Roman Fortlet

What you're looking at here is a proper Roman fortlet - one of those small defensive outposts the legions dotted across the landscape to keep watch on potentially troublesome territory. It's sat on the Devon moorland near Lynton, and honestly, if you're into archaeology and Roman Britain, it's worth knowing it's there. The site itself is modest - we're talking earthwork remains rather than standing stones or intact walls - but that's the reality of most Iron Age and Roman sites. You'll need to do some detective work with your eyes to spot the ditch and bank formations that marked the fort's perimeter, and that's rather the appeal if you ask me. This isn't the kind of place you photograph for half an hour and move on. It's for people who genuinely want to think about what was happening here nearly two thousand years ago, when Rome was still trying to make sense of these wild southwestern lands. Allow a good hour if you're walking from Lynton, which sits about four miles away - bring proper boots and check the weather forecast. The moorland around here is dramatic and exposed. Staying at one of the nearby parks like Newberry Valley or HARTA Retreat puts you in reach of other coastal walks and the dramatic cliffs of Exmoor, so you could easily work it into a bigger trip. Access appears to be free and open year-round, though I'd contact the visitor information in Lynton first to confirm current conditions, particularly in winter when the moorland gets genuinely fierce.