Visited on 11 April 2014.
Parked at Slaters pub/craft village at Baldwins Gate on the A51.
Access to Berth Hill was via a gate opposite the lodge house to Maer Hall.Thought i'd read somewhere that the hillfort was on private land but there was nothing to suggest the case on the gate,so in i went!!
If you look on streetmap there are 2 paths leading from the gate up and around both the East and West of the the hillfort.However both were almost completely covered over by foliage,briars and fallen trees...but it was well worth perservering!
The hillfort is defended by at least two major ramparts around most of its circumference with a third rampart being added around the North and North East sides.
The best of the two 'original' entrances is on the SW side,where the impressive inturned entrance is approached from the the North West along a steep embanked causeway built along a deep re-entrant gully.(The other simpler entrance is on the East side)
Just before the inturned entrance is reached you'll see a cave/grotto carved into the natural sandstone of the massive inner rampart.The date 1824 is carved inside - perhaps a legacy of the ornamental landscaping that the Wedgewood family carried out at this time when they created ornamental walkways and lanscaping on the East side of the forts defences.They also created a third (modern) gateway into the fort on it's North corner which apparently led to some sort of viewing platform within the defences...due to the numerous conifers i was unable to locate the platform!!
A natural spring rises within the fort on it's East side.. still running with water on my visit.This was piped into the nearby village of Maer by the Wedgewoods via an aquaduct.
Despite the 18th Century alterations on it's East side,thick undergrowth on it's approach and it's plethora of conifers (both inside and outside the fortifications) this is a site well worth visiting.
Photos will be posted once i work out how to do so!!
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