Tan-y-Ffordd

Nearest town:
Aberystwyth (11km W)
OS reference:
SN69257981
OS sheet:
135
Latitude:
52° 24' 0.78 N
Longitude:
3° 55' 19.33 W
Added to TMA by

Images

Image of Tan-y-Ffordd (Hillfort) by GLADMAN

Somewhat overgrown.... sure, it added to the vibe, but not beneficial to determining ground plans, etc

Image credit: Robert Gladstone
GLADMAN
GLADMAN Jul 24, 2022
Image of Tan-y-Ffordd (Hillfort) by GLADMAN

Northern defences, looking east(ish)

Image credit: Robert Gladstone
GLADMAN
GLADMAN Jul 24, 2022
Image of Tan-y-Ffordd (Hillfort) by GLADMAN

Precipitous ground falling away to Cwm Rheidol protects the southern flank

Image credit: Robert Gladstone
GLADMAN
GLADMAN Jul 24, 2022
Image of Tan-y-Ffordd (Hillfort) by GLADMAN

Main northern defences

Image credit: Robert Gladstone
GLADMAN
GLADMAN Jul 24, 2022
Image of Tan-y-Ffordd (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 Tan-y-Ffordd (Hillfort) by thesweetcheat

The position of the heavily wooded fort, seen across the Cwm Rheidol Reservoir from the railway.

Image credit: A. Brookes (19.4.2015)
thesweetcheat
thesweetcheat Apr 28, 2015

Articles

OK, the dazzling views are obscured by trees (at least during summer). However, the hillfort remains...

GLADMAN
GLADMAN Jul 24, 2022

Miscellaneous

Tan-y-Ffordd
Hillfort
GLADMAN
GLADMAN Jul 24, 2022

This heavily overgrown hillfort is located within Coed y Neuadd, its rocky site towering over the course of the Afon Rheidol as it winds a serpentine course towards Aberystwyth from its cradle in the bosom of Pen Pumlumon Fawr.

Indeed, the site is so overgrown I initially assumed the ‘knoll’ to the immediate east was where I wanted to be.... However, once the radar’s attuned, the fact that ‘things really are not making sense’ usually saves the day. Usually. And Tan-y-Ffordd is well worth the effort of finding, proving to be a powerful hillfort, making full use of the dramatic natural slopes to the south. Now any medieval-heads out there may well find themselves aghast at the fact that the site is completely overlooked by high ground to the north... and would’ve been a doddle to take in any siege situation... but, of course, that wasn’t a consideration back then. Let’s face it, you wouldn’t have wanted to try and storm it with your war party.... unless you were some lunatic nutter like Putin.

The most powerful artificial defences naturally face the ‘path of least resistance’ and loom above the track upon which one still approaches, this presumably a pretty established short-cut over the millennia accessing the valley bottom from the direction of Cwmbrwyno? The main entrance appeared to be to the west, with an impressive rocky ditch to the east

I approached along said track starting at the farm of Pen-rhiwlan, the walk also affording the opportunity to visit a nice round barrow at SN705800, not to mention boasting some pretty cool views of Cwm Rheidol.

Sites within 20km of Tan-y-Ffordd

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