Where an ancient hill fort looks out over a historic battlefield.
There is no castle at Oliver’s Castle and Oliver Cromwell never came here. What you will find is a windswept Iron Age hillfort set high on Roundway Down near Devizes in Wiltshire, overlooking the site of a decisive Civil War battle.
One of our favourite walks at Wild And The West. This trail combines woodland paths, open chalk downland and a dramatic hilltop loop with far reaching views across Wiltshire.
Practicalities
01. Start
Devizes White Horse
Begin at the car park beside the Devizes White Horse, cut into the chalk hillside above the village of Roundway. The current horse dates from 1999 and is the newest of Wiltshire’s white horses. From here there are immediate views across the surrounding countryside, Roundway, Bishops Cannings church spire and the town of Devizes. From the car park, head over the wooden style towards Leipzig Plantation.
02.
Leipzig plantation
Leipzig Plantation is a small Victorian beech woodland, short but atmospheric, with a well worn track and trees that arch over the path, creating a tunnel like feel. Rope swings hang from a few of the branches and are always a hit with children.
The plantation is named after the Battle of Leipzig in 1813 during the Napoleonic Wars. Exit via the wooden stile and continue straight along the ridge.
03.
Across the ridge
The path now follows open ground with low, windswept scrub and wide views. You soon reach a small car park beside a long, straight stone track. Cross the track and continue straight across the corn field towards the larger woodland ahead.
04.
The woods
Enter Roundway Hill Covert woods and take the right hand fork and follow the path through the woods with glimpses of the corn field to your right. After a while you reach another fork. Both routes lead to Oliver’s Castle, but our favourite option is to take the left path. This route leads you quietly through the trees before before opening out onto a dramatic viewpoint.
05.
The viewpoint
This is the first of several viewpoints on the walk. From here the land drops away to reveal wide views across the Vale of Pewsey and Salisbury Plain. Turn right and follow the path along the hill edge as it moves between steep grassy slopes and sheltered woodland.
Eventually you will get distant views of Oliver’s Castle forming ahead as a headland dotted with a few windswept trees.
Its mainly an ash and beech woodland but a short section passes through a dense tunnel of evergreen box which feels slightly magical and often brings to mind The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe.
06.
Oliver’s Castle
Leave the woods beside a small car park at the end of the stone track you crossed earlier. Pass through the metal stile on the left and step out onto Roundway Down and the earthworks of Oliver’s Castle.
This is an Early Iron Age hillfort dating back to around 500 BC, likely used as a refuge rather than a permanent settlement. The circular earthworks form a raised ridge that you can follow around along the top, offering exceptional views across Wiltshire.
This Early Iron Age hillfort, dating from around 500 BC, forms a circular ridge with expansive views across Wiltshire. Below lies Bloody Ditch, where fleeing Parliamentary cavalry were driven over the escarpment during the Battle of Roundway Down in 1643.
Take your time here and walk the full loop of the hillfort before returning to the metal stile where you entered.
07.
The return
From the small car park, return via the long stone track and rejoin the path near Leipzig Plantation. Continue back through the woods to the Devizes White Horse car park.
