Cawthorne Camp

Cawthorne Camp stands in the North York Moors near Cropton, about six kilometres north of Pickering. The site preserves earthworks of two Roman forts, one with an extension, and an unusual temporary camp. These earthworks date from the late 1st or early 2nd century AD. Some experts believe the camps were built for training rather than for active military use. Traces of earlier activity have also been found on the site. Excavations have revealed signs of pre-Roman settlement and later sunken dwellings known as Grubenhäuser. In 1905, J. R. Mortimer uncovered a late Iron Age chariot burial at the camp. At least one square barrow has also been identified on the site. The North York Moors National Park took ownership of the land in 1983. Visitors walk among the grassy earthworks that mark the fort walls and ditches. The layout of the temporary camp differs from the usual Roman pattern. The site offers views across the surrounding moorland. The remains are quiet and open, with few modern distractions. The land is managed for conservation and public access.