25/12/2015 – Christmas day
Images
Looking south, the large mound on the left is a reservoir, they have underground hilltop reservoirs ?
The western ramparts looking north
Looking north over the two ramparts .
The southern lesser entrance
Two lines of ramparts, the lower covered in accursed gorse. Connahs Quay in the distance.
Looking north over the big eastern entrance to the Dee estuary.
Looking east through the main entrance.
Looking south on the eastern ramparts, main entrance right of center.
Looking west on the northern ramparts towards the beginning of the Clwydian range.
Stood upon the reservoir looking east over the rampart to the Dee estuary and Connahs Quay.
Stood on the reservoir looking west towards the beginning of the Clwydian range and two unnamed 11yr old cycling enthusiasts .
The barrow from the fort ramparts to the north.
Looking north east to the lesser entrance to the fort, the Dee estuary and Flint.
Looking west towards St Asaph and Denbigh.
Articles
25/12/2015 – Managed a quick bob up Moel y Gaer to see this hillfort on a wet Christmas day. Luckily the rain had stopped for the short time we were there. It’s a nice fort and the location and view is very good. Worth a look and not too much climb.
Just north east of the little village of Rhosesmor is yet another Moel y Gaer, occupying a suitable hill top 303 meters above sea level. Parking is obtained on the west side of the hill, there is room for many cars. I headed up the hill with my camera and two straining at the lead dogs, whilst Eric and his mate Luke pushed their bikes up (bikes were part of the deal).Phil elected to stay in the car with the radio.
There were quite a lot of people up on the fort, some were walking the circuit of the fort like me, some were just lounging around on the reservoir, enjoying the sunshine and the views. The views are extensive, the best are west to the bigger hills and east to the Dee estuary. A reservoir on a hill top? with a big dome over it ? in a hill fort ? Absurd.
This is a good hill fort, the hill is just the perfect place to keep an eye on the surroundings, two well defined banks encircle the hill. The main entrance is on the east side facing the estuary, but smaller entrances are at the north and south.
Surely I must have known about this place before now, but then forgot about it, I thought I’d been to all of the good hill forts in North Wales and some crap ones, perhaps now I have. But probably not.
Mentioned by Thomas Pennant reporting on his 1773 Tour in Wales.
I must not pass unnoticed a strong British post, which soars above the road, about two miles [from Llys Edwin]. It lies on the summit of a hill, and is surrounded with a great foss and dike of a circular form [...] This post is called Moel y Gaer, or the hill of the fortress [...]
In later times, this spot proved fatal to a valiant partizan of Owen Glendwr. Howel Gwynedd was surprized in a negligent hour, within this post, and there beheaded.
Sites within 20km of Moel y Gaer
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Penbedw
photo 21 description 3 -
Llwyn Erddyn
photo 6 description 1 -
Plas Captain cairn
photo 6 description 1 -
Bryn-yr-Ellyllon
photo 1 forum 2 description 8 link 1 -
Moel Arthur
photo 29 description 5 link 1 -
Pentrehobyn
photo 3 description 2 -
Naid-y-March
photo 5 description 2 -
Wepre Brook
photo 3 description 1 -
llyn Du
photo 1 -
Llong Station
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Penycloddiau
photo 29 description 4 link 1 -
Llong
description 1 -
Penycloddiau cairn
photo 9 description 2 -
Holywell, Circle, Barrow and Linear Earthworks
photo 2 description 1 -
Moel y Parc
photo 8 description 1 -
Gorsedd
photo 6 description 1 -
Moel y Gaer (Llanbedr Dyffryn-Clwyd)
photo 20 description 2 -
Ffrith-Y-Garreg-Wen
photo 8 description 1 -
Foel Fenlli cairn
photo 4 description 2 -
Foel Fenlli
photo 18 description 3 -
Penygraig
photo 1 description 1 -
Nercwys Mountain
photo 4 description 1 -
Carreg-y-Llech
photo 11 description 3 link 1 -
Groesfford
photo 1 description 1 -
Moel y Gaer (Bodfari)
photo 13 description 1 -
Coed Bron Fawr
photo 6 description 1 -
Cae Crwn
photo 1 description 1 -
Moel Gyw
photo 8 description 2 -
Pant Ifan
photo 4 description 1 -
Maen Achwyfaen
photo 2 description 2 -
Cae Gwyn and Ffynnon Bueno Caves
photo 6 description 3 -
Bry Digrif mound II
photo 2 description 1 -
Hafod
description 1 -
Bry Digrif mound V
photo 1 description 1 -
Bry Digrif mound IV
photo 2 description 1 -
Moel Maenefa
photo 2 description 2 -
Criafol
photo 1 description 1 -
Maen Huail
photo 2 description 4 -
Berthen – Gam
photo 1 description 1 -
Moel y Plas
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Llyn-y-Gorseddau
photo 3 description 1 -
Axton tumulus IV and V
photo 3 description 2 -
Caer Estyn
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Aelwyd Uchaf
photo 4 description 2 -
Thor’s Stone
photo 11 description 2 -
Moel y Waun
description 1 -
Gop Caves
photo 8 forum 1 description 3 -
The Gop
photo 15 forum 1 description 9 link 1 -
Pwll-y-Clai
photo 1 link 1 -
Caer’ Bryn
photo 11 description 1 -
Maes Maelor
photo 8 description 1 -
Tynewydd
description 1 -
Bryn-y-Ffynnon
photo 9 description 1 -
Craig Adwy Wynt
photo 14 description 2 -
Pant
photo 2 description 1 -
Moel Hiraddug
photo 15 description 3 link 1 -
Pen-y-Gaer (Efenechtyd)
photo 9 description 2 -
St Elmo’s Summer House
photo 6 description 2 -
Coed-yr-Esgob barrows
photo 2 description 2 -
Cefn y Gader
photo 4 description 3 -
Aber Sychnant
photo 5 description 4 -
Pontnewydd Cave
link 1 -
Nant y Mawr
photo 3 description 1 -
Rhoslydan
photo 3 description 2 -
Bedd y Cawr
photo 1