Ostensibly what the word itself implies: ‘a fort on a hill’ – though in more recent years the archaeological notion of them as purely defensive fortresses has subsided. Hillforts are generally huge monuments in the landscape, almost always at the top, or near the top, of what seem to have been deemed pretty impregnable places. Entire settlements existed within some hillforts, most of which came into existence in the Iron Age. Common sense tells that these hilltop sites afforded protection against marauding bears, boars and wolves, as much as against rival tribes!
HILLFORTS: Bibliography & References
| Site Name | Species | Grid-Reference / What3Words |
| Abbey Craig, Stirling, Stirlingshire | NS 8094 9566 | |
| An Dun, Gairloch, Ross & Cromarty | ||
| Ardanstur, Melfort, Argyll | ||
| Balvicar, Seil, Argyll | ||
| The Bastard, Feochaig, Campbeltown, Argyll | NR 7612 1220 | |
| Bradley, Frodsham, Cheshire | ||
| Brean Down, Brean, Somerset | ||
| Bryn Alyn, Wrexham, Denbighshire | ||
| Buckton Castle, Mossley, Lancashire | SD 9892 0161 | |
| Caesar’s Camp, Bracknell, Berkshire | SU 863 657 | |
| Castercliff, Nelson, Lancashire | SD 8850 3840 | |
| Castleberg, Nesfield, North Yorkshire | SE 0925 4947 | |
| Castle Coeffein, Clachan, Lismore, Argyll | ||
| Castle Craig, Tillicoultry, Clackmannanshire | ‘Fort’ (destroyed) | NS 9116 9769 |
| Castle Ditch, Eddisbury, Delamere, Cheshire | ||
| Castle Head Hill, Lindale, Cumbria | ||
| Castle Hill, Almondbury, West Yorkshire | ||
| Castle Hill, Culross, Fife | NS 97105 89923 | |
| Castle Hill, Little Wittenham, Oxfordshire | SU 5696 9244 | |
| Castle Hill, Wentbridge, South Yorkshire | ||
| Cnocan Dubh, Ballachulish, Argyll | ||
| Creag a’ Chapuill, Ford, Kilmartin, Argyll | NM 8555 0244 | |
| Croft Ambrey, Yatton, Herefordshire | ||
| Danebury Hill, Nether Wallop, Hampshire | ||
| Denoon Law, Glamis, Angus | NO 35464 44395 | |
| Devil’s Dyke, Poynings, Sussex | TQ 260 111 | |
| Dinedor Camp, Herefordshire | ||
| Down Hill, Glendevon, Perthshire | ||
| Dumyat, Blairlogie, Stirling, Stirlingshire | ||
| Dun Bhuirg, Iona, Argyll | NM 2649 2462 | |
| Dun Chathach, Connel, Argyll | NM 9674 3401 | |
| Dun Chibhich, Gigha, Argyll | ||
| Dun Chonallaich, Ford, Argyll | NM 8544 0366 | |
| Dun Gallain, Colonsay, Argyll | NR 3486 9314 | |
| Dun I, Iona, Argyll | ||
| Dun Mac Samhainn, Kilmartin, Argyll | ||
| Dun Mac Sniachan, Benderloch, Argyll | NM 9032 3822 | |
| Dun Mor, Glen Clova, Angus | NO 2900 7600 | |
| Dun na Nighinn, Ford, Argyll | ||
| Eddisbury Hill, Delamere, Cheshire | ||
| Garrywhin Fort, Ulbster, Caithness | ND 312 414 | |
| Grianan of Aileach, Carrowreagh, Donegal | C 36686 19721 | |
| Grinnan Hill, Braco, Perthshire | NN 8338 0936 | |
| Helsby Hill, Helsby, Cheshire | ||
| Ivinghoe Beacon, Ivinghoe, Buckinghamshire | ||
| Kelsborrow Castle, Kelsall, Cheshire | ||
| Knockfarrel, Strathpeffer, Inverness-shire | ||
| Knock Hill, Dunblane, Stirlingshire | NS 7825 9845 | |
| Lawhead Fort, Penicuik, Midlothian | ||
| Longfaugh, Crichton, Midlothian | ||
| Maiden Castle, Bickerton, Cheshire | ||
| Maiden Castle, Dorchester, Dorset | ||
| Maiden Castle, Waterfoot, Cumbria | ||
| Manor Farm, Bolnhurst, Bedfordshire | TL 0849 5985 | |
| Martinsell Hill, Oare, Pewsey, Wiltshire | SU 1764 6396 | |
| Mount Pleasant, Dorchester, Dorset | ||
| Oakmere, Delamere, Cheshire | ||
| Pitchbury Ramparts, Great Horkesley, Essex | TL 9657 2906 | |
| Portfield Camp, Whalley, Lancashire | ||
| Rathgall Hillfort, County Wicklow | S 9020 7315 | |
| Ring Hill, Littlebury, Essex | TL 515 382 | |
| Rough Haw, Flasby, North Yorkshire | SD 963 558 | |
| Skelmore Heads, Great Urswick, Cumbria | ||
| South Kirkby, South Yorkshire | SE 435 104 | |
| Tadmarton Heath, Wigginton Heath, Oxfordshire | ||
| Uphall Camp, Ilford, Essex | Hillfort (destroyed) | TQ 4383 8510 |
| Wallstale, Cambusbarron, Stirling, Stirlingshire | NS 7744 9085 | |
| Warton Crag, Warton, Lancashire | ||
| Woodhouse Hill, Helsby, Cheshire | ||