The site lies in a narrow rocky valley just south of the historic town of Hollywood, where Norman settlers once established their foothold in this strategic location. The motte itself is a substantial earthwork, measuring 60 metres north to south and 50 metres east to west, rising 5 to 6 metres high with a flat circular summit approximately 15 metres across.

The defensive features of this fortification remain remarkably well preserved. A deep fosse, or defensive ditch, and an external bank encircle the western and southern sides of the motte, with traces still visible along the eastern edge. To the north, a flat-bottomed fosse measuring 5 metres wide and 2.5 metres deep separates the motte from its bailey, with a 3-metre-wide causeway providing the original access route between these two defensive areas. Scattered sections of collapsed masonry can be found on the motte’s slopes and at the base of the southwestern fosse, suggesting that stone structures once crowned this earthen stronghold.

The bailey, which served as the fortified courtyard where daily life and activities took place, occupies a largely natural platform measuring roughly 50 by 45 metres. This area is defined by steep natural scarps that provided additional defence, whilst traces of earthworks along the eastern side indicate where artificial fortifications supplemented nature’s barriers. Together, the motte and bailey represent a classic example of Norman military architecture adapted to the Irish landscape, a fortress that would have dominated the surrounding valley and controlled movement through this part of medieval Wicklow.