King Arthur Adventures: Camelot and Cadbury Castle

12th March 2026

Few places in Britain capture the imagination quite like Camelot, the legendary court of King Arthur and his Knights of the Round Table. But where might Camelot really have stood? Rising quietly above the Somerset countryside is one of the most compelling candidates — the ancient hillfort of Cadbury Castle.

Artistic reconstruction of Cadbury Castle in Somerset as it may have appeared during the post-Roman period, often associated with the legendary Camelot of King Arthur.

A warm welcome from Best Value Tours and our sister Backpacker Tours, where inspiring travel experiences begin. Continuing our fascinating series: Indulging King Arthur Adventures and Legends around ancient Britain. Full of mystery, magic and wonderful legend, but also with a good chunk of fact, were King Arthur and Merlin truly real?

We explore these remarkable landscapes while featuring, as always, Stonehenge and our continually updated Stonehenge Inner Circle Calendar along with helpful tips to visit. From mysteries of ancient monuments, the beauty and mystic of hidden landscapes, we love sharing the stories, history and unforgettable locations that make Britain such a remarkable destination.

We explore fascinating places, create travel inspiration and magical experiences that truly bring the past and these enchanting islands to life.

Imagine wandering through misty hills, ancient stone circles and quiet forests, feeling like you have stepped into history. This is the thrill you get when you chase the legends of King Arthur, Britain’s most famous and perhaps most mysterious king. Arthur may not be strictly historical, yet there are enough clues and traditions that make the story endlessly fascinating. Make your own mind up as you unravel this wonderful mystery. Whether part history, part myth, or something in between, Arthur’s legend has left footprints across the British landscape that remain an absolute joy to explore today.

Arthur’s story begins, according to medieval tales, with his birth foretold by Merlin, the enigmatic wizard who exists somewhere between magician, adviser and cosmic strategist. Merlin is the mastermind behind Arthur’s rise. He hides the young boy from enemies, carefully plots the moment when Arthur will reveal himself as the rightful king, and teaches him the wisdom needed to rule. Without Merlin, Arthur might simply have been another forgotten noble among many who came before and after.

The legend does not exist in isolation. Britain itself becomes the stage for Arthurian adventure. Tintagel Castle in Cornwall is famously associated with Arthur’s birth, dramatically perched on cliffs high above the Atlantic Ocean. The mystical allure of Glastonbury follows close behind, where monks in the 12th century claimed to have discovered the graves of King Arthur and Queen Guinevere within the abbey grounds. And then there is the enigmatic Stonehenge. Although far older than Arthur by thousands of years, later legends linked the monument to Merlin, claiming that he transported the great stones from Ireland using magic.

Travelling through these magical and mysterious places today, it is easy to feel the whisper of legend carried on the wind. You can almost hear the clash of swords, see knights riding through misty valleys or imagine Merlin whispering spells in a hidden grove. Whether you are a history enthusiast or simply chasing the magic of ancient stories, exploring Britain’s Arthurian landscapes feels like stepping into a tale that has been told for centuries.

Was Cadbury Castle the Real Camelot?

The question of Camelot’s true location has fascinated historians, archaeologists and storytellers for centuries, and Cadbury Castle remains one of the most intriguing candidates. Archaeological excavations have shown that the hillfort was heavily fortified and occupied during the 5th and 6th centuries, precisely the period when a historical figure behind the Arthurian legend may have lived.

Evidence of substantial buildings, including what archaeologists describe as a large hall, suggests that the site could once have been an important royal stronghold. While there is no definitive proof that King Arthur ruled from Cadbury Castle, the scale of the settlement, its strategic hilltop position and long-standing local traditions linking the site with Camelot continue to make it one of the most compelling possibilities.

Part Five: Camelot – The Legendary Court of King Arthur at Cadbury Castle

If King Arthur truly ruled a kingdom, then somewhere there must have been a royal court, a place where the famous Knights of the Round Table gathered and where the fate of Britain was decided. In Arthurian legend that place is Camelot. Yet historians have debated for centuries where Camelot might have been located.

Cadbury Castle hillfort in Somerset. Today the site appears as a peaceful grassy hill, but archaeological discoveries show it was once a powerful stronghold during the centuries following Roman Britain and is often associated with the legendary Camelot of King Arthur.

One location that consistently captures attention is Cadbury Castle in Somerset. Rising high above the countryside near the village of South Cadbury, this vast hilltop fort has long been linked to the legend of Camelot.

Cadbury Castle is not a castle in the medieval sense of stone walls and towers. Instead it is a large Iron Age hillfort, surrounded by impressive earth ramparts and defensive banks that once protected a thriving settlement. Standing on the summit today, the views stretch across the rolling Somerset landscape for miles, making it easy to understand why ancient rulers chose this commanding position as a stronghold.

The connection between Cadbury Castle and Camelot goes back many centuries. In the sixteenth century the antiquarian John Leland recorded local traditions claiming that the hill was known as Camelot and had once been the court of King Arthur. Whether this tradition preserves genuine historical memory or simply grew from the power of legend remains debated, but the story has remained deeply tied to the hill ever since.

Archaeological excavations in the 1960s uncovered evidence that makes the story even more intriguing. Beneath the grassy summit archaeologists discovered traces of large buildings dating to the fifth and sixth centuries, precisely the era when a historical Arthur might have lived. One of these buildings has often been described as a “Great Hall”, large enough to house a ruler and his warriors.

If a powerful leader once ruled from Cadbury Castle during the turbulent years after the Romans left Britain, it is not difficult to imagine how the memory of that ruler could have evolved into the legendary King Arthur.

Even today the hill retains a powerful atmosphere. Walking along the ancient ramparts you can imagine banners flying above the fortress, warriors gathering within the walls and messengers arriving with news from distant lands. The landscape feels ancient and timeless, perfectly suited to the legends that have grown around it.

Local folklore adds even more mystery. One long-standing story claims that King Arthur and his knights sleep beneath the hill inside a hidden chamber, waiting for the moment when Britain needs them again. Another legend tells of ghostly riders sometimes seen galloping across the hill on certain nights of the year before vanishing into the darkness.

Nearby the legendary landscape continues. Across the Somerset Levels rises the unmistakable silhouette of Glastonbury Tor, long associated with the mythical Isle of Avalon where Arthur was said to have been taken after his final battle.

Stonehenge also plays its own role in Arthurian legend. Though built thousands of years before Arthur’s time, medieval stories claimed that Merlin transported the great stones from Ireland using magical powers. Today Stonehenge remains one of Britain’s most mysterious ancient monuments and can be visited on tours from London, including the rare opportunity to step inside the stone circle itself during exclusive Inner Circle access visits when the site is closed to the public.

Together these remarkable locations — Cadbury Castle, Glastonbury Tor, Tintagel and Stonehenge — create a magical landscape of history, legend and mystery stretching across Britain. Exploring them today allows travellers to follow in the footsteps of stories that have fascinated people for more than a thousand years.

Today visitors can walk the ramparts of Cadbury Castle and take in sweeping views across the Somerset countryside. Standing on the summit, it is easy to imagine warriors gathering within the ancient earthworks and banners flying above the hilltop stronghold. Whether Camelot truly stood here or not, the atmosphere of legend still lingers across the landscape.

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