Creigiau Gwineu

Also known as:
Mynydd y Graig and Mynydd y Graig
Nearest town:
Pwllheli (16km ENE)
OS reference:
SH22802746
OS sheet:
123
Latitude:
52° 48' 54.39 N
Longitude:
4° 37' 46.96 W
Added to TMA by

Images

Image of Creigiau Gwineu (Hillfort) by GLADMAN

Looking approx north to Mynydd Rhiw and its wondrous cairns... presumably the drystone wall ‘filling in the gap’ is on the line of the original defensive barrier?

Image credit: Robert Gladstone
GLADMAN
GLADMAN Jun 12, 2026
Image of Creigiau Gwineu (Hillfort) by GLADMAN

Looking to the approx southwest. Very, very windy....

Image credit: Robert Gladstone
GLADMAN
GLADMAN Jun 12, 2026
Image of Creigiau Gwineu (Hillfort) by GLADMAN

To the northeast. Porth Neigwl – aka ‘Hell’s Mouth’ – can be seen beyond.

Image credit: Robert Gladstone
GLADMAN
GLADMAN Jun 12, 2026
Image of Creigiau Gwineu (Hillfort) by GLADMAN

Part of what I reckoned were pretty substantial defences to the northeast.

GLADMAN
GLADMAN Jun 12, 2026
Image of Creigiau Gwineu (Hillfort) by GLADMAN

The western flank has a very ‘Cornish’ vibe to it...

Image credit: Robert Gladstone
GLADMAN
GLADMAN Jun 12, 2026
Image of Creigiau Gwineu (Hillfort) by thesweetcheat

Mynydd Rhiw (cairns and Neolithic axe factory) on the left and Mynydd y Graig, crowned with Cregiau Gwineu hillfort on the right. Seen from Mynydd Penarfynydd to the southwest.

Image credit: A. Brookes (17.4.2016)
thesweetcheat
thesweetcheat Apr 28, 2016
Image of Creigiau Gwineu (Hillfort) by thesweetcheat

Traces of stone walled rampart can be seen below the outcrop on the eastern side of the fort. Looking down on Porth Neigwl.

Image credit: A. Brookes (17.4.2016)
thesweetcheat
thesweetcheat Apr 28, 2016
Image of Creigiau Gwineu (Hillfort) by thesweetcheat

The middle of the fort incorporates a massive rock outcrop.

Image credit: A. Brookes (17.4.2016)
thesweetcheat
thesweetcheat Apr 28, 2016
Image of Creigiau Gwineu (Hillfort) by thesweetcheat

Creigiau Gwineu hillfort occupies the rocky summit of Mynydd y Graig on the left. The headland of Mynydd Penarfynydd is over to the right. From the southern slopes of Mynydd Rhiw to the northwest.

Image credit: A. Brookes (17.4.2016)
thesweetcheat
thesweetcheat Apr 24, 2016

Articles

Miscellaneous

Creigiau Gwineu
Hillfort
GLADMAN
GLADMAN Jun 12, 2026

Finally scheduling a visit from my usual North Walian base (near Capel Garmon, so quite a drive), this hillfort – I hesitate to use Coflein’s ‘defended enclosure’ designation – certainly did not disappoint: excellent views, excellent surviving archaeology, excellent vibe... hey, just excellent all ‘round, to be fair. Coflein notes:

“This impressive site is situated around the large outcrop of Creigiau Gwinau, a feature that is in fact used as part of the fort’s defences. The outcrop forms a large spine of rock running along a north east – south west axis to the south east of which lies a relatively level area of land measuring about 150 x 50m at its largest extent. To the south and east of this platform the land drops away steeply and it is at this break of slope that a fairly substantial stony bank has been built describing an arc between two ends of the spine,. The bank incorporates substantial outcrops and grounders along its length, particularly to the north east, and also includes stretches of dry stone walling. The original entrance to this fortified area probably lay in an 8m wide gap in the escarpment to the west across which a relatively modern all now stretches. A low dry stone wall divides the interior of the fort into two fairly equal halves although whether this is an original feature or a later addition is unclear....” John Latham RCAHMW 31 July 2018 [Source: National Trust Report: Sean Taylor. 2000. Plas yn Rhiw – The National Trust Archaeological Survey.]

I parked beside the old chapel and accessed the site via the coastal path to the north.

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