Dinas Ty-Du

Nearest town:
Caernarfon (9km W)
OS reference:
SH56665985
OS sheet:
115
Latitude:
53° 6' 58.18 N
Longitude:
4° 8' 31.14 W
Added to TMA by

Images

Image of Dinas Ty-Du (Hillfort) by GLADMAN

Being hammered by consecutive storm fronts does have its compensations.

Image credit: Robert Gladstone
GLADMAN
GLADMAN Oct 27, 2022
Image of Dinas Ty-Du (Hillfort) by GLADMAN

Northern flank showing the best-preserved section of defences

Image credit: Robert Gladstone
GLADMAN
GLADMAN Oct 27, 2022
Image of Dinas Ty-Du (Hillfort) by GLADMAN

A well-preserved section of wall to the north...

Image credit: Robert Gladstone
GLADMAN
GLADMAN Oct 27, 2022
Image of Dinas Ty-Du (Hillfort) by GLADMAN

Traces of the original defences upon the southern flank

Image credit: Robert Gladstone
GLADMAN
GLADMAN Oct 27, 2022
Image of Dinas Ty-Du (Hillfort) by GLADMAN

It was always going to take a very poor weather day to finally entice me here... owing to the abundance of ‘industrial heritage’ that has desecrated the immediate environs of Llanberis... however, to be fair, it was worth the effort, particularly looking south-east towards the Snowdon massif itself.

Image credit: Robert Gladstone
GLADMAN
GLADMAN Oct 27, 2022
Image of Dinas Ty-Du (Hillfort) by GLADMAN

The hillfort [centre of image] as seen ascending Bryn Mawr from Bwlch-y-Groes, northern slopes of Moel Eilio. Llanberis is to the right.

Image credit: Robert Gladstone
GLADMAN
GLADMAN May 10, 2020
Image of Dinas Ty-Du (Hillfort) by thesweetcheat

Landscape context from the Afon Arddu valley to the southeast.

Image credit: A. Brookes (11.6.2012)
thesweetcheat
thesweetcheat Jul 1, 2012
Image of Dinas Ty-Du (Hillfort) by thesweetcheat

Landscape context from the track up to Moel Eilio. The fort is positioned prominently to overlook the lakes and the pass. Elidir Fawr, Y Garn and Glyder Fawr provide the backdrop.

Image credit: A. Brookes (11.6.2012)
thesweetcheat
thesweetcheat Jun 14, 2012
Image of Dinas Ty-Du (Hillfort) by thesweetcheat

There appears to have been a drystone wall, now itself fallen into ruin, made from the stones of the rampart.

Image credit: A. Brookes (11.6.2012)
thesweetcheat
thesweetcheat Jun 14, 2012
Image of Dinas Ty-Du (Hillfort) by thesweetcheat

Remains of the stone rampart on the steeply sloping northern side of the fort.

Image credit: A. Brookes (11.6.2012)
thesweetcheat
thesweetcheat Jun 14, 2012
Image of Dinas Ty-Du (Hillfort) by thesweetcheat

There are possible scant structural remains inside the fort. This looked suspiciously like the remains of a hut circle.

Image credit: A. Brookes (11.6.2012)
thesweetcheat
thesweetcheat Jun 14, 2012
Image of Dinas Ty-Du (Hillfort) by thesweetcheat

More of the extensive views from the fort, this time looking north over Llyn Padarn.

Image credit: A. Brookes (9.6.2012)
thesweetcheat
thesweetcheat Jun 14, 2012
Image of Dinas Ty-Du (Hillfort) by thesweetcheat

The commanding view down the Llanberis Pass from the fort interior (the windshelter is modern).

Image credit: A. Brookes (11.6.2012)
thesweetcheat
thesweetcheat Jun 14, 2012
Image of Dinas Ty-Du (Hillfort) by thesweetcheat

The easiest approach to the fort, from the southwest. Elidir Fawr rises on the right.

Image credit: A. Brookes (11.6.2012)
thesweetcheat
thesweetcheat Jun 14, 2012

Articles

OK, everything’s not rosy at this wondrously-sited hill fort opposite Snowdon; but that’s not to say a visitor may not experience the odd technicolour moment....

GLADMAN
GLADMAN Oct 30, 2022

Miscellaneous

Dinas Ty-Du
Hillfort
GLADMAN
GLADMAN Oct 30, 2022

Occupying a very naturally defensive position overlooking Llanberis, to the immediate northwest of The Snowdon Massif at the very heart of Gwynedd, this small hill fort has been badly treated by successive landowners, copious dry stone walling, supplemented by barbed wire, detracting from what remains of the Iron Age defences.

Furthermore, the grandstand vista towards the aforementioned Yr Wydffa and cohorts notwithstanding, the outlook features a surfeit of what apologists might term ‘industrial heritage’, the slate quarries ravaging the western flank of Elidir Fawr across Llanberis Pass truly sufficient to make one weep.

Nevertheless, I reckon a visit here is worthwhile, particularly when riding out storm fronts upon an inclement Autumnal morning to catch rainbows arcing across the cwm. As they say, you have to be ‘in it to win it’, right? Note a well-preserved section of original walling to the north...

Miscellaneous

Dinas Ty-Du
Hillfort
thesweetcheat
thesweetcheat Jun 14, 2012

There is also a hut circle at the base of the fort, below the hilltop on its western side, where the approach to the fort itself is at its least naturally steep. Coflien say:

The first hut circle is an ovoid in shape, measuring 11m in diameter, the walls are constructed of medium-sized stones, and the walls remain as a bank measuring up to 1.5m wide by 0.6m high. The southern half of the bank is now turf covered, whilst the northern half survives as an exposed stone bank. The construction of the wall is evident on the east side as double thickness kerbing walls with stone infill. The site was probably later reused as a stock shelter.

Miscellaneous

Dinas Ty-Du
Hillfort
GLADMAN
GLADMAN Dec 3, 2011

Sited at the terminus of the north-eastern ridge of Moel Eilio, overlooking Llanberis.... not to mention the much newer (ha!) native Welsh fortress of Dobadarn... this small enclosure has not had to suffer my boots as yet, although I have unwittingly walked right by. Nevertheless Coflein know the score:

‘On the summit of an isolated hill surrounded by the 90m contour and overlooking the village of Llanberis, are the remains of an oval camp protected by a single stone vallum, measuring about 90m from west-south-west to east-north-east, and 30m across at its maximum width. The position is one of remarkable strength, for along the whole of the northern side the cliffs are 60m high and very precipitous. Yet it is on this side that the only stretch of well-preserved walling is to be found. The external rampart masonry consists of large facing stones each measuring up to 1m wide by 1m high, with smaller packing stones set behind them. The site is very poorly preserved at ground level.‘

Source: Caernarvonshire Inventory Volume II, 169 (1136). RCAHMW, June 2009

Sites within 20km of Dinas Ty-Du

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