Hillfort in Brandonhill (gowran By.)

On a very steep SW-facing slope of Brandon Hill. The slope is c. 45 degrees and in some places is probably greater. It is not at the summit of the slope, and could not be described as on a shoulder of the mountain. The terrain is grass and heather-covered and at the E edge, where the slope is greatest, there are a lot of large boulders. There is a cairn (KK033-008002-) just inside the wall in the NW quadrant. A large D-shaped enclosure (dims. c. 187m NW-SE; c. 132m NE-SW) which is visible on OS Ortho and Digitalglobe aerial images but is difficult to discern at ground level. The interior is very uneven with humps and hollows. The steepest slope is at the NE-E sector. It levels out slightly towards the SW where the straightest portion of the wall (Wth c. 3m; int. H level with interior; ext. H 0.8m) runs, roughly following the contour. The enclosing wall (Wth 3m; int. H 0.7m; ext. H 0.3m) is of a uniform appearance throughout, composed of large stones (dims. 0.25-0.3m). Inside the E perimeter, which is on the upslope side, there are two quarry-like depressions with large boulders. There are many large boulders strewn about the E side of the enclosure. There is a gap (Wth 3.2m) in the WNW portion of the wall which could be modern. There is a change in direction a little to the S of this point and here the wall is aligned 20 degrees and running straight up the steep slope. The hillfort occupies a total area of 1.9ha (http://hillforts.arch.ox.ac.uk/records/IR0681). Attached images: KK033-008001_01 wall at SW from N KK033-008001_02 wall at NW from S KK033-008001_03 Google Earth image (imagery date 21 April 2018) Compiled by: Jean Farrelly and Michael Moore Date of upload: 13 November 2017