Old Oswestry Hillfort

Hello again people and pooches. Joe the Cocker here to tell you about an evening walk that we have done a couple of times before. Old Oswestry Hillfort is around 9 miles from home, so it’s only a short drive away.

Oswestry Hillfort was built almost 3000 years ago and is one of the best preserved in the country. It stands above an area protected by four distinct ramparts, which all date from different times. The ramparts encircle the hillfort and are a series of mounds and ditches to prevent invaders from being able to enter. The last inhabitants left the structure 2000 years ago. In the 9th century it was incorporated into Wat’s Dyke, an earthwork that divided part of Wales from England.

We have visited the hillfort on a few occasions so my human knew how to find it. So, why did he use the satnav? It took us down some very narrow, seldom used country lanes with very few passing places. We had to reverse twice to let other vehicles pass. He made a meal of these manoeuvres, so I kept my head down on the back seat. So embarrassing 😳

We eventually arrived at the small parking spot at the western entrance to the hillfort. His blood pressure must have been sky high after his ‘short cut’ experience.

We entered the hillfort through a wooden gate into an area that contained livestock. So, I had to be on a short lead. The underlying archaeology is being eroded over time by the amount of bracken growing in the area. Soay/hebridean cross sheep have been introduced to graze the area and to reduce the spread of the bracken.

There is quite a sizeable flock in the area, and we had to walk through them as we climbed the stairs to the higher levels. These iron age sheep are armed with scary horns. I decided to stay well clear of them.

Still keeping a safe distance from the grass munching beasties!

At the top of the flight of steps, we passed a sleeping sheep. Or so we thought 🤔

We left the area where the sheep were grazing through a gate that took us onto the top rampart. The surrounding panorama is clearly the reason for building the hillfort. Views across North and Mid Wales, Cheshire and Shropshire can be gained from various points along the ramparts.

As we walked around the site of the hillfort, I was allowed to run ahead, off-lead because a sign stated that there was no livestock in the area.

We soon discovered that the information was wrong. Below us, between two of the ramparts was another flock of the iron age beasties. So, I had to walk with my human on-lead.

All around the base of the hillfort mound were arable fields.

I had to stop a few times to allow the big feller to take photos, some with and some without the star of the show.

Looking up to the top of the mound where the settlement once stood, it is magical to imagine this being the birthplace of Queen Ganhumara, Guineviere of King Arthur’s legend. The mound was once known as Caer Ogyrfan after Arthur’s father in law.

In the distance, we could see the sandstone ridge that crosses through Cheshire.

Sometimes, I refuse to look at my human when he is pointing that annoying phone at me. I should start charging him a fee for each unsolicited photograph.

The eastern entrance to the hillfort is clearly visible as you walk around the perimeter.

The hillfort is reputed to be the site of the last battle of the King of Powys, Cynddylan, the last descendant of King Arthur to rule in Shropshire.

We had taken around 45 minutes to very slowly walk around the site. It could have been a lot quicker, but my human likes to soak up the atmosphere, he says.

He took one last photo of the view over Oswestry before we left the top rampart to walk down the steps at the western entrance.

We had a shock as we opened the gate to the steps as the ‘sleeping’ sheep was still there, in the same position. My human nudged it, but he feared that it had died. He said that it was still warm. He Googled how to take a sheeps pulse. No heartbeat! Sadly, it had passed away. He looked on the information boards and signs until he found an emergency phone number. He left a voicemail and received a text reply thanking him. It was a sad ending for a lovely walk. Till next time!