The wooded hillfort (also known as Denbury Camp) stands at the top of Denbury Down, a 150m high ridge of slate and volcanic rock.  It has views extending many miles in all directions, and is an impressive feature amongst the surrounding rolling hills.

Denbury hillfort was first depicted on Donn's county map of 1765 where it appears as an oval enclosure identified as a 'Danish Encampment', although no such connection is known to exist.

The remains of the defences enclose about 2 hectares, and consist of two closely spaced ramparts with a deep ditch on the south and east sides.  The ramparts separate at the western end to form an outer enclosure which may have been a later addition for keeping livestock or cultivation.  On the north side the defences have been entirely flattened by ploughing and overlain by hedges in other areas.

The offset entrances (a & b) through the ramparts are in the south & western corners.  The inner entrance (b) is formed by the ends of the ramparts being turned in to form a passage to increase its defensive potential.  The other breaks in the ramparts (c, d & e) are all much later changes.   Within the central area are two large mounds, both about 30m in diameter, which are thought to be Bronze Age barrows built over cremation burials.  In the field to the west of the outer enclosure is a much disturbed smaller mound, about 10m in diameter, which is also likely to be Bronze Age.

This is an artist's impression (looking from the North) of what the hill fort might have been like.

Although the fort has never been excavated it was extensively surveyed in 1992 (see the reference below). No dating evidence was found but it did confirm two main phases of development on the site and suggested that the site saw extensive medieval and later farming activity.  The overall conclusion was that the hillfort is similar to those constructed in the period 300-100 BC.

Looking north with Haytor and Dartmoor on the horizon.

Looking east over Denbury towards the Teign estuary.

Looking along the ditch separating the ramparts at the eastern end of the enclosure.

The hillfort was scheduled as an Ancient Monument in 1923/4 and is of national importance.  In 1989 the site was purchased for £48,000 by Devon County Council and can be accessed by lane and footpath from Denbury Down Cross on West Street at the edge of the village.

There are two other hillforts within a few miles of Denbury, one at Berry Down, Newton Abbot (SX 847711), and another at Milber Down (SX 884698).

References:

'Denbury Camp, Torbryan Parish: A New Survey by the Royal Commission on the Historical Monuments of England', S.J.Probert & C.J.Dunn, Devon Archaeological Society Proceedings No.50, 1992.

'Denbury Hillfort Draft Management Plan', E.Chorlton, Devon Countryside Management Services, 1992.

'Prehistoric Hillforts in Devon', Aileen Fox, 1996.

'Devon's Past An Aerial View', Frances Griffith, 1988.

'The Occupation of Hillforts in Devon During the Late Roman and Post Roman Periods', Nicholas Grant, Devon Archaeological Society Proceedings No.53, 1995.

Western Morning News, 10th May 1989.

Mid Devon Advertiser, 12th May 1989.