Beacon Ring

Hillfort
SJ265058

Also known as:

Caer Digoll

Nearest town:

Welshpool (5km WNW)

OS reference:

SJ265058

OS sheet:

126

Latitude:

52° 38' 40.31 N

Longitude:

3° 5' 11.15 W

Added to TMA by

Rhiannon

Images (13)
Folklore (1)
Links (1)

Images

Image of Beacon Ring (Hillfort) by thesweetcheat

Long Mountain from Montgomery Castle. Beacon Ring hillfort is on the highest point, towards the left hand end. Offa's Dyke crosses the flat lands below.

Image credit: A. Brookes (9.8.2022)

thesweetcheat Aug 15, 2011

Image of Beacon Ring (Hillfort) by thesweetcheat

The ridge of Long Mountain seen from Lymore Park to the SSW. The fort can be seen towards the lefthand (southwest) end of the ridge.

Image credit: A. Brookes (8.8.2011)

thesweetcheat Aug 14, 2011

Image of Beacon Ring (Hillfort) by thesweetcheat

The fort from the south. The rampart can be seen beneath the trees.

Image credit: A. Brookes (8.8.2011)

thesweetcheat Aug 14, 2011

Image of Beacon Ring (Hillfort) by thesweetcheat

Impressive earthworks near the southern entrance.

Image credit: A. Brookes (8.8.2011)

thesweetcheat Aug 14, 2011

Image of Beacon Ring (Hillfort) by thesweetcheat

The southern entrance. Becairned Corndon Hill fills the skyline to the SE.

Image credit: A. Brookes (8.8.2011)

thesweetcheat Aug 14, 2011

Image of Beacon Ring (Hillfort) by thesweetcheat

On the south-eastern rampart.

Image credit: A. Brookes (8.8.2011)

thesweetcheat Aug 14, 2011

Image of Beacon Ring (Hillfort) by thesweetcheat

Extensive views from the western rampart, looking NW. Outskirts of Welshpool can be seen below on the far left.

Image credit: A. Brookes (8.8.2011)

thesweetcheat Aug 14, 2011

Image of Beacon Ring (Hillfort) by thesweetcheat

Heavily overgrown rampart on the western side of the fort.

Image credit: A. Brookes (8.8.2011)

thesweetcheat Aug 14, 2011

Image of Beacon Ring (Hillfort) by thesweetcheat

The northern-eastern rampart, near the northern entrance.

Image credit: A. Brookes (8.8.2011)

thesweetcheat Aug 14, 2011

Image of Beacon Ring (Hillfort) by thesweetcheat

The rampart at the northern end of the fort.

Image credit: A. Brookes (8.8.2011)

thesweetcheat Aug 14, 2011

Image of Beacon Ring (Hillfort) by thesweetcheat

Approaching the tree-covered fort from the north.

Image credit: A. Brookes (8.8.2011)

thesweetcheat Aug 14, 2011

Image of Beacon Ring (Hillfort) by thesweetcheat

Long Mountain, with Beacon Ring surrounded by trees on the right skyline. The volcanic Breddins are over to the far left. From Powis Castle, near Welshpool.

Image credit: A. Brookes (7.8.2011)

thesweetcheat Aug 11, 2011

Image of Beacon Ring (Hillfort) by thesweetcheat

Beacon Ring (centre skyline) seen from the gardens at Powis Castle.

Image credit: A. Brookes (7.8.2011)

thesweetcheat Aug 11, 2011

Articles

Beacon Ring

Hillfort

Rhiannon Nov 4, 2003

A Bronze Age round barrow lies within this later Iron Age fort on the highest point of Long Mountain. 'Beacon Ring' rather implies that the site has also been used for beacon fires.

Grinsell (Folklore of Prehistoric Sites in Britain) recorded that it is a haunt of fairies, and J+C Bord (Atlas of Magical Britain) describe it as 'atmospheric'.

There are remote districts in our county where the more ignorant part of the population still put their faith in witchcraft; and the fairies are still believed to hold their assemblies at the Beacon ring on the Long Mountain.. From p64 of 'On the Local Legends of Shropshire' by Thomas Wright. p56 in 'Collectanea Archaeologica' v1, 1862. Online at Google Books.

Beacon Ring

Hillfort

Rhiannon Nov 4, 2003

Clwyd Powys Archaeological Trust

This website has a photo and some information on the fort.

I don't know what the fairies would think of what was done in 1953: to mark the coronation trees were planted to form 'ER' when seen from the air.

Sites within 20km of Beacon Ring

Black Bank

Hillfort • 1.79km NNW

3 1
Beechfield

Hillfort • 3.53km ENE

1 1
Maen Llog

Standing Stone / Menhir • 4.37km W

3 4
Sarn-y-Bryn-Caled (Destroyed)

Timber Circle • 4.67km WSW

1 2
Sarn-y-Bryn-Caled

Cursus • 4.89km WSW

2
Crowther’s Camp

Enclosure • 5.73km NW

1 1
Castle Ring (Rorrington)

Hillfort • 7.13km ESE

1 1
Caus Castle

Hillfort • 7.5km ENE

12 1 1
Dyffryn Lane

Henge • 7.5km SW

1 2 1
Maen Beuno

Standing Stone / Menhir • 7.64km SW

3 4
Cefn-yr-allt

Hillfort • 8.1km WSW

1
The Cow Stone

Standing Stone / Menhir • 8.17km ESE

7 2
Gaer Fawr (Welshpool)

Hillfort • 8.18km NW

16 1 4
Stapeley Hill

Ring Cairn • 8.25km ESE

15 2
The Hoarstones

Stone Circle • 8.32km ESE

51 1 7
Mitchell’s Fold

Stone Circle • 8.35km SE

105 7 10 2
Mitchell’s Fold cairn

Cairn(s) • 8.47km SE

4 1
Cefyn y Castell

Hillfort • 8.49km NNE

20 1
Pen-y-Foel

Hillfort • 8.63km WSW

2 1
Golfa

Enclosure • 8.72km W

1
New Pieces Enclosure, Breiddin Hill

Hillfort • 8.81km NNE

3 1
Whetstones

Stone Circle • 9.02km SE

4 1 1
Breiddin Hill Camp

Hillfort • 9.1km NNE

9 1 1
Whetstones Cairn

Cairn(s) • 9.16km SE

3 1
Pant Brwynog

Cairn(s) • 9.74km SE

2
Corndon Hill

Barrow / Cairn Cemetery • 9.93km SE

45 2
Ffridd Faldwyn

Hillfort • 10.11km SSW

11 1
Pennerley Barrows

Round Barrow(s) • 10.59km ESE

9 1
Roundton

Hillfort • 11.19km SE

2 1
Y Gaer (Meifod)

Enclosure • 11.49km WNW

1
Cwm Mawr Stone Axe Factory

Ancient Mine / Quarry • 11.5km SE

2 2
Castle Ring (Shelve)

Hillfort • 11.74km E

10 1
Crosswood

Enclosure • 11.77km N

4 2
Callow Hill Camp

Hillfort • 11.94km E

1 1
Collfryn

Enclosure • 12.34km NW

1 1
The Rossett

Round Barrow(s) • 12.37km S

3 2
Cefn-Cyfronydd

Enclosure • 12.38km W

2 1
The Stiperstones

Cairn(s) • 12.51km ESE

22 6
Bryn Mawr

Enclosure • 13.33km NNW

2 1
Heath Mynd

Platform Cairn • 13.66km ESE

7 1
Earl’s Hill and Pontesford Hill

Hillfort • 14.38km E

24 4
Roveries Hill

Hillfort • 14.57km SE

1 1
Long Hill

Hillfort • 14.62km NW

1
Pentre Camp (Llangyniew)

Hillfort • 15.19km W

1
Cothercott Hill

Round Barrow(s) • 15.52km E

3 2
Soldier’s Mount

Hillfort • 15.62km NW

2
Castle Ring (Ratlinghope)

Hillfort • 16.04km E

9 1
Caer Din

Enclosure • 16.04km SSE

1
St Mary’s Well

Sacred Well • 16.1km W

2 2
Llanymynech Hill

Ancient Mine / Quarry • 16.28km NNW

6 6 1
Castle Ring tumulus

Round Barrow(s) • 16.5km E

6 1
Blodwel Rock

Hillfort • 17.08km NNW

4 3
Lower Short Ditch

Dyke • 18.29km S

1
Nesscliffe Hill Camp

Hillfort • 18.47km NE

21 4
Lea Stone

Natural Rock Feature • 18.67km SE

1
The Long Mynd

18.67km E

1
Shooting Box barrows

Round Barrow(s) • 18.78km E

15 3
Pole Cottage

Round Barrow(s) • 18.81km ESE

5 1
Robin Hood’s Butts (Shropshire)

Barrow / Cairn Cemetery • 18.92km E

9 3
Boiling Well barrows

Round Barrow(s) • 19.37km ESE

7 2
Brynar and Riddle

Round Barrow(s) • 19.43km SW

1
Upper Short Ditch

Dyke • 19.58km SSW

1
High Park cross dyke

Dyke • 19.97km E

1