[2] The castle was positioned on high ground overlooking the Severn valley and the town of Littledean.
[3] In addition to protecting the local villages, the castle was probably intended to operate with the castles at Glasshouse Woods and Howle Hill Camp as a screen to protect the city of Gloucester from military threats from Wales.
Trees are growing throughout the remains of the Castle, and due to its listing as a scheduled monument,[5] the site is not maintained.
However, the collection of trees that cover the earthworks stand out from the surrounding fields, allowing this hilltop site (elevation ~600m) to be clearly seen from many miles away.
[6] The castle itself is circular and relatively small, some 60 ft in diameter, with an inner and an outer bailey, the latter protected by a very tall vallum wall.