What are we doing?

We are looking at a stretch of the Roman Road between the important North Wales auxiliary forts of Kanovium (Conwy) and Segontium (Caernarfon), in an area of Outstanding Natural Beauty and rich archaeology. The stretch concerned is west of the Rowen Youth Hostel, though Bwlch y Ddeufaen (The Pass of the Two Stones), to the Road's departure from the uplands.

Why here?

The stretch here has a number of places where opportunities to interpret and document features present themselves. Four segments concerned are:

i) From the Rowen Youth Hostel to Cae Coch SH743718 to SH733715. The modern track is believed to be superimposed on the Roman Road, on a much older route. The dense number of prehistoric monuments are indicative of this. Some of this stretch is heavily eroded with running water across the surface.

Hoping to locate possible finds and features to interpret the Roman Road's presence here, and to take into account the prehistoric sites.

ii) A stretch through four fields to the north of a modern lane SH733715 to SH723715 . This section is presented as a long slightly curvilinear earthwork, strongly believed to be Roman. Here we hope to document its course, taking photos for possible computer graphic reconstruction, measuring the sections, maybe undertake some gorse scrub clearance, and assess for possible future work. A stone circle lies just to the south of this stretch. We may return, with the cooperation of Gwynedd Archaeological Trust and the Countryside Council for Wales, for some intrusive investigation of the Road. Permission has been obtained to access the fields which are on private land.

iii) From the Bwlch y Ddeufaen car park to the Bwlch. There are numerous deviations from the main route, and a late Roman milestone was situated at this spot. A number of Bronze Age cairns and standing stones lie along this route.

iv) From the Bwlch to the departure from the uplands at SH69237238. This stretch has some eroded patches, hopefully presenting a ready made section through the agger. Parallel linear earthworks and shelves on the hillside should document the route clearly in places, and further Bronze Age cairns point to an older route.

Subject to weather on the days, these are the activities along the road:

1) Walking the stretches concerned
2) Photographing, taking notes
3) Measuring the width of the road in places
4) Marking the route with canes to aid interpretation when photographed
5) Assessing the 4 fields for future activity
6) A longer walk, including ascent to Carnedd y Ddelw.