Moel y Gaer

Nearest town:
Flint (5km NE)
OS reference:
SJ211691
OS sheet:
117
Latitude:
53° 12' 45.82 N
Longitude:
3° 10' 53.86 W
Added to TMA by

Images

Image of Moel y Gaer (Hillfort) by postman

Looking south, the large mound on the left is a reservoir, they have underground hilltop reservoirs ?

Image credit: Chris Bickerton
postman
postman May 7, 2013
Image of Moel y Gaer (Hillfort) by postman

Two lines of ramparts, the lower covered in accursed gorse. Connahs Quay in the distance.

Image credit: Chris Bickerton
postman
postman May 7, 2013
Image of Moel y Gaer (Hillfort) by postman

Looking north over the big eastern entrance to the Dee estuary.

Image credit: Chris Bickerton
postman
postman May 7, 2013
Image of Moel y Gaer (Hillfort) by postman

Looking east through the main entrance.

Image credit: Chris Bickerton
postman
postman May 7, 2013
Image of Moel y Gaer (Hillfort) by postman

Looking south on the eastern ramparts, main entrance right of center.

Image credit: Chris Bickerton
postman
postman May 7, 2013
Image of Moel y Gaer (Hillfort) by postman

Looking west on the northern ramparts towards the beginning of the Clwydian range.

Image credit: Chris Bickerton
postman
postman May 7, 2013
Image of Moel y Gaer (Hillfort) by postman

Stood upon the reservoir looking east over the rampart to the Dee estuary and Connahs Quay.

Image credit: Chris Bickerton
postman
postman May 7, 2013
Image of Moel y Gaer (Hillfort) by postman

Stood on the reservoir looking west towards the beginning of the Clwydian range and two unnamed 11yr old cycling enthusiasts .

Image credit: Chris Bickerton
postman
postman May 7, 2013
Image of Moel y Gaer (Hillfort) by postman

The barrow from the fort ramparts to the north.

Image credit: Chris Bickerton
postman
postman May 6, 2013
Image of Moel y Gaer (Hillfort) by postman

Looking north east to the lesser entrance to the fort, the Dee estuary and Flint.

Image credit: Chris Bickerton
postman
postman May 6, 2013
Image of Moel y Gaer (Hillfort) by postman

Looking west towards St Asaph and Denbigh.

Image credit: Chris Bickerton
postman
postman May 6, 2013

Articles

Moel y Gaer

thelonious
thelonious Dec 28, 2015

25/12/2015 – Managed a quick bob up Moel y Gaer to see this hillfort on a wet Christmas day. Luckily the rain had stopped for the short time we were there. It’s a nice fort and the location and view is very good. Worth a look and not too much climb.

Moel y Gaer

postman
postman May 7, 2013

Just north east of the little village of Rhosesmor is yet another Moel y Gaer, occupying a suitable hill top 303 meters above sea level. Parking is obtained on the west side of the hill, there is room for many cars. I headed up the hill with my camera and two straining at the lead dogs, whilst Eric and his mate Luke pushed their bikes up (bikes were part of the deal).Phil elected to stay in the car with the radio.

There were quite a lot of people up on the fort, some were walking the circuit of the fort like me, some were just lounging around on the reservoir, enjoying the sunshine and the views. The views are extensive, the best are west to the bigger hills and east to the Dee estuary. A reservoir on a hill top? with a big dome over it ? in a hill fort ? Absurd.

This is a good hill fort, the hill is just the perfect place to keep an eye on the surroundings, two well defined banks encircle the hill. The main entrance is on the east side facing the estuary, but smaller entrances are at the north and south.
Surely I must have known about this place before now, but then forgot about it, I thought I’d been to all of the good hill forts in North Wales and some crap ones, perhaps now I have. But probably not.

Folklore

Moel y Gaer
Hillfort
Rhiannon
Rhiannon May 7, 2013

Mentioned by Thomas Pennant reporting on his 1773 Tour in Wales.

I must not pass unnoticed a strong British post, which soars above the road, about two miles [from Llys Edwin]. It lies on the summit of a hill, and is surrounded with a great foss and dike of a circular form [...] This post is called Moel y Gaer, or the hill of the fortress [...]

In later times, this spot proved fatal to a valiant partizan of Owen Glendwr. Howel Gwynedd was surprized in a negligent hour, within this post, and there beheaded.

Sites within 20km of Moel y Gaer

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