Principal Archaeological Landscape: Bat's Castle and Gallox Hill (22)

Location Located on the north east edge of the National Park, on a ridge running north west to south east to the south of Dunster. The PAL includes an area from Gallox Bridge to Dumbledeer, overlooking the Bristol Channel. Description of Archaeology The north west end of the PAL comprises two hillforts, Gallox Hill and Bat’s Castle. The latter has a complex of detached outworks on its northern and eastern sides. From the centre of the PAL at Withycombe Hill Gate as far as Lower Dumbledeer are traces of an extensive field system comprising lynchets and broad banks and some field clearance cairns. In character the field system is reminiscent of ‘Celtic fields’ and it is therefore likely that the field system is contemporary with the two hillforts. Principal significance This PAL is highly significant for its role in understanding the later prehistoric periods on Exmoor, due to the concentration of monuments of this date. The close association between hillforts and field systems, likely to be of similar date, is unique on Exmoor and has the potential to further research and understanding of later prehistoric life in southwest England.