The Trundle: Iron Age Hillfort
A Neolithic and Iron Age monument crowning the Downs above Goodwood
The Trundle is one of the most significant archaeological sites in West Sussex and one of the finest viewpoints on the South Downs. Sitting atop St Roche's Hill, directly above Goodwood Racecourse, the hillfort is a scheduled ancient monument that preserves evidence of human activity stretching back more than 5,000 years.
The site consists of two distinct phases of construction. The earlier monument is a Neolithic causewayed enclosure, dating to approximately 3000 BC. These enclosures, of which around seventy are known in Britain, are among the earliest monumental constructions in the country. They consist of concentric rings of ditches broken by causeways, and their function is debated: they may have been meeting places, ceremonial sites, cattle corrals or a combination of these uses. The Neolithic enclosure at The Trundle is one of the better-preserved examples and was excavated in the 1920s and 1930s, revealing pottery, flint tools and animal bones.
The Iron Age hillfort, which gives the site its modern name, was constructed around 300 BC, overlying the earlier Neolithic enclosure. The hillfort consists of a single bank and ditch enclosing an area of approximately six acres on the summit of the hill. The defences are still clearly visible as an earthwork ring, and the interior is level, having been used as agricultural land for centuries after the hillfort fell out of use. The purpose of Iron Age hillforts is also debated, but they are generally understood to have been defended settlements, places of refuge, centres of power or some combination of these roles.
The views from The Trundle are extraordinary. To the south, the coastal plain stretches away to Chichester, with the Cathedral's spire visible, and beyond it the waters of Chichester Harbour and the Solent. The Isle of Wight is clearly visible on most days. To the north, the Downs roll away towards the Weald, and the beech hangers and mixed woodland of the escarpment provide a contrasting green foreground. To the east and west, the ridge of the South Downs extends into the distance, punctuated by the rounded summits of other hills.
The walk to The Trundle from Goodwood is straightforward and well used. A track leads from the car park at the top of the hill road, near the racecourse, up the final slope to the summit. The climb is moderate, and the route is suitable for most walkers. In summer, the chalk grassland on the approach supports a rich community of wildflowers and butterflies, and the Trundle is a popular destination for naturalists as well as walkers and archaeologists.
During Glorious Goodwood, The Trundle provides a free vantage point from which to watch the racing on the course below. This tradition dates back many decades, and the hillfort fills with spectators who bring binoculars, picnics and radios to follow the action. The combination of ancient monument and modern sport, with five-thousand-year-old earthworks providing seating for twenty-first-century racegoers, is a distinctly Goodwood juxtaposition.
The Trundle is managed by the landowner and the South Downs National Park Authority, and access is open at all times. Dogs are welcome, but owners should be aware that sheep graze the surrounding downland for much of the year.