~ History ~

Chûn Castle is an Iron Age hillfort on the summit of Chûn Downs in Cornwall, commanding extensive views north and north-west to the Atlantic Coast and south towards Mounts Bay. It was built around 2,500 years ago.

It is Roughly circular with two stone walls, each measuring nearly nine feet high, flanked by an external ditch, enclosing the remains of several round houses and one oval house, which may represent a later, post-Roman, phase of occupation.

There are stone gateposts still flanking the entrance. They are staggered to make it harder for an enemy to enter. On the western side there's a well.

Excavations in the 1920s and 1930s uncovered a significant amount of pottery, which suggests that the main phase of occupation was between the third century BC and the first century AD, with a possible later occupation in the fifth and sixth centuries AD. Given its prominent location and excellent views over the Atlantic, Mount's Bay and the only land route to the Penwith peninsula, it is likely that Chun Castle provided the defensive refuge for three nearby settlements against Viking and Irish raiders.

Locating this fabulous hillfort is fairly easy as its surprisingly well sign posted, taking you along a narrow b-road to a parking area from where you can take a reasonably short walk uphill to the fort. The outer defences and inner walls still stand to a good height with terrific views all around. Unfortunately it is located within a No Fly Zone so sadly no aerial drone shots for this wonderful site.