High Knoll Fort

High Knoll Fort crowns a steep volcanic outcrop about 250 metres above Jamestown, approached by a winding path that switchbacks up through scrub and past the ruins of an earlier defensive structure called the Star. The fort itself dates from the 1870s, built during a period of heightened tension in the Atlantic as the Royal Navy sought to strengthen its facilities against the possibility of a French or Russian attack on the island's strategic position.

The fort is a compact rectangular structure built of local volcanic stone, with walls up to three metres thick and a surrounding moat that is dry for most of the year. The entrance is over a drawbridge that could be raised, and the interior contains a parade ground, barracks accommodation, store rooms and a water cistern that would have allowed the garrison to hold out under siege. The arrangement is typical of late Victorian small-fort design, practical rather than grand, and built to a budget.

From the ramparts the view is remarkable in every direction. Directly below, Jamestown spreads down the valley to the sea, the Georgian terraces and the harbour visible in their full extent. To the north and west the Atlantic stretches uninterrupted to the horizon, and on a clear day the dark mass of Ascension Island can be seen far to the north-west. Looking inland, the interior of the island reveals its characteristic pattern of deep valleys and steep ridges, with the green interior disappearing into cloud around Diana's Peak.

The fort was maintained as a military installation until 1900 and was then used intermittently for storage and as a radio station during the Second World War. After the war it fell into disuse and was partially restored in the 1990s, though the restoration has been conservative and the fort retains a raw, windswept quality that suits its military origins. Vandals and weather have taken their toll on some of the internal fittings, but the fabric of the walls and the moat is in reasonable condition.

The walk to the fort from Jamestown takes about 40 minutes each way and is steep in places; it is best done in the early morning or late afternoon. The path passes through the semi-natural scrub that covers the hillside, with occasional views back to the sea, and the fort itself is atmospheric when visited in the quieter hours of the day. At the top, the wind can be strong and cold even when the town below is warm, and a jacket is advisable regardless of the season.

It is the most substantial surviving British military fortification on Saint Helena and provides a clear example of late-Victorian small-fort design and military thinking.

The panoramic views from the ramparts over Jamestown, the Atlantic, Ascension Island and the island's interior are among the finest viewpoints on Saint Helena.

The walk to the fort, through semi-natural scrub with intermittent sea views, is an enjoyable and unspoiled outdoor experience that requires no special equipment.