20th May
As I remember it, this was a stop on journeys between Cardiff and London, a place for boys to burn off excess energy by re-enacting Iron Age battles. Today it’s a pause on a day trip to Bristol and we’ve left at the crack of dawn to squeeze everything in.
The 8-30am sunshine is perfect and there are panoramic views north from the fort. This is an ancient landscape and from The Ridgeway we catch glimpses of Silbury Hill and Avebury in the distance. However the footpaths are all together less permanent. The maps don’t always reflect reality on the ground and twice we lose the path, the second occasion in spectacular fashion, resulting in a crawl (literally) though undergrowth to reach the stile. You’re never too old to re-enact an Iron Age ambush!
We’re back to the car as the rain arrives, 7 miles in 2 1/2 hrs (including getting lost) and we make it to Bristol without letting on about our Iron Age adventure on the way.
Barbury Castle picture gallery (more pictures on Flickr):
Distance: 7.3 miles ; Difficulty: Moderate
Coordinates for Satnav: N51° 29.004′ W1° 46.500′
Barbury Castle walk profile
Where Angells Tread! 