Cornish Ramblings has partnered up with the Cornwall Heritage Trust, and will be taking a group of ramblers for a glorious guided tour around Castle an Dinas on Saturday 23 September. We are hoping to continue these guided rambles alongside the Cornwall Heritage Trust so do keep your eyes peeled for details of future guided tours across their sites. For now, please keep reading for a little background on the Cornwall Heritage Trust, and where we are heading for our ramble...
Background on Castle an Dinas
Castle an Dinas is one of the largest and most impressive hillforts in Cornwall, sited in an imposing position on the summit of Castle Downs with extensive and panoramic views across central Cornwall to both north and south coasts. It dates from around the second and third centuries BC and consists of three ditch and rampart concentric rings, 850 feet in diameter and standing 700 feet above sea level.
Hillforts like this are now thought to have been less a military fortress and more a place of focus for the community, symbols of the wealth and power of the tribe - a central place for social ceremonies, trade, and ritual.
Castle an Dinas was acquired by Cornwall Heritage Trust in 1989 from the Duchy of Cornwall Estate and is one of the largest of the sites owned by the Trust.
Background on Cornwall Heritage Trust
Castle an Dinas is one of twelve historic sites that Cornwall Heritage Trust protects. These span the breadth of Cornwall from Caer Bran in the far West, to Dupath Well in the East.
They also cover a broad spectrum of history, ranging from the well-preserved Iron Age village of Carn Euny near Penzance and the early Bronze Age Hurler Stone Circles on Bodmin Moor to Trevanion Culverhouse, a medieval dovecote, and the 19th-century Treffry Viaduct near Luxulyan, an integral part of the Cornish Mining World Heritage Site. All are free to enter and open to the public throughout the year.
All the sites are dog-friendly and there are a huge number of beautiful walks you can incorporate into your visit. In fact, iWalk Cornwall has a brilliant range of circular routes of varying lengths and difficulties, which take in places the Trust protects.
Cornwall Heritage Trust is a small independent charity and therefore wholly dependent on the goodwill of its members and donations. One way that you can support the Trust and its work is by becoming a member. There are individual, joint, family and concession memberships available starting from just £15 a year, and members also receive a wealth of benefits as a thank you for their support.
These include free entry to all English Heritage sites in Cornwall - including Tintagel Castle, Restormel Castle, St Mawes Castle, Pendennis Castle, Launceston Castle, and Chysauster Ancient Village -, free entry to Geevor Tin Mine Museum, 50% off entry at Wheal Martyn China Clay Museum, 50% off Adult Admission to King Edward Mine and 50% off entry to the Vale of Avalon/Arthurian Centre.
There is also a packed calendar of special events and guided walks throughout the year, which members receive priority access to attend.
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