Castell Llanaber

Also known as:
Fridd Fechan
Nearest town:
Barmouth (2km SE)
OS reference:
SH61531785
OS sheet:
124
Latitude:
52° 44' 24.52 N
Longitude:
4° 3' 4.82 W
Added to TMA by

Images

Image of Castell Llanaber (Hillfort) by thesweetcheat

Zoomed in from Bwlch y Llan. Yr Eifl/Tre’r Ceiri to the left.

Image credit: A. Brookes (13.9.2022)
thesweetcheat
thesweetcheat Sep 8, 2023
Image of Castell Llanaber (Hillfort) by thesweetcheat

Castell Llanaber, flat-topped in the centre of shot. From Bwlch y Llan to the southeast.

Image credit: A. Brookes (13.9.2022)
thesweetcheat
thesweetcheat Sep 8, 2023
Image of Castell Llanaber (Hillfort) by GLADMAN

Eastern flank looking approx south... very windy

Image credit: Robert Gladstone
GLADMAN
GLADMAN Nov 14, 2022
Image of Castell Llanaber (Hillfort) by GLADMAN

Approaching from the approx north (don’t, the track to the south is much easier) I was mightily surprised by the substantial remains of this excellent hillfort... even bisected by a bloody dry-stone wall.

Image credit: Robert Gladstone
GLADMAN
GLADMAN Nov 14, 2022

Articles

Miscellaneous

Castell Llanaber
Hillfort
GLADMAN
GLADMAN Nov 23, 2022

Not a castle... but a much older Iron Age fortress overlooking Cardigan Bay, not far from the traditional seaside attractions of Barmouth upon Snowdonia’s western coast.

Yeah, set within the scenic splendour of the rugged southern Rhinogydd, this hillfort looks – and indeed is – the real deal, particularly if viewed perched upon its crag from the north. Unlike me, however, you’ll want to approach from the green track below to the south.... unless trademark Rhinog ankle-twisting boulders, camouflaged within copious heather, is your thing? Nah, thought as much.

OK, the enclosure is unfortunately bisected by a high drystone wall, another idiosyncratic feature of this wondrous mountain landscape; nevertheless, a significant volume of drystone defences still remains in situ. So, if you like your hillforts wild and uncompromising, yet not too far from civilisation, this one is for you.

Don’t forget to drop in on the nearby – and chronically neglected – Bronze Age ring cairn upon Mynydd Llanaber while you’re here.

Coflein notes:

Castell Llanaber is a sub-rectangular hillfort approximately 48m x 34m... and is crossed by a modern wall. The wall possibly masks the entrance. A rectangular structure approximately 10m square and set within the south-west angle is thought to be a later sheepfold.” [J.Wiles, RCAHMW – 11/2/2004]

Sites within 20km of Castell Llanaber

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