Castell Bach and Castell Mawr

Also known as:
Castell Gwarfelin
Nearest town:
Aberaeron (11km SW)
OS reference:
SN537687
OS sheet:
135
Latitude:
52° 17' 47.26 N
Longitude:
4° 8' 44.22 W
Added to TMA by

Images

Image of Castell Bach and Castell Mawr (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 Castell Bach and Castell Mawr (Hillfort) by thesweetcheat

The two forts seen from the coastline to the west. The hills form the last high ground before a wide, flat plateau of fertile land set a little above sea level.

Image credit: A. Brookes (20.4.2015)
thesweetcheat
thesweetcheat Apr 30, 2015
Image of Castell Bach and Castell Mawr (Hillfort) by thesweetcheat

Castell Bach seen across the “dell of slaughter” from Castell Mawr.

Image credit: A. Brookes (18.4.2015)
thesweetcheat
thesweetcheat Apr 26, 2015
Image of Castell Bach and Castell Mawr (Hillfort) by thesweetcheat

The steep western side of Castell Mawr is covered in dense hawthorn. Despite the alternative name of May tree, the blossom is thick this April.

Image credit: A. Brookes (18.4.2015)
thesweetcheat
thesweetcheat Apr 26, 2015
Image of Castell Bach and Castell Mawr (Hillfort) by thesweetcheat

Castell Bach seen from the lower ground between the two forts.

Image credit: A. Brookes (18.4.2015)
thesweetcheat
thesweetcheat Apr 26, 2015
Image of Castell Bach and Castell Mawr (Hillfort) by thesweetcheat

Looking from the rampart of Castell Bach towards the prominent Y Foel (which may also have a hilltop enclosure on it).

Image credit: A. Brookes (18.4.2015)
thesweetcheat
thesweetcheat Apr 26, 2015
Image of Castell Bach and Castell Mawr (Hillfort) by thesweetcheat

Castell Bach (bare hill on the left) and Castell Mawr (vegetated hill on the right) seen from the lane to the sea.

Image credit: A. Brookes (18.4.2015)
thesweetcheat
thesweetcheat Apr 26, 2015

Articles

Folklore

Castell Bach and Castell Mawr
Hillfort
thesweetcheat
thesweetcheat Apr 26, 2015

From the Llanrhystud Heritage Trail leaflet:

From here you will see Castel Bach and Castel Mawr (sic), the sites of two Iron Age hillforts facing each other. Local legend suggests that there was once a terrible battle between them and the gully dividing them is know as Pantglas (Pantgalanas) the dell of slaughter. However there was once a medieval castle overlooking the village to the northeast known as Caer Penrhos. The castle was thought to have been built by Cadwaladr ap Gruffudd between 1147 – 1149. There was much turbulence at the time and records show much bloodshed which might be associated with the legend.

Topics

Castell Bach 6
C Michael Hogan
C Michael Hogan
Jun 2008

Sites within 20km of Castell Bach and Castell Mawr

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