<< Our Photo Pages >> Moel Dinas Hill Fort - Hillfort in Wales in Gwynedd
Submitted by TAlanJones on Monday, 01 May 2023 Page Views: 349
Iron Age and Later PrehistorySite Name: Moel Dinas Hill FortCountry: Wales County: Gwynedd Type: Hillfort
Nearest Town: Penrhyndeudraeth Nearest Village: Garreg
Map Ref: SH6257042300
Latitude: 52.960408N Longitude: 4.047456W
Condition:
5 | Perfect |
4 | Almost Perfect |
3 | Reasonable but with some damage |
2 | Ruined but still recognisable as an ancient site |
1 | Pretty much destroyed, possibly visible as crop marks |
0 | No data. |
-1 | Completely destroyed |
5 | Superb |
4 | Good |
3 | Ordinary |
2 | Not Good |
1 | Awful |
0 | No data. |
5 | Can be driven to, probably with disabled access |
4 | Short walk on a footpath |
3 | Requiring a bit more of a walk |
2 | A long walk |
1 | In the middle of nowhere, a nightmare to find |
0 | No data. |
5 | co-ordinates taken by GPS or official recorded co-ordinates |
4 | co-ordinates scaled from a detailed map |
3 | co-ordinates scaled from a bad map |
2 | co-ordinates of the nearest village |
1 | co-ordinates of the nearest town |
0 | no data |
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Hillfort in Gwynedd
Situated on a prominent rocky hilltop the hill fort relies mainly on the natural defences of cliffs and steep slopes along with areas of linked walling. Much of its original walling has fallen away or been repurposed but enough remains to estimate the fort's shape and dimensions. The fort's orientation is NE to SW. it appears to be oval, tapering from the NE and with an estimated length of 85m. There is a raised rocky outcrop (20m diameter) about 40m from the NE end effectively creating a fort of two sides or enclosures i.e. 40m & 25m in length. The SW side being the smaller and narrower end at 25m wide, and the more defendable end. A length of walling at about 0.70m to 1m in height effectively blocks the NE perimeter, apart from a couple of narrow entrances. Furthermore, a narrow entrance on the eastern side appears to have been the fort's entry point.
During my visit I noted the remains of at least three hut circles within the confines of the fort. They are situated along, and close to the northern perimeter wall of the larger enclosure. I measured the huts as having a 6m diameter with their eastern arcs cut into the sloping ground. I also noted a possible hut circle site within the narrower SW side.
The site location, forming a spur on the edge of an extensive upland area provides commanding views over Traeth Mawr and of the western Eryri mountains. However, this is private land, and I had approached the landowner for permission to visit the site. Although having an avid interest in the history of his landscape he has had cause to despair at the actions of some people. Therefore permission should be sought before any planned visitation.
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