Nice compact enclosure..
Images
Zoomed at across the cwm from the denuded monument at Tanybryn-Isaf
To be honest it felt odd to descend to a hill fort... from Bryn Goleu to the south east.
The well defined defence upon northern arc....
From the south-east...
At – presumably – the entrance to the east.
As Kammer noted before me, some sections of the bank are quite seriously damaged; however this does afford the opportunity to see how Iron Age defences of this type were constructed.
Taken 13th March 2003: On the south side of the fort the ersosion of the ramparts is less dramatic. This photo shows one of a number of large stones that sit within the defenses of the hillfort. They're not earthfast, but large enough to have been in the area for a long time (possibly used in defensive walls?).
Taken 13th March 2003: On the north side of the fort the rampart is eroded in a number of places, presumably by the elements and sheep. Here the structure of the rampart is revealad in cross section.
Taken 13th March 2003: On the south side of the fort, looking west south west. I took this photo because I as amazed to see so much Iron Age masonry still evident, even if it is a scattered mess.
The stream running off in the middle distance is Afon Stewi. If it wasn't covered in forestry we'd be able to see Garn Wen on the hill in the distance (actually less than a mile away).
Taken 13th March 2003:Looking south across the gateway (you can see the gap in the defensive ditch in the foreground). The kerb stone (at east that's what I've chosen to call it) is just visible. In the distance is Blaencastell Farm, and the Rheidol Study Centre.
Taken 13th March 2003: This shot is taken looking across the old gateway, approximately north towards the Banc Mynyddgorddu Windfarm above Bont-Goch.
The stone in the foreground is interesting. I found myself wondering whether it represents the remains of a defensive wall, or possibly the Iron Age equivilant of a kerb stone protecting wooden defensive walls.
Taken 13th March 2003: From the east (or there abouts), here is a shot with the standing stone in the foreground and the fort on the horizon. Strikingly, the stone is on the side of the fort with the gateway on it. This suggests that it would have been significant to whoever built the fort, either because they knew why it had been put there, or because they placed some new Iron Aged significance upon it.
Taken 15th September 2002: On my way to the Disgwylfa Fach Standing Stone I thought I'd grab this shot of Pen-y-Castell hillfort from the south. The standing stone isn't visible from this angle.
Articles
Coming straight from a – it has to be said – magical visit to the Dinas hill fort to the (approx) east... featuring enigmatic warrior burial and glorious views... Pen-y-Castell might well have proved an anti-climax, a disappointment. That it is nothing of the sort could mean I'm easily pleased; or that Pen-y-Castell is simply a great site in its own right? Needless to say this is no doubt a rhetorical question... utterly subjective. For what it's worth, however, I reckon the latter option holds sway.
For one thing there is no direct comparison between the landscape context of the two sites. Not at all. Passing the llynnau of Blaenmelindwr and Pendam along the Penrhyn-coch road from Ponterwyd, I park up opposite the dwelling of Bryn-goleu. My (library sale) OS map helps, but is not conclusive... I decide the public footpath heading downhill to the left is a better bet than the unmade vehicular track. The thought occurs..... 'why am I heading down hill to a hillfort?' Surely this can't be right? I guess the question is valid at the time. However in short order the hill fort is visible below, rising above the 'Rheidol Study Centre' through a break in the forestry. I'm reminded somewhat of Exmoor's wondrous Cow Castle. Ok, this isn't in the same league, but then again... what is?
The soggy footpath directs me to tarmac and hence a path following the left hand bank of a small lake, the hill fort rising upon a hill.... funnily enough.... to my left. Ignore the initial gate unless you have fingers of steel – I can not for the life of me open it and am aware that people at the 'Study Centre' may well be 'studying me' – since there is an 'official' entrance a little further along. The ramparts are but a short climb away, an apparently prehistoric monolith yours for the visiting en-route, if that's your bag.
The setting of the enclosure is sublime, if not as dramatic as the previously mentioned Dinas, with an excellent, open panorama to the west contrasting with encircling hills to the other points of the compass. The natural defences are more than sufficient, the ground falling away sharply except to the east where, as you would expect, the main (only?) entrance is situated. The single bank is more substantial than I expected, albeit subject to significant erosion in places, damage which nevertheless affords an insight into construction techniques, as noted previously by Kammer. Another feature of the site is the presence of a number of boulders of no discernable function; I've noticed these at a number of Welsh hillforts... what were they for? Surely some genius out there has a theory? Whatever, Pen-y-Castell provides a fine, evocative hang for a few hours.
So, Pen-y-Castell solves the conundrum of 'how to follow Dinas'... by being completely different, there being no relevant criteria for comparison. Hey, I can live with that. Still, it's bloody weird ascending a steep hill on the way BACK from a hill fort to the car. Right on! I can live with that, too.
Visited 13th March 2000: After one aborted attempt last year, I finally got round to visiting Pen-y-Castell Hillfort on a lunch hour last week. The sharp winter sunlight was beautiful, but it was still very cold and windy once I got to the top.
There's loads to see up there, especially considering how insignificant the fort is compared to some of its local rivals. The ramparts and ditches are still relatively well defined, especially around the entrance to the east. Modern erosion to the ramparts gives a cut-away view of the stones that make them up, and there are a number of large boulders within the boundaries of the fort that must have served some purpose when it was in use (it's unlikely that they've been lugged up there since).
The most interesting stone that appears to be part of the original fort stand on the north side of the main entrance, where there is a break in the defensive ditch. I found myself wondering whether it represents the remains of a defensive wall, or possibly the Iron Age equivalent of a kerb stone protecting wooden defensive walls from wear and tear.
As I descended the hill and made my way back to the car there were two F15 fighter planes circling overhead, presumably practising for the real thing in Iraq. I pondered the stupidity of it all, and how far mankind (I use this term intentionally) has come since the simple Iron Age defences of Pen-y-Castell. It took the edge off of an otherwise beautiful visit.
Sites within 20km of Pen-y-Castell Hillfort
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Pen-y-Castell Stone
photo 4 description 1 -
Tanybryn-Isaf (Trefeurig)
photo 3 description 1 link 1 -
Garn Wen (Trefeurig)
photo 8 description 1 link 1 -
Cerrig yr Wyn
photo 17 description 3 link 1 -
Garrig Hir
photo 11 description 2 -
Darren Camp
photo 9 description 2 link 1 -
Banc y Darren
photo 4 description 1 link 1 -
Cwmere Farm Stone
photo 5 description 2 -
Carn Dolgau
photo 9 -
Pen Dinas (Banc Mynydd Gorddu)
photo 16 -
Pen Craig y Pistyll (Ceulanamaesmawr)
photo 11 description 1 link 1 -
Penrhyncoch Camp
photo 4 description 1 -
Carreg Slic
description 1 -
Buwch a’r Llo and Mynydd March
photo 36 description 3 link 2 -
Bwlch yr Adwy (Ceulanamaesmawr)
photo 8 description 1 link 1 -
Esgair Nant-yr-Arian
photo 11 -
Glandwr Stone(s)
photo 2 description 1 -
Disgwylfa Fach Stone
photo 3 description 2 -
Esgair Gorlan
photo 7 description 1 link 1 -
Nant Geifaes
photo 9 description 1 link 1 -
Penrhyn-Coch War Memorial
photo 2 description 2 -
Disgwylfa Fawr
photo 26 forum 1 description 3 -
Esgair Nant-y-Moch
photo 5 description 1 -
Tan-y-Ffordd
photo 10 description 1 link 1 -
Gelli (Melindwr)
photo 9 description 1 -
Blaen Llywernog
photo 4 description 2 -
Capel Bangor Camp
photo 3 -
Caer Lletty-Llwyd
photo 3 description 1 -
Carn Owen
photo 13 description 2 -
Dinas (Blaenrheidol)
photo 19 forum 1 description 4 -
Hen Gaer
photo 1 description 1 -
Dinas Hut Circle
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Castell Bwa-Drain
photo 17 description 3 -
Caer Allt-Goch
photo 1 description 1 -
Cylch Derwyddol
photo 6 description 3 link 1 -
Carreg Llwyd (East)
photo 4 description 1 -
Y Garnedd
photo 3 -
Hirnant Circle
photo 17 description 3 link 2 -
Garn Lwyd Stone and Barrow Cemetery
photo 4 description 1 -
Aber Camddwr Reconstruction
photo 4 description 1 link 1 -
Carreg Llwyd (West)
photo 3 description 1 -
Pen-y-Felin Wynt
photo 3 description 1 -
Bryn Rhosau
photo 16 description 1 -
Lle’r Neuaddau Circle
photo 18 description 3 link 1 -
Bedd Taliesin
photo 27 description 5 -
Pond Nant y Cagal Stones
photo 4 description 3 -
Aber Camddwr Ring Cairn
description 1 -
Cae’r Arglwyddes II (& the White Stone)
photo 11 description 1 -
Cae’r Arglwyddes I
photo 3 description 1 -
Nant-y-Fedwen
photo 2 description 1 -
Moel y Llyn, Ceulanamaesmawr
photo 19 description 1 -
Bwlch east of Moel y Llyn, Ceulanamaesmawr
photo 8 description 1 -
Bwlch-y-Crwys
photo 1 -
Nant Maesnant Fach
photo 9 description 1 -
Drosgol (Pumlumon)
photo 18 description 2 -
Fron Ddu
photo 3 -
Cerrig Blaencletwr-Fawr (Esgair Foel-ddu)
photo 8 -
Dolgamfa Circle
photo 19 description 3 -
Pen y Foel Goch
photo 20 description 1 -
Ysbyty Cynfyn
photo 21 forum 2 description 5 link 1 -
Y Garn (Pumlumon)
photo 21 description 1 -
Craig-y-Dullfan (Pumlumon)
photo 11 link 1 -
Devil’s Punch Bowl
photo 5 description 1 -
Old Warren Hillfort
photo 11 description 2 -
Y Garreg Fawr
photo 7 forum 1 description 3 -
Banc Llechwedd-mawr (Pumlumon)
photo 22 description 2 link 1 -
Pen Cor-Maen, Pumlumon
photo 2 -
Pen Pumlumon-Fawr
photo 79 description 4 link 2 -
Pen Carreg Gopa
photo 5 link 1 -
Cerrig Cyfamod Glyndwr
photo 11 description 2 -
Carn Bwlch Corog
photo 4 description 1 link 1 -
Cnwc y Bugail
photo 9 -
Castell Disgwylfa
photo 9 -
Pendinas (Aberystwyth)
photo 41 forum 1 description 6 link 2 -
Cantre’r Gwaelod
photo 12 description 2 link 3 -
Banc Lluest Newydd (Pumlumon)
photo 12 description 2 link 1 -
Carn Hyddgen (Pumlumon)
photo 26 description 3 link 1 -
Carneddau Hafod Wnog
photo 11 description 1 -
Castle Grogwynion
photo 10 description 2 -
Pen Pumlumon-Arwystli Cairns
photo 61 description 4 link 2 -
Twmpath y Crynwyr
photo 2 description 1 -
Carn Nant-y-Llys
photo 9 description 1 link 1 -
Gaer Fawr, Trawsgoed
photo 10 description 1 -
Carn March Arthur
photo 8 description 2 link 1 -
Carn Fawr
photo 13 description 2 -
Mynydd y Llyn
photo 16 description 1 -
Carreg Wen
photo 16 description 3 -
Carnfachbugeilyn
photo 7 description 2 -
Banc-y-Geufron
photo 6 description 2 -
Capel Maethlon
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Carn Biga
photo 17 description 2 -
Carreg Samson (Llethr)
photo 3 -
Eglwys Gwyddelod
photo 27 description 3 link 2 -
Copa Hill
photo 1 forum 1 description 3 link 3 -
Ffridd Bryn Dinas
photo 17 description 1 -
Cairn between Bryn Dinas and Allt Gwyddgwion
photo 7 description 1 -
Foel Caethle
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Pen-y-Ffrwyd Llwyd Camp
photo 13 description 1 -
Craig Ysradmeurig
photo 7 description 1 -
Bryn Dafydd
photo 11 description 1 link 1 -
Trawsallt
photo 10 description 1 link 1 -
Trum Gelli
photo 30 description 1 -
Maen Llwyd (Machynlleth)
photo 12 description 4 -
Domen Milwyn
photo 7 description 1 link 1 -
Carn Bwlch y Cloddiau
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Carn-y-Rhyrddod
photo 10 link 1 -
Fron y Gog
photo 9 -
Carnedd Fach
description 1 -
Pen Glog
photo 7 -
Llan Ddu Fawr
photo 10 description 1 link 1 -
Llethr Brith
photo 9 description 1 -
Cwmbiga
photo 18 description 3 -
Foel Fadian
photo 11 description 1 -
Craig y Lluest, Cwmdeuddwr
photo 15 description 1 link 2 -
Bryn y Fedwen
photo 11 description 1 -
Garn Wen, Mynydd Bach (North)
photo 11 description 1 link 1 -
Pen-y-Bannau
photo 24 description 1 -
Ffynnon Drewi (Mynydd Bach)
photo 1 link 1 -
Talcen Yr Esgair (Esgair Elan)
photo 6 description 1 link 1 -
Maen Hir
photo 4 description 2 -
Graig Gethin
photo 5 description 1 -
Bwlch Graig-Fawr, Teifi Pools
photo 10 description 1 -
Maen Hir, Glan Fedwen
photo 15 description 2 link 1 -
St Cadfan’s churchyard, Tywyn
photo 5 description 1 -
Croes Faen
photo 6 description 3 -
Cistfaen
photo 13 description 2 -
Tan-yr-Esgair, Mynydd Bach (South)
photo 5 description 1 link 1 -
Cae y Garreg Lwyd
description 1 -
Penycerrig
photo 1 -
Tarrenhendre
photo 26 description 3 -
Gilfach-Hafel Camp
photo 1