Castell y Gaer (Llangelynin)

Nearest town:
Barmouth (7km NNE)
OS reference:
SH593090
OS sheet:
124
Latitude:
52° 39' 36.06 N
Longitude:
4° 4' 50.03 W
Added to TMA by

Images

Image of Castell y Gaer (Llangelynin) (Hillfort) by juamei

Image Credit: Natural Resources Wales

Image credit: LiDAR Composite Dataset. Contains public sector information licensed under the Open Government Licence v2.0.
juamei
juamei Mar 25, 2018
Image of Castell y Gaer (Llangelynin) (Hillfort) by thesweetcheat

Looking down on Llwyngwril, with the Mawddach estuary and Barmouth beyond to the right.

Image credit: A. Brookes (26.7.2015)
thesweetcheat
thesweetcheat Aug 5, 2015
Image of Castell y Gaer (Llangelynin) (Hillfort) by thesweetcheat

Excellent stone-built inner rampart. Waun Oer rises beyond: on the other side of the hill there are multiple standing stones, cairns and settlements.

Image credit: A. Brookes (26.7.2015)
thesweetcheat
thesweetcheat Aug 5, 2015
Image of Castell y Gaer (Llangelynin) (Hillfort) by thesweetcheat

Approaching from the south along the Wales Coast Path. The outer bank is shrouded in dark gorse.

Image credit: A. Brookes (26.7.2015)
thesweetcheat
thesweetcheat Aug 5, 2015
Image of Castell y Gaer (Llangelynin) (Hillfort) by GLADMAN

I reckoned this to be a lovely, compact hill fort with great views. Recommended.

Image credit: Robert Gladstone
GLADMAN
GLADMAN Nov 5, 2014
Image of Castell y Gaer (Llangelynin) (Hillfort) by GLADMAN

Inner southern defences from the outer bank.

Image credit: Robert Gladstone
GLADMAN
GLADMAN Nov 5, 2014
Image of Castell y Gaer (Llangelynin) (Hillfort) by GLADMAN

Pretty substantial ditch protecting the southern approach. The overgrown outer rampart can be seen to the left.

Image credit: Robert Gladstone
GLADMAN
GLADMAN Nov 5, 2014
Image of Castell y Gaer (Llangelynin) (Hillfort) by GLADMAN

The western flank, looking approx north...

Image credit: Robert Gladstone
GLADMAN
GLADMAN Nov 5, 2014
Image of Castell y Gaer (Llangelynin) (Hillfort) by postman

looking over the hillfort out to the Irish sea.

Image credit: Chris Bickerton
postman
postman Jul 18, 2011
Image of Castell y Gaer (Llangelynin) (Hillfort) by postman

looking over the enigma stone to the hills Allt lwyd and maybe Esgair Berfa

Image credit: Chris Bickerton
postman
postman Jul 18, 2011
Image of Castell y Gaer (Llangelynin) (Hillfort) by postman

Ive forgotten how many hillforts have a stone like this in their ditch, but ive seen a few, does they have a function or was it just in the way.

Image credit: Chris Bickerton
postman
postman Jul 18, 2011

Articles

Castell y Gaer (Llangelynin)

postman
postman Jul 18, 2011

The tiny seaside town of Llwyngwril, is best known for being in between Barmouth and Tywyn, nothing more, though it has a railway station and a liberal spread of caravans, theres not much point in lingering long here unless like us you love all things ancient.
Less than a mile northeast is the two stone row of Gwastadgoed, and a half mile south is this nice little hillfort.
Leaving the village of llwyngwril through the cemetry, it’s not as sacriligous as it sounds thats just the way the road goes.
I parked next to a farm shed, and left Eric in the car, as the fort is so close to the road, (indeed it probably goes over a part of it) I felt no need to make him come with me, he was visible at all times(just).
As with all parts of the North Walean coast as you head inland the hills appear and the road goes up, but just before the hills get too high or too far from the sea, a small hillock protruding from a more substantial hill (is there another word for hill?)with commanding views up and down the coast was chosen for this fortified settlement, they chose well. The ditch is most evident on the southern side, within the ditch is a large earth fast angled boulder, i’m beginning to think they might have a purpose as this is about the fifth time Ive come across one, or it could just be that hills sometimes have stones that cant easily be moved on them,
The entrance isnt well preserved but if Im looking at it all right its on the northern side facing Barmouth, the eastern edge had stone built walls but now only a long stone spread with the obligatory wind shelter inserted to keep the Jessies cozy.
Its no Maiden Castle, it doesnt have mighty works left for us to ponder over, but it is what it is and its in a lovely place, so if your passing and need a break come up here for an hour stretch your legs and blow out the cobwebs.

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