Mynydd Pen-y-Fal (Sugar Loaf)

Nearest town:
Llanwrtyd Wells (6km NE)
OS reference:
SN83484278
OS sheets:
147, 160
Latitude:
52° 4' 14.4 N
Longitude:
3° 42' 0.7 W
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Images

Image of Mynydd Pen-y-Fal (Sugar Loaf) (Hillfort) by GLADMAN

Looking along the spine of this delightful ridge to the south-west... the southern flank is sheer, so no need for any defences there.

Image credit: Robert Gladstone
GLADMAN
GLADMAN Aug 28, 2023
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Image of Mynydd Pen-y-Fal (Sugar Loaf) (Hillfort) by GLADMAN

Retrospective to the northeast... one can appreciate what certainly appear to be defences within the copious fern (I attempted a definitive look but was driven back by industrial-strength bramble within the greenery).

Image credit: Robert Gladstone
GLADMAN
GLADMAN Aug 28, 2023
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Miscellaneous

Mynydd Pen-y-Fal (Sugar Loaf)
Hillfort
GLADMAN
GLADMAN Aug 19, 2023
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Not to be confused with the shapely hill overlooking Abergavenny, this ‘Sugar Loaf’ – presumably so named on account of its profile... although exactly what a sugar loaf is I could not tell... can’t be very healthy? – is actually crowned by the remains of an Iron Age hill fort... a fact that 99.9% of visitors to this rather fine ‘picnic spot’ upon the A483 between Llandovery and Llanwrtyd Wells are probably oblivious to.

To be fair, there are mitigating factors, not least that the ancient providence was apparently only ascertained from the air in 2001! OK, the defences are far from obvious on the ground; however, I can confirm they are there alright. A wonderful spot, indeed.

The archaeological experts reckon:

“The Iron age hillfort occupying the summit of ‘Sugar Loaf’ knoll, is aligned SW/NE. The fort is elongated, oval in shape, with an entrance at the north east end. A single earthwork rampart defines the north side of the fort, with apparently no artificial defences on the south side due to the precipitous natural slopes. The rampart narrows along the spine of the ridge at the north east end, and ends in a cross bank defending the simple ?passage entrance. Discovered during RCAHMW aerial reconnaissance in 2001
(AP ref: 2001/3528 26-28). Not inspected on ground. TGD”

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Sites within 20km of Mynydd Pen-y-Fal (Sugar Loaf)

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