Hollingbury Park, Brighton, East Sussex, BN1 7HS
Hollingbury Hillfort
Earthworks
Source image
4.9
Wildland
1–2 hours
Time
Check
Cost
Atmospheric
Feel
Why it's Wildland
4.9A hilltop earthwork with layers of prehistoric history: Historic England records a hillfort, three bowl barrows and possible remains of a Romano-Celtic temple at Hollingbury.
Hollingbury earns its place for the way prehistoric archaeology and open hilltop views meet on Brighton’s edge. It is a modest visit rather than a wilderness escape: access needs checking, but the earthworks reward a slow look and a little imagination.
Atmospheric · Ancient-feeling
Find your way
Open mapHollingbury Park, Brighton, East Sussex, BN1 7HS
Opening map…
Know this place a little better?
The experience
Come for a short, history-led hilltop visit if access is confirmed. Take time to understand the scheduled earthworks and look across the landscape; rough and sometimes muddy paths are reported on a nearby mapped route.
Things to do
Read the hillfort earthworks
Look for the surviving earthwork form of the scheduled hillfort. Do not assume every archaeological feature described in the record is visible above ground.
20–40 minutes
Consider the earlier burial mounds
Historic England records a group of three bowl barrows at Hollingbury, monuments associated with prehistoric burial. Their exact visibility on the ground is not established by the supplied evidence.
10–20 minutes
Take in the hilltop views
A mapped walking route describes views from the summit, including the Channel coast on a clear day.
10–20 minutes
Make a day of it
Quick escape · Allow around 1–2 hours, including the approach; confirm access and route before setting out.
Quick hillfort look
- 01
Check that the intended approach is open to visitors and does not cross restricted golf-course land.
- 02
Visit the hilltop only by a confirmed lawful route.
- 03
Look for the surviving earthwork lines and consider the site’s recorded prehistoric and later archaeological features.
- 04
Allow extra care on rough or wet ground.
Half day · About 1–1.5 hours for the mapped 3.2 km out-and-back route; starting point and access permissions need checking.
Hillfort and wider walk
- 01
Use a verified route and start point; the supplied route description approaches from a train station and passes Moulsecoomb Wild Park.
- 02
Allow time to explore the hillfort earthworks and pause for views in clear weather.
- 03
Wear suitable footwear: rough sections may become more difficult when wet.
Verified history
Historic England records Hollingbury as a scheduled monument comprising a hillfort, the possible remains of a Romano-Celtic temple and three bowl barrows. The monument was first listed on 4 August 1933; the entry was amended on 19 April 1996. Historic England describes slight univallate hillforts as generally dating from the Late Bronze Age to Early Iron Age, but that broad dating should not be treated as a precise date for every feature at Hollingbury.
Hidden details
A monument with several archaeological layers — The scheduled site brings together a hillfort, three bowl barrows and possible temple remains. The temple identification is explicitly tentative, and the sources do not establish that these features are all visibly distinguishable today.
When to go
· A clear, dry day; no specific time-of-day advantage is verified.
The supplied trail source notes that wet conditions make rougher sections harder to walk. No seasonal wildlife or other seasonal feature is documented.
Paths may be rough and more difficult in wet weather. Wear suitable footwear and check current conditions.
What to look for
- 01
Look for the surviving lines of the hillfort’s earthworks and the three bowl barrows recorded at the site. Historic England also identifies possible remains of a Romano-Celtic temple
- 02
these are not confirmed as visible features.
The story
Prehistoric earthworks; possible Romano-Celtic temple
Best time to go
Clear, dry days are best for views and firmer paths; check conditions before setting out.
Choose a clear, dry day for the best chance of views and easier footing. No specific seasonal opening information is verified.
How long to spend
1–2 hours
Perfect for
Walkers · History lovers · Photographers
Before you go
Address
Website
Listed hours
- Monday: Open 24 hours
- Tuesday: Open 24 hours
- Wednesday: Open 24 hours
- Thursday: Open 24 hours
- Friday: Open 24 hours
- Saturday: Open 24 hours
- Sunday: Open 24 hours
Check before visiting.
Google rating
Practical information
Opening & access
The hillfort is associated with Hollingbury Park Golf Course. Public access to the monument and suitable access points are not confirmed by the supplied evidence; check locally before visiting and do not cross restricted golf-course areas. Access arrangements are unconfirmed. Check before visiting; do not enter private land or restricted structures.
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Parking
Check before visiting; no parking arrangements are verified.
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Toilets
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Food & drink
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Dogs
Check before visiting and follow local signage, particularly around the golf course.
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Accessibility
The supplied Google business data says the car park and entrance are not wheelchair accessible. Path accessibility and the route from any lawful access point are not verified; check before visiting.
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Cost
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Gallery
Place photographsKeep exploring
Around Hollingbury Hillfort
Within 50 km · approximate straight-line distances
