Mynydd-y-Gaer

Also known as:
Mynydd y Gaer
Nearest town:
Abergele (6km WNW)
OS reference:
SH973718
OS sheet:
116
Latitude:
53° 13' 58.53 N
Longitude:
3° 32' 19.71 W
Added to TMA by

Images

Image of Mynydd-y-Gaer (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 Mynydd-y-Gaer (Hillfort) by postman

The Equinox sun sets over the sharp hill near the centre. and beyond is Tal y Fan with Cerrig Pryffaid and Maen y Bardd

Image credit: Chris Bickerton
postman
postman Sep 20, 2007

Articles

Mynydd-y-Gaer

postman
postman Sep 20, 2007

There’s a steep side and a gentle sloping side, like a twerp I went up the longway . The defences on the western side are the best preserved, with no really obvious entrances, but another great view. Situated amongst a maze of small lanes halfway between Snowdonia and the Clwydian range .( all of which Iv’e been to ).
The hillfort could be part of an Equinox alignment along with Moelfre Uchaf and Cerrig Pryffaid stone circle, though with a thousand years inbetween the construction of the two sites it seems probable that its fortuitous.

Folklore

Mynydd-y-Gaer
Hillfort
Rhiannon
Rhiannon May 9, 2013

I’m imagining this must be the place referred to by Thomas Pennant in his 1778 description of the battle of Coleshill. Maybe it’s a traditional idea. I can’t see mention of the names elsewhere, but the location fits the bill in the area? He says

.. the wise prince retired to a plain near St. Asaph, still called Cil-Owen, or Owen’s retreat; and from thence to a strong post, named Bryn y Pin, defended by great ramparts and ditches. This camp lies in the parish of St. George, on a lofty rock above the church, and is now called Pen y Parc.

The ‘wise prince’ is Owen Gwynedd, who is up against Henry II. According to Giraldus Cambrensis (writing relatively shortly after the 12th century battle) the triumph of the Welsh, who had a much smaller army, was down to the bad behaviour of Henry’s troops, who had been burning Welsh churches – divine retribution. But maybe it was actually due to the Welsh giving the English a good kicking due to superior tactics.

Sites within 20km of Mynydd-y-Gaer

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