the soldiers moved on, these settlements sometimes remained. Others were abandoned & are now hardly recognisable.
Cratcliffe (or Cratcliff) Rocks was only identified as an Iron Age hillfort at the beginning of this century. It is a naturally protected site, with steep drops to the east & south. The enclosure is roughly circular, with a 5m ditch cut into the rock & a wall of boulders protecting the north & west of the site. This wall was originally 55m long, with huge 2 - 3m rocks, although only small sections of it now remain. Building platforms have been identified inside the enclosure & flint arrow heads have been found nearby. There is a hermit's cave at the foot of the rocks as well as a stone circle (the site of one of my previous events) 400m north-west. Robin Hood's Stride is another popular rock formation about 300m west of the hillfort.
This event will allow us to meet up safely outdoors to chat & exchange trackables. There are steep drops in the vicinity of the event & children should be supervised at all times. I have provided a waypoint for the nearest roadside parking, where there is room for 7 or 8 cars. Please try to lift share where possible as this can be a popular area, particularly in fine weather. From parking there it is a short uphill climb, using the waypoints to take the route around to the event site. Alternatively, you can bring your climbing gear & ascend from the east...