Castle Hill, Cambridge

.....is closed off at the moment. I suspect local skateboarders have been using and eroding it.

A typical Norman motte, its bailey now hidden by the council buildings, it's still worth a visit. Cambridge was originally centred on this side of the river (Roman/ early Medieval remains found) but moved to the other side when the colleges were founded. Many of the stones from the original castle found their way into college buildings.

Additional earthworks were added during the English Civil War, but these are no longer clearly visible.

I was a little disappointed with the view from the Hill. I was hoping for an uninterrupted view of the Cam and the centre of town but the church is in the way. In the picture you can see Great St. Mary's, the University Church (slightly left of centre), and King's College Chapel on the right.

Walk up Magdalene street past the bridge and turn into the Cambrideshire Council offices where you will find the castle mound. The Romans built a military post here as it was the highest point in the region.