Castle an Dinas is a fantastic example of an Iron Age hillfort, located on a broad hilltop near St Columb Major. The hillfort was built during the 3rd century BC and is one of the most impressive and archaeologically important Iron Age sites in the South West.

The hillfort occupies the summit of Castle Down and offers sweeping views to both the north and south Cornish coasts. The hillfort is composed of three concentric rings of ditch and bank defences, enclosing an area 850 feet in diameter.

Within the central area at the summit of the hill are a pair of earlier Bronze Age barrows, suggesting that the site had been in use for some time before the earthworks were constructed. Recent excavations have found a levelled area like a platform between the inner and outer earthworks that may date to the even earlier Neolithic era.

From mining and murders to the stuff of legend and the Civil War, Castle an Dinas is shining in rays of glorious  golden heritage.

From 1916-1957 a wolfram mine operated on Castle an Dinas, cutting into the earthwork ramparts. Many of the old mine buildings can still be seen outside the hillfort

Cornwall has the great legends like King Arthur, and Castle an Dinas has its own. According to tradition the hillfort is the burial place of Gorlois, Duke of Cornwall, husband of King Arthur's mother, Ygraine. This tale was first recorded in a history of Cornwall written in 1478 by William of Worcester.

Another tale says that King Arthur himself maintained a hunting lodge at Castle an Dinas, and from here he rode out on the Tregoss Moor hunt. 

During the Civil War Royalist soldiers under the command of Sir Ralph Hopton camped within the earthworks for 2 nights in March 1646. Against Hopton's wishes, the soldiers voted to surrender to Parliament. Hopton had no choice but to follow, and surrendered just two days later at Tresillian Bridge near Truro.