Pen-y-Gaer (Bethesda) Hillfort View all content for Pen-y-Gaer (Bethesda)

High above Bethesda is this small, less than impressive hillfort, but its position overlooking the entrance to the Ogwen valley is inspired, with the low low clouds and snow in Snowdonia there aren't many better sited hillforts. Parking available on Cilfoden Terrace and Tan y Foel (they may be one and the same) to the south east of the settlement, I'd streetviewed the place already so knew what to look for and when I got there I knew I was there. The hillock on which the fort sits is high above the valley floor to the west but on the east side it keeps on rising all the way up to the pyramidal Moel Faban, with its quad of cairns. All the way round the fort is a modern wall that makes it difficult to see the earthwork, a gate echoes the old fort entrance, but the only traffic these days is of the sheep variety, indeed the whole fort is being reused as a big sheep pen. The only way to appreciate it is from slightly above, looking over it down the Ogwen valley, on your way up the hill note the hut circle, but don't tarry long it's only medieval. (only he says)

Posted by postman 11th December 2010ce

Comments (0)
You must be logged in to add a comment