AttractionEnglish Heritage

Stanwick Iron Age Fortifications

Forcett, North Yorkshire

An excavated section of the Brigantes' four mile ramparts, part cut into solid rock, on quiet farmland where you and your dog will meet nobody.

The scale here is difficult to take in from what survives. Stanwick was the trading and power centre of the Brigantes, the most important tribe in pre-Roman northern Britain, and its defences ran for some four miles, enclosing 766 acres. That is not a hillfort, it is a territory. What English Heritage care for is an excavated section of those ramparts, part cut into solid rock, with a reconstructed stretch of drystone wall face showing how the front originally looked.

Whilst you take in that rebuilt wall face, your dog gets quiet North Yorkshire farmland with the earthwork running through it, level going apart from the bank itself, and very few visitors at any time of year.

Free and permanently open. English Heritage note there are steps up the bank and that it is not suitable for wheelchair or pushchair users. No dog rules are published, and the site sits among working fields, so keep your dog on a lead, close gates and watch for livestock. No facilities and limited roadside parking.

At a Glance

Site Type: Prehistoric Site
Entry: Free
Members: Free for English Heritage members

English Heritage Membership

Planning Your Visit

Opening times and prices were checked on 26 August 2026 and are subject to change, and some sites close for events or over winter. Confirm on the English Heritage site page before you travel.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is Stanwick Iron Age Fortifications dog friendly?
No specific dog rules are published for the site, so dogs are welcome to visit. That said, Stanwick sits among working farmland, so keeping your dog on a lead and closing any gates behind you is essential — livestock may be present in the surrounding fields.
Are dogs allowed at Stanwick Iron Age Fortifications year round?
Yes — the site is free and permanently open, so you can visit at any time of year. It's a quiet spot with very few visitors whenever you go, which makes it a particularly peaceful outing for you and your dog.
What should I know before visiting Stanwick Iron Age Fortifications with my dog?
There are no facilities on site and parking is limited to the roadside, so come prepared. The going is mostly level across quiet North Yorkshire farmland, though there are steps up the bank itself — English Heritage note the site is not suitable for wheelchair or pushchair users. Keep your dog on a lead throughout, both out of consideration for the working fields surrounding the site and to manage the bank safely.