Carl Wark

Carl Wark in the Peak District National Park is a gritstone Iron Age hill fort on Hathersage Moor facing the Burbage Valley and Higger Tor. On one side of the fort is a prehistoric embankment which is believed to have served as a wall to protect the fort from its enemies. The embankment is believed have to been constructed during the Iron Age around 2000 – 2500 years ago and may have been refortified towards the end of the Roman period.

This natural plateau is roughly 230m long x 60m wide. The eastern and north-eastern sides of this enclosure are faced with vertical cliffs of up to 10 metres in height with the southern edge of the enclosure consisting of large earth-fast boulders, reinforced with millstone grit blocks, forming a wall 2–2.5 metres high. A rampart across the western end of the promontory completes the enclosure. The rampart is 40 metres long and 8 metres wide at its base, rising to a height of 3 metres. The western rampart has is a 2 metre wide entrance, a passage that curves through the rock face with 2.5 metre walls on each side.

Carl Wark features in many Peak District photographs due to its distinct shape, especially when viewed from the imposing Higger Tor, which this Iron Age fort often plays second fiddle to. Although there are great views to be had of Higger Tor itself from Carl Wark and is a much quieter spot.