LiDAR 1m DTM Hillshade
Satellite Imagery
LiDAR 1m DTM Hillshade
Satellite Imagery
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HER: Gwynedd 4747 (None)
NMR: SH 72 SW 1 (303075)
SM: ME021
NGR: SH74952100
X: 274950 Y: 321000 (OSGB36)
Very exposed contour hillfort, the largest, highest and most commanding of a cluster of small sites near Dolgellau and located on a very prominent hill top above the confluence of the Afon Mawddach and Afon Wnion, and above Moel Offrwm Lower Camp, 0.4km away (Atlas No. 1781). Surrounding slopes very steep to precipitous. Measures c. 110m NW-SE by 84m with internal area 0.73ha. Defined by two stone walls, the main enclosing the craggy summit, which follows the edge of the steep drop with weak rock-cut ditch at its foot, but with precipitous slopes and crags on N providing defence. On S and SE sides there is an outer wall. Possibly inturned entrance on NE with guard chambers. On spur, on SE side of entrance, an outer dependant enclosure or annexe, c. 134m N-S by 58m, with area 0.8ha, and generally defined by scarps and ditches. Possibly never completed. No apparent access between the two enclosures. Numerous circular hut platforms visible, c. 0.6m across. Rough moorland and grass and much bare rock. Tumbled ruinous walls and possible deliberate destruction. On 1st Ed. OS map (1888-89). Minimal investigations, undated.
Citizen Science: ✗
Reliability of Data: Confirmed
Reliability of Interpretation: Confirmed
X: -429150 Y: 6940944 (EPSG: 3857)
Longitude: -3.8551206535516496 Latitude: 52.772047646126275 (EPSG:4326)
Country: Wales
Current County or Unitary Authority: Gwynedd
Historic County: Merioneth
Current Parish/Community/Council/Townland: Brithdir and Llanfachreth
Tumbled ruinous walls. Possible deliberate destruction.
| Extant | ✓ |
| Cropmark | ✗ |
| Likely Destroyed | ✗ |
Rough moorland and grass and much bare rock.
| Woodland | ✗ |
| Commercial Forestry Plantation | ✗ |
| Parkland | ✗ |
| Pasture (Grazing) | ✗ |
| Arable | ✗ |
| Scrub/Bracken | ✗ |
| Bare Outcrop | ✗ |
| Heather/Moorland | ✓ |
| Heath | ✗ |
| Built-up | ✗ |
| Coastal Grassland | ✗ |
| Other | ✗ |
Contour hillfort, the largest, highest and most commanding of a cluster of small sites near Dolgellau and located on a very prominent hill top above the confluence of the Afon Mawddach and Afon Wnion. Very exposed and surrounding slopes very steep to precipitous.
| Contour Fort | ✓ |
| Partial Contour Fort | ✗ |
| Promontory Fort | ✗ |
| Hillslope Fort | ✗ |
| Level Terrain Fort | ✗ |
| Marsh Fort | ✗ |
| Multiple Enclosure Fort | ✗ |
| Hilltop | ✓ |
| Coastal Promontory | ✗ |
| Inland Promontory | ✗ |
| Valley Bottom | ✗ |
| Knoll/Hillock/Outcrop | ✗ |
| Ridge | ✗ |
| Cliff/Plateau-edge/Scarp | ✗ |
| Hillslope | ✗ |
| Lowland | ✗ |
| Spur | ✗ |
Dominant Topographic Feature: Craggy hill top.
| North | ✗ |
| Northeast | ✗ |
| East | ✗ |
| Southeast | ✗ |
| South | ✗ |
| Southwest | ✗ |
| West | ✗ |
| Northwest | ✗ |
| Level | ✓ |
Altitude: 405.0m
N/A
None.
Reliability: D - None
| Pre 1200BC | ✗ |
| 1200BC - 800BC | ✗ |
| 800BC - 400BC | ✗ |
| 400BC - AD50 | ✗ |
| AD50 - AD400 | ✗ |
| AD400 - AD 800 | ✗ |
| Post AD800 | ✗ |
| Unknown | ✓ |
| Pre Hillfort: | None |
| Post Hillfort: | None |
On 1st Ed. OS map (1888-89). Ordnance Survey observation 1973. GAT investigations 1989, 1994. GAT Hut Circle Settlement Survey 1998. GAT prehistoric defended enclosures survey 2005-2006.
| Other (1973): | Ordnance Survey observation. |
| Other (1985): | Visited by Hillfort Study Group |
| Other (1998): | GAT Hut Circle Settlement Survey. |
| 1st Identified Map Depiction (None): | OS map. |
| Other (None): | GAT investigations. |
| Other (None): | GAT prehistoric defended enclosures survey. |
Numerous (c. 48) circular hut platforms visible, c. 0.6m across.
Stream 0,6km outside fort.
| None | ✓ |
| Spring | ✗ |
| Stream | ✗ |
| Pool | ✗ |
| Flush | ✗ |
| Well | ✗ |
| Other | ✗ |
Numerous (c. 48) circular hut platforms visible, c. 0.6m across.
| No Known Features | ✗ |
| Round Stone Structures | ✗ |
| Rectangular Stone Structures | ✗ |
| Curvilinear Platforms | ✓ |
| Other Roundhouse Evidence | ✗ |
| Pits | ✗ |
| Quarry Hollows | ✗ |
| Other | ✗ |
None
| No Known Excavation | ✓ |
| Pits | ✗ |
| Postholes | ✗ |
| Roundhouses | ✗ |
| Rectangular Structures | ✗ |
| Roads/Tracks | ✗ |
| Quarry Hollows | ✗ |
| Other | ✗ |
| Nothing Found | ✗ |
None
| No Known Geophysics | ✓ |
| Pits | ✗ |
| Roundhouses | ✗ |
| Rectangular Structures | ✗ |
| Roads/Tracks | ✗ |
| Quarry Hollows | ✗ |
| Other | ✗ |
| Nothing Found | ✗ |
None
| No Known Finds | ✓ |
| Pottery | ✗ |
| Metal | ✗ |
| Metalworking | ✗ |
| Human Bones | ✗ |
| Animal Bones | ✗ |
| Lithics | ✗ |
| Environmental | ✗ |
| Other | ✗ |
None
| APs Not Checked | ✓ |
| None | ✗ |
| Roundhouses | ✗ |
| Rectangular Structures | ✗ |
| Pits | ✗ |
| Postholes | ✗ |
| Roads/Tracks | ✗ |
| Other | ✗ |
Possibly inturned entrance on NE with guard chambers.
| None: | Tumbled ruinous walls - not determined. |
| 2: | None |
Guard Chambers: ✓
Chevaux de Frise: ✗
| 1. In-turned (North east): | Possibly inturned. |
| 1. Recesses/Guard Chambers (North east): | None |
Defined by two stone walls, the main enclosing the craggy summit ,which follows the edge of the steep drop with weak rock-cut ditch at its foot, but with precipitous slopes and crags on N providing defence. On S and SE sides there is an outer wall.
| Area 1: | 0.73ha. |
| Total: | 0.73ha. |
Total Footprint Area: Noneha.
None
| ✗ | Outer dependent enclosure or annexe area c. 0..8ha. |
| ✗ | On N natural defences. |
| NE Quadrant: | 0 |
| SE Quadrant: | 2 |
| SW Quadrant: | 2 |
| NW Quadrant: | 0 |
| Total: | 2 |
| Partial Univallate | ✗ |
| Univallate | ✗ |
| Partial Bivallate | ✓ |
| Bivallate | ✗ |
| Partial Multivallate | ✗ |
| Multivallate | ✗ |
| Unknown | ✗ |
| Partial Univallate | ✗ |
| Univallate | ✗ |
| Partial Bivallate | ✗ |
| Bivallate | ✗ |
| Partial Multivallate | ✗ |
| Multivallate | ✗ |
Stone-walled site. Possibly unfinished.
| None | ✗ |
| Earthen Bank | ✗ |
| Stone Wall | ✓ |
| Rubble | ✗ |
| Wall-walk | ✗ |
| Evidence of Timber | ✗ |
| Vitrification | ✗ |
| Other Burning | ✗ |
| Palisade | ✗ |
| Counter Scarp Bank | ✗ |
| Berm | ✗ |
| Unfinished | ✓ |
| Other | ✗ |
None
| None | ✗ |
| Earthen Bank | ✗ |
| Stone Wall | ✗ |
| Murus Duplex | ✗ |
| Timber-framed | ✗ |
| Timber-laced | ✗ |
| Vitrification | ✗ |
| Other Burning | ✗ |
| Palisade | ✗ |
| Counter Scarp Bank | ✗ |
| Berm | ✗ |
| Unfinished | ✗ |
| No Known Excavation | ✓ |
| Other | ✗ |
| ✗ | None |
| ✓ | Weak rock-cut ditch below main wall and possible ditch to annexe. |
Number of Ditches: 2
| ✓ | On spur, on SE side of entrance, an outer dependant enclosure or annexe, c. 134m N-S by 58m, with area c. 0.8ha, and generally defined by scarps and ditches. Possibly never completed. No apparent access between the two enclosures. |
Bowen, E.G. and Gresham, C.A. 1967. History of Merioneth 1, Dolgellau, 162-63.
Lynch, F. 1995. A guide to ancient and historic Wales - Gwynedd, London: HMSO, 197.
Smith, G.H. 2006. A survey of prehistoric defended enclosures in north-west Wales 2005-2006: Gwynedd Dwyfor and Meirionnydd. Report No 634. Part I: Survey Report. Bangor: Gwynedd Archaeological Trust.
Waddington, K. 2013. The Settlements of Northwest Wales: From the Late Bronze Age to the Early Medieval Period, Cardiff: University of Wales Press.
Atlas of Hillforts:
Wikidata:
This work is licensed under CC BY-SA 4.0
and should be cited as:
Lock, Gary and Ralston, Ian. 2024. Atlas of Hillforts of Britain and Ireland. Available at: https://hillforts.arch.ox.ac.uk
Document Version 1.1