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Despite the name, not all hillforts are on hills, and not all were forts in the military sense. University of Edinburgh: Atlas of Hillforts of Britain and Ireland site launched Many may have been regional gathering places for festivals and trade, and some are on low-lying land. University of Edinburgh: Atlas of Hillforts of Britain and Ireland site launched

The Atlas of Hillforts of Britain and Ireland maps 4,147 sites, from well-preserved forts to ones where only crop marks are left. University of Edinburgh: Atlas of Hillforts of Britain and Ireland site launched

Hillforts were mostly built in the Iron Age: the oldest date to around 1000 BC and the most recent to about AD 700. University of Edinburgh: Atlas of Hillforts of Britain and Ireland site launched Hillfort building began across Britain over 2,600 years ago, perhaps marking the rise of larger tribal groups ruled by new elites. English Heritage: History of Maiden Castle

Over 40% of the confirmed sites are in Scotland, and more than 25% in England. University of Edinburgh: Atlas of Hillforts of Britain and Ireland site launched Wales has over 600 sites in the Atlas’s “definite” category, and Ireland nearly 350. University of Edinburgh: Atlas of Hillforts of Britain and Ireland site launched

Two of the very biggest sites are in County Wicklow; others are on Ham Hill in Somerset and at Hengistbury Head in Dorset. University of Edinburgh: Atlas of Hillforts of Britain and Ireland site launched Maiden Castle in Dorset is one of Europe’s largest Iron Age hillforts, covering more than 50 football pitches. English Heritage: History of Maiden Castle

The highest example is in County Kerry, followed by sites such as Ingleborough, South Barrule on the Isle of Man and Ben Griam Beg in Sutherland. University of Edinburgh: Atlas of Hillforts of Britain and Ireland site launched

A “univallate” fort is a hilltop enclosure with a single rampart, a ditch and a low counterscarp bank. National Trust: History of Cissbury Ring A hillfort with several ramparts is called “multivallate”, meaning multiple ramparts. English Heritage: History of Old Oswestry Hillfort

At its height Maiden Castle was the main Iron Age settlement in south Dorset, with over 100 roundhouses. English Heritage: History of Maiden Castle A community of 300 to 400 people lived at Danebury for more than 400 years. Hampshire County Council: Danebury Iron Age Hill Fort Local Nature Reserve

No wells are known inside any hillfort, so people perhaps collected rainwater from their roofs in troughs or leather bags. English Heritage: History of Maiden Castle

Around Maiden Castle people grew wheat, barley, peas and beans, and plants of the cabbage family. English Heritage: History of Maiden Castle Danebury was mainly a farming community: people kept sheep and cattle, wove woollen cloth and made leather goods. Hampshire County Council: Danebury Iron Age Hill Fort Local Nature Reserve

English Heritage lists Maiden Castle as free entry, open any reasonable time in daylight hours. English Heritage: Maiden Castle · checked 3 Nov 2026 Old Oswestry is free entry, open any reasonable time in daylight hours. English Heritage: Old Oswestry Hillfort · checked 3 Nov 2026

In England’s KS2 curriculum, “changes in Britain from the Stone Age to the Iron Age” can include Iron Age hill forts: tribal kingdoms, farming, art and culture. GOV.UK (DfE): National curriculum in England, history programmes of study A KS2 local history study can trace how aspects of national history are reflected in the locality. GOV.UK (DfE): National curriculum in England, history programmes of study