South Mains, Innerpeffray

Cropmarks have revealed a double-ditched fort exploiting a broad promontory formed where a shallow gully cuts through the lip of the escarpment overlooking the N bank of the River Earn about 150m E of Innerpeffray Castle. While the escarpment forms the S flank of the fort, the gully forms the E flank, extending beyond the defences before turning back W into the field to the N, where its line can also be seen in the cropmarks. Elsewhere, from the N round to the W, two ditches have been dug in a broad arc; set about 8m apart, the broader inner ditch measuring about 4m in breadth. The interior measures 60m from NW to SE by a maximum of 70m transversely (0.27ha) immediately to the rear of the defences, thus extending to a little over 0.2ha when allowance is made for the presence of upcast ramparts. Aerial photographs taken in 1983 also reveal the line of an internal palisade set about 8m back from the inner lip of the inner ditch. The only other feature visible within the interior is a narrow ditch in the corner of the field, apparently cutting off access to the very tip of the promontory. The position of the entrance is unknown, but no gaps are visible in the defences on the NW quarter.

Information from An Atlas of Hillforts of Great Britain and Ireland – 18 May 2016. Atlas of Hillforts SC2644