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Dear Friends,
![]() From Caerwent take the road to Llanfair Discoed and fork right towards the Cwm. Go past the entrance of the Cwm towards Shirenewton - the Hill Fort is overlooking you on your right but hidden in the trees of the Poor Wood ("Starkey Common"). Round the bend by the rebuilt water mill, up the steep hill, 100 yards on the left is a level-ish patch where Mr and Mrs Adams will permit us to park cars at our own risk (do not park in the farm entrance). Walk up the lane another 100 yards, opposite the entrance to Coombe Farm, take the track marked in blue on the plan which goes up to the right. An ancient path cuts across the field, but please go round the edge of the field if a crop is growing. Go into the wood through a gateway on the right. Another 100 yards, through a nice new gateway and you are at the Fort. However, bear slightly right to go through the banks - if you follow your nose you may just go between the Fort and it's annexe. The view from the top of the banks is spectacular now the site has been cleared. From the flat interior go out through the original entrance, a few yards round to the left. You can then follow the outermost ditch until you reach the stile which Cadw has provided for access to the Poor Wood. From there you can either risk your neck by scrambling down through the Wood to the track at the bottom (marked in green on the plan) or complete the circuit of the outer ditch and return the way you came. The Fort has been regarded as the last redoubt of the Silures. However there is no evidence of a crushing military defeat. It could be that the native Celts chose to move down to Caerwent because the beer was better down there... Cunning folk, those Romans.
Best wishes
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