Burrough Hill Iron Age Hillfort
Step into Iron Age Britain at this dramatic hillfort with sweeping views, ancient ramparts, and centuries of history layered into the Leicestershire landscape.
Perched on a dramatic limestone promontory near Melton Mowbray, Burrough Hill is a well-preserved Iron Age hillfort with commanding views across Leicestershire’s rolling countryside. Once a thriving prehistoric settlement, the site reveals traces of Bronze Age activity, Iron Age roundhouses, and even later Roman farming. Today, it’s a peaceful country park where visitors can walk the ancient ramparts, explore earthworks, and imagine life in one of eastern England’s most important prehistoric strongholds.
A brief summary to Burrough on the Hill
- Melton Mowbray, Burrough on the Hill, GB
- Duration: 0.5 to 2 hours
- Free
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Outdoor
- Mobile reception: 4 out of 5
Local tips
- Visit on a clear day to fully appreciate the panoramic views across the Vale of Belvoir and surrounding countryside.
- Wear sturdy footwear and bring a windproof layer; the exposed hilltop can be windy and muddy, especially after rain.
- Look for information boards near the entrance to learn about the hillfort’s layout, key finds, and historical phases.
- Combine your visit with a walk through Burrough Hill Country Park to explore the wider landscape and medieval ridge-and-furrow patterns.
For the on-the-go comforts that matter to you
- Seating Areas
- Trash Bins
- Information Boards
Getting There
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By car
From Melton Mowbray, follow the A607 south towards Somerby, then turn onto minor roads signposted to Burrough on the Hill. The hillfort is accessed via a small car park at the edge of Burrough Hill Country Park, with a short walk up to the ramparts. Parking is free but can be muddy in wet weather.
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By public transport and walk
Take a bus from Melton Mowbray to Somerby or Burrough on the Hill, then walk approximately 1.5–2 km along country lanes and footpaths to the country park entrance. The walk is on quiet roads and footpaths, but can be exposed and muddy; allow about 25–35 minutes on foot.
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By bicycle
From Melton Mowbray, cycle south along the A607 and then onto minor roads towards Burrough on the Hill. The route is mostly flat with a steady climb up to the hillfort; allow about 30–40 minutes. Secure your bike at the country park entrance and walk up to the ramparts.
Burrough on the Hill location weather suitability
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Any Weather
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Clear Skies
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Mild Temperatures
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Windy Conditions
Discover more about Burrough on the Hill
Guardian of the Leicestershire Landscape
Rising to about 210 metres above sea level, Burrough Hill crowns a steep-sided ironstone promontory just south of Melton Mowbray, offering sweeping views across the Vale of Belvoir and beyond. This prominent position made it an ideal defensive site in the Iron Age, when a substantial univallate hillfort was constructed along the edge of the escarpment. The earth and stone ramparts, still clearly visible today, enclose a large oval area and feature an inturned entrance at the southeast corner, once guarded by a stone-built structure and cobbled track. The hill’s natural defensibility, combined with its commanding panorama, suggests it was a place of regional importance, possibly one of the closest things to a ‘town’ in this part of Britain before the rise of Roman Leicester.Layers of Ancient Life
Human activity on Burrough Hill stretches back to at least the Early Bronze Age, around 2800 BC, when small structures and a C-shaped enclosure were built on the western edge of the promontory. Flint tools and arrowheads found here hint at early settlement, while later Iron Age remains include a large roundhouse and numerous storage pits filled with domestic refuse, pottery, loom weights, and hearth waste. One particularly intriguing pit contained a deliberately smashed rotary quern, possibly as part of a ritual closure of a building. Finds such as a bone dice, gaming pieces, a polished bone flute, and a beautifully decorated blue glass bead suggest a community with access to a rich material culture, distinct from smaller contemporary farmsteads.From Hillfort to Farmland
After the hillfort’s main occupation in the later Iron Age, the site continued to be used into the Roman period, with evidence of a 3rd–4th century AD farmstead built among the ruins of earlier structures. In the medieval era, the interior of the hillfort and surrounding land were ploughed as fields, their ridge-and-furrow patterns still faintly visible in places. The parish was enclosed in the 17th century, ending large-scale farming on the hill, but local traditions persisted: in the 16th century, antiquarian John Leland recorded that Whit Monday celebrations, including dancing and games, were held on the hill. Later, in the 19th century, the Melton Hunt used the slopes for steeple-chasing, and the earthworks even hosted a fair and the 1873 Grand National.Rediscovery and Modern Exploration
Though long known as an ancient site, Burrough Hill remained relatively poorly understood until systematic investigations began in the 20th century. Early excavations in the 1930s and later small-scale digs revealed human bones, pottery, and structural remains, but it was the University of Leicester’s renewed fieldwork from 2010 onwards that transformed knowledge of the site. These excavations uncovered a matching set of highly decorated bronze fittings from an Iron Age chariot, one of the most significant Iron Age metalwork finds in the East Midlands. Geophysical surveys also revealed a large Iron Age settlement just outside the hillfort, suggesting the community may have been much larger than previously thought. Today, the hillfort is protected as a Scheduled Ancient Monument and forms part of Burrough Hill Country Park, open to the public for quiet exploration and reflection.Iconic landmarks you can’t miss
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Unmissable attractions to see
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John's House
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Hammer & Pincers
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Markets, malls and hidden boutiques
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St George's Shopping Park
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Prettiez
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Essential bars & hidden hideouts
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For the vibe & atmosphere seeker
- Tranquil
- Scenic
- Relaxing
- Unique
- Historic
For the design and aesthetic lover
- Rustic Designs
- Vintage Styles
For the architecture buff
- Historic
- Landmarks
- Parks & Gardens
For the view chaser and sunset hunter
- Panoramas
- Iconic Views
For the social media creator & influencer
- Photo Spots
- Instagrammable
- Aesthetic Corners
For the eco-conscious traveler
- Protected Area
- Nature Reserve
- Public-Transport Accessible
- Leave-No-Trace Critical
For the kind of experience you’re after
- Cultural Heritage
- Photowalk
- Nature Escape
- Day Trip
For how adventurous you want the journey to be
- Easy Access
Location Audience
- Family Friendly
- Child Friendly
- Teen Friendly
- Senior Friendly
- Solo Friendly
- Couple Friendly
- Wheelchair Access
- Pet Friendly
