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<< Our Photo Pages >> Moel Arthur - Hillfort in Wales in Denbighshire

Submitted by Andy B on Monday, 13 March 2017  Page Views: 21457

Iron Age and Later PrehistorySite Name: Moel Arthur
Country: Wales County: Denbighshire Type: Hillfort
Nearest Town: Ruthin  Nearest Village: Fford-las
Map Ref: SJ1453266040  Landranger Map Number: 116
Latitude: 53.184564N  Longitude: 3.280453W
Condition:
5Perfect
4Almost Perfect
3Reasonable but with some damage
2Ruined but still recognisable as an ancient site
1Pretty much destroyed, possibly visible as crop marks
0No data.
-1Completely destroyed
4 Ambience:
5Superb
4Good
3Ordinary
2Not Good
1Awful
0No data.
5 Access:
5Can be driven to, probably with disabled access
4Short walk on a footpath
3Requiring a bit more of a walk
2A long walk
1In the middle of nowhere, a nightmare to find
0No data.
3 Accuracy:
5co-ordinates taken by GPS or official recorded co-ordinates
4co-ordinates scaled from a detailed map
3co-ordinates scaled from a bad map
2co-ordinates of the nearest village
1co-ordinates of the nearest town
0no data
5

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bishop_pam visited on 13th Sep 2023 - their rating: Cond: 5 Amb: 5 Access: 3

SumDoood visited on 23rd May 2015 - their rating: Cond: 3 Amb: 4 Access: 3

Andy B have visited here

Average ratings for this site from all visit loggers: Condition: 4 Ambience: 4.5 Access: 3

Moel Arthur
Moel Arthur submitted by andcampbell : Moel Arthur from the air looking east (Vote or comment on this photo)
Hillfort in Denbighshire. Moel Arthur was built around 2,500 years ago. It can be found nestled between Penycloddiau hillfort and Moel Llys y Coed. Although it is a small hillfort, it boasts some of the largest banks and ditches (ramparts) of all the hillforts in the area.

Activity on Moel Arthur wasn't just limited to the Iron Age. There is a possible Bronze Age burial mound in the centre of the hillfort and evidence of quarrying on the southern edge of the hill. Legend has it that the hill was exploited during the 'Cilcain Gold Rush', by ever-optimistic gold diggers.

Moel Arthur can be reached by taking the Mold to Denbigh road (A541) and turning the first left after the Cilcain turn off. The fort is 2 miles down this road with a small car park located near the site.

Source: Heather and Hillforts (archived link)

Page originally by Vicky Morgan

Note: Clare Balding discovers North Wales Hillforts on BBC Radio 4 Ramblings this week - see comment on our page for the iPlayer Radio link
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Moel Arthur
Moel Arthur submitted by Andy B : Moel Arthur The Offa's Dyke path drops down steeply to the car park. This shows the Hill Fort near the top and the old quarries on the hill side. Copyright John Harrison and licensed for reuse under the Creative Commons Licence. (Vote or comment on this photo)

Moel Arthur
Moel Arthur submitted by Andy B : Summit of Moel Arthur with a squall about to hit Here someone's artistic endeavour can only be briefly appreciated before a scramble to don full waterproofs as a cold squall zooms in from the west and the open Vale of Clwyd. Copyright Jeremy Bolwell and licensed for reuse under this Creative Commons Licence. (Vote or comment on this photo)

Moel Arthur
Moel Arthur submitted by postman : As seen en route to Penycloddiau (Vote or comment on this photo)

Moel Arthur
Moel Arthur submitted by Andy B : Heather clad Moel Arthur The heather covered slopes of Moel Arthur Copyright Dot Potter and licensed for reuse under this Creative Commons Licence. (Vote or comment on this photo)

Moel Arthur
Moel Arthur submitted by Andy B : Moel Arthur Summit of Moel Arthur at 1480 ft, in the Clwydian ranges Copyright Dot Potter and licensed for reuse under this Creative Commons Licence.

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Nearby sites listing. In the following links * = Image available
 541m NW 319° Moel Arthur, Boundary Stone Marker Stone (SJ1418366454)
 2.3km NW 313° Penycloddiau* Hillfort (SJ1290067610)
 2.6km SSW 208° Ffynnon Cynhafal* Holy Well or Sacred Spring (SJ133638)
 2.9km NE 51° Penbedw Park Standing Stone* Standing Stone (Menhir) (SJ168678)
 3.2km NE 53° Penbedw Park* Stone Circle (SJ17126793)
 3.3km NE 48° Penbedw Park Tumulus* Round Barrow(s) (SJ17006819)
 4.3km S 175° Moel-y-Gaer (Loggerheads)* Hillfort (SJ14866175)
 4.4km ENE 67° Ffynnon Leinw Holy Well or Sacred Spring (SJ18636767)
 4.5km NE 56° Pen-Y-Gelli* Round Barrow(s) (SJ18316851)
 4.7km SSE 163° Bwlch Penbarra Marker Stone (SJ1584661500)
 5.0km SSE 162° Coed Clwyd Cairns* Burial Chamber or Dolmen (SJ16026127)
 5.4km ENE 63° Hendre Farm Round Barrow(s) (SJ19426838)
 6.2km SSE 162° Foel Fenlli* Hillfort (SJ1632060080)
 6.6km ESE 120° Carreg Carn March Arthur Marker Stone (SJ202626)
 6.9km NW 313° Moel-y-Gaer (Bodfari)* Hillfort (SJ09527080)
 7.1km WSW 247° St Dyfnog's Well* Holy Well or Sacred Spring (SJ0798263347)
 7.1km NNE 22° Plas Captain* Cairn (SJ17367253)
 7.1km NNE 24° Llwyn Erddyn* Ring Cairn (SJ17567249)
 7.2km ENE 64° Moel-y-Gaer (Flintshire)* Hillfort (SJ21116904)
 7.2km ENE 64° Moel-y-Gaer Circle Timber Circle (SJ211691)
 7.3km N 5° Waen Isaf Round Barrow(s) (SJ153733)
 7.4km NNE 31° Parc y Prysau 2 Round Barrow(s) (SJ185723)
 7.5km NNE 29° Parc y Prysau 1* Round Barrow(s) (SJ183725)
 7.6km SE 135° Big Covert Cave or Rock Shelter (SJ19796055)
 7.8km E 99° Goblins Well Holy Well or Sacred Spring (SJ22256469)
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"Moel Arthur" | Login/Create an Account | 11 News and Comments
  
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3rd August 2019, The archaeology of the Clwydian Hills Dig Open Day by Andy B on Friday, 14 June 2019
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The Clwydian Range Archaeology Group (CRAG) has been carrying out archaeological study of the Clwydian Hills in North East Wales since 2011.

Our annual excavation will take place this year between 13th July and 9th August on Moel Arthur.

Join us on our Open Day to find out what we have discovered and watch the archaeologists at work.

3 August, 11:00am - 4:00pm

Moel Arthur, Denbigh LL16 4NB, UK

Clwydian Range Archaeology Group

https://festival.archaeologyuk.org/events/archaeology-clwydian-hills-1553015004
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BBC Radio 4 Ramblings - Clare Balding discovers North Wales Hillforts by Andy B on Monday, 13 March 2017
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Clwyd Hillforts - Ramblings, Series 35

Clare Balding heads for the Clwyd Hills in North Wales as she joins the county's Archaeologist, Fiona Gale, to find out more about the many Iron Age hill forts that are so prevalent along the range. They start at Moel Arthur , walking along to Penycloddiau, one of the largest sites. They are joined by two of Fiona's colleagues. David Shiel and Helen Mrowiec, all three of whom are passionate about the area and the leisure opportunities it offers. While they all discuss the marks left on the landscape by past generations, Clare and her companions become united in their hatred of a twenty first century scar, the plastic dog poo bag, filled and left hanging on branches or in bushes. Clare is now on a mission to eradicate these eyesores from the countryside.You can follow the walk on Explorer no 265 Clwydian Range/Bryniau Clwyd.

Listen here
http://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/b08h08kc

With thanks to Cosmic for the link

See also Walking with heather and hillforts - Fiona Gale, Denbighshire’s county archaeologist, leads a historic walk through the Clwydian Range
http://cadw.gov.wales/docs/cadw/publications/North%20Wales%20Denbighshire_EN.pdf
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Moel Arthur: Heather, a Hillfort and a Legend by Andy B on Friday, 09 October 2015
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Howard M. R. Williams visits
https://howardwilliamsblog.wordpress.com/2015/08/22/moel-arthur-heather-a-hillfort-and-a-legend/
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Moel Arthur Heather and Hillforts walk 17th June 2012 by Andy B on Tuesday, 15 May 2012
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Moel Arthur Heather and Hillforts

Date: 17.06.2012 Time: 10.30am-2.30pm

Type: Walking Biodiversity

Walking Difficulty: 3 Shoes - Difficult (Long & strenuous, uneven, steep terrain)

A 4 mile circular walk exploring the heather moorland and prehistoric hillfort of Moel Arthur with the Heather and Hillforts Project team. Meet at Moel Arthur car park, off the A451 to Llandyrnog road. SJ147657

Booking is required for this event. Call 01352 810614 to book or email loggerheads.countrypark@denbighshire.gov.uk
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Street View by coldrum on Thursday, 18 March 2010
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View Larger Map
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More about Moel Arthur including topographical survey by Andy B on Saturday, 13 February 2010
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Moel Arthur (SJ145660) lies to the south of Penycloddiau. It is a small, circular hillfort, crowning a very prominent hill within the Clwydian Range.

The ramparts are slight on the west, where they form the boundary between Flintshire and Denbighshire, but much more developed to the north.The hillfort is 2 hectares in size. It has one inturned entrance way in the north east.

Wynne Ffoulkes carried out some excavations in 1849 although the precise locations or numbers of trenches are not clear. He did find traces of regularly built dry-stone walls as well as some ‘coarse red Roman pottery, and flint arrowheads and corroded iron[i]'.

In 1962, following a severe rainstorm, a hoard of three copper Bronze Age flat axes were found within the defences of the site[ii] .

It is Forde Johnston who first notes the existence of guardchambers at the entrance way and the narrow access and commanding slope of the ramparts at the entrance. He suggests that the inner bank on the north is the first phase of construction with the outer bank built subsequently.

A topographical survey was carried out by EAS in 2006. Here they suggest that the phasing is opposite to Forde Johnston's hypothesis. To find out more follow the link to the report.
http://www.clwydianrangeanddeevalleyaonb.org.uk/files/1156869820-Moel_y_Gaer_hillfort.doc

Source:
http://www.heatherandhillforts.co.uk/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=92%3Amoel-arthur-dig-in-deeper&catid=9%3Ahillforts&Itemid=14&lang=en

[i] Wynne Ffoulkes 1850 Archaeologia Cambrensis

[ii] Forde Johnston 1965 Archaeologica Cambrensis
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'Floating ramp' to preserve North East Wales hillfort by Andy B on Thursday, 06 November 2008
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VITAL work has been carried out to prevent erosion damage to a historic hillfort.
As part of a lottery-funded project, footpath improvement and erosion control work has been completed at the Moel Arthur hillfort on the Clwydian Range.

A "floating ramp" is being built over the large earth banks to help protect them from damage.

A wooden frame is under construction, into which stones are set, to provide a safe walking surface, without any disturbance to the ground or the archaeology below.

It is also claimed that the project will provide an environment for better sheep grazing and upland bird species.

Hillforts conservation officer Samantha Williams said: "Moel Arthur has the most impressive ramparts of all the hillforts within the Clwydian Range and it is important that we protect them for the future.

"They have been there for more than 2,000 years and with careful management like this they may be there for another 2,000."

Source:
http://www.eveningleader.co.uk/news/39Floating-ramp39-to-preserve-North.4644693.jp
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Re: Moel Arthur by TimPrevett on Sunday, 10 October 2004
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BBC Panoramic Photo, including Moel Arthur
http://www.bbc.co.uk/wales/northeast/panoramics/pages/moel_famau.shtml
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Re: Moel Arthur by TimPrevett on Sunday, 10 October 2004
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BBC Local Site
http://www.bbc.co.uk/wales/northeast/sites/celts/pages/moel_arthur.shtml
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Re: Moel Arthur by Anonymous on Friday, 10 October 2003
Hi Vicky,
I was raised a stone throw away from Moel Arthur, which I have strong feelings for. As a child I would walk over to it with my sister Olwen, from our farm,Lletty. There is an old road at the top of Lletty fields which connects with Moel Arthur, back in the early sixties when we lived there, this was refered to as an old Roman road and it continues in the opposite direction to above Plas yn Llan and beyound. Incidently, Wordsworth used to hide out at Plas yn Llan for months on end.
Hope you continue to enjoy Moel Arthur, its very special.
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