Woodland for sale

Fascinating woodland with deep historical interest, part of an ancient hill fort forms a semi-circle through the wood. The ridestop entrance opens up into a large grassed area, ideal for planting or for woodland activities. The site sits on a sandstone ridge with views down into both valleys and the wood slopes down to another track on the northwest side where sweet chestnut gives way to oak and hazel.

Water runs out of the hillside in places as springs.

Trees

Sweet chestnut coppice is dominant here, but there are silver birch, some oak and some hazel too.

Wildlife

Bluebells are widespread, the resident herd of deer wander though the wood on occasion. A motion operated camera would record what's travelling through the wood. There are about 3 white deer in the herd.

Features

The iron age fort embankments and access point are very obvious, only a small part of the hill fort is included in Hillfort Wood though and occupies about ¼ of the wood.

There is a small brick water tank, this is probably built on an 'issue' (where a spring emerges) to collect and store water. It's likely a steel pipe takes water to points below, we don't know where and it's doubtful if it works now. But this would be a good place for a personal water supply.

Access, tracks and footpaths

There is a full right of way in perpetuity along the old Pembury Road, now closed to public traffic and then up through the woods to Hillfort Wood.

Rights and covenants

As is the case for all our woodlands, the purchaser will be asked to enter into a covenant which serves to protect the peace and quiet of the woodland.

Activities

There is so much to discover here, mostly with the hill fort, see below for more details. There's plenty of firewood ready for collecting, much of it already seasoned and ready to heat the home.

Local area and history

There is evidence of Iron Age activity with the hill fort within Hillfort Wood. This is a scheduled ancient monument (there is no public access to it) click here for a link to Historic England map. When this was abandoned is difficult to guess, perhaps by 100 BC. It is thought that sites like these were not settled but used as temporary stop-offs by populations from larger sites. This area seems to be the boundary of two tribes, the Regnenses and the Cantiaci. The 1963 map gives a good indication of the extent of the earthworks.

More information on the archaeology of the fort can be found through links in our website.

The land falls within the parish of Capel itself, a part of Tunbridge Wells Borough in County of Kent.