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Ham Hill in LiDAR

Ham Hill is an Iron Age hillfort in Somerset. Here it is in the Environment Agency's 1 m LiDAR, shaded so the shape of the ground stands out. Look for a huge plateau edged by one or two ramparts broken up by quarrying, with stronger banks around the north-west spur and strip lynchets on the south-west slopes.

What you can see

• The hillfort covers the whole summit plateau, up to 950m by 800m, plus a north-west spur up to 550m by 360m. (Historic England)
• Up to two concentric ramparts with outer ditches survive, unevenly, because of later quarrying. (Historic England)
• The north-west spur has the strongest defences and may have been the main fort or an inner stronghold. (Historic England)
• Medieval hollow ways, ridge and furrow and strip lynchets survive, especially on the south-west side of the plateau. (Historic England)

Visiting

Somerset Council describes Ham Hill as a place for walking and outdoor recreation where you can see the remains of the ancient ramparts. (Somerset Council)

Official record: Historic England list entry 1003678: Hamdon Hill camp.

Look, don't detect or dig

Ham Hill is a Scheduled Monument, protected by law because it's of national importance. In England it's a criminal offence to use a metal detector on a Scheduled Monument without Historic England's written consent, and to remove any object of archaeological or historical interest found with one. Damaging a scheduled monument is an offence too, and works on one, including digging, need Scheduled Monument Consent first. More on Scheduled Monuments and the rules.

Keep to paths and open access land, and follow the Countryside Code.

More sites in LiDAR

Eggardon Hill · Maiden Castle · Hambledon Hill · Hod Hill · all sites