Cefn Pal Hillfort, Cynghordy — The Modern Antiquarian

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Images

Image of Cefn Pal Hillfort, Cynghordy by GLADMAN

Northern defences from within the enclosure....

Image credit: Robert Gladstone

GLADMAN Oct 8, 2022

Image of Cefn Pal Hillfort, Cynghordy by GLADMAN

Image credit: Robert Gladstone

GLADMAN Oct 8, 2022

Image of Cefn Pal Hillfort, Cynghordy by GLADMAN

Image credit: Robert Gladstone

GLADMAN Oct 8, 2022

Image of Cefn Pal Hillfort, Cynghordy by GLADMAN

Pretty large banks remain for such an obscure site....

Image credit: Robert Gladstone

GLADMAN Oct 8, 2022

Image of Cefn Pal Hillfort, Cynghordy by GLADMAN

To north......

Image credit: Robert Gladstone

GLADMAN Oct 8, 2022

Image of Cefn Pal Hillfort, Cynghordy by GLADMAN

What I took to be defences downhill to the south....

Image credit: Robert Gladstone

GLADMAN Oct 8, 2022

Image of Cefn Pal Hillfort, Cynghordy by GLADMAN

Image credit: Robert Gladstone

GLADMAN Oct 8, 2022

Image of Cefn Pal Hillfort, Cynghordy by GLADMAN

The powerful defences to the north... at first, I assumed this was a promontory fort.

Image credit: Robert Gladstone

GLADMAN Oct 8, 2022

Articles

Intriguing and not overly clear defended enclosure...

GLADMAN Oct 8, 2022

Cefn Pal Hillfort, Cynghordy

Hillfort

GLADMAN Oct 8, 2022

Located above the Afon Bran, a little way south of Cynghordy, this obscure defensive enclosure appeared – from a quick perusal of the map – to represent the remains of a promontory fort. However, upon arrival, it became apparent that there is more here than initially meets the eye....

Yeah, sure enough, the visitor is confronted by powerful banks covering the northern aspect, these curving around to the west. However, this is no highly defensive promontory, meaning additional earthworks – not immediately apparent – would have been required to the southwest.

Consequently, The Citizen Cairn went walkabout to discover what appeared to be the remains of said southern defences some way downhill. Now whether what I found are actually of prehistoric origin is perhaps open to interpretation.. just saying I believe such a conclusion is supported by the evidence on the ground. See what you think? Whatever, it is a wondrous, tranquil spot to hang out for a while, the northern earthworks more than enough for any interested punter.

Incidentally, the map indicates an additional, smaller enclosure some way to the north. I did not visit – since I was intent upon an audience with the Tri Chrugiau (upon Mynydd Epynt) during a break in the Army firing schedule – but worth a look, too?

Sites within 20km of Cefn Pal Hillfort, Cynghordy

Nant Gwyn (Llanfair-ar-y-Bryn)

Round Cairn • 5.07km NNW

6

1

1
Carreg Garn Fawr

Standing Stone / Menhir • 5.11km NNW

16

1

1
Mynydd Pen-y-Fal (Sugar Loaf)

Hillfort • 5.72km NE

10

1

1
Bryn Poeth Uchaf South

Ring Cairn • 5.76km NNW

18

1

2
Cerrig Cynant

Stone Circle • 6.04km NNW

20

1

3
Clawdd Brythonig

Enclosure • 6.09km E

1
Bryn-Poeth-Uchaf North

Ring Cairn • 6.25km NNW

15

2
Carn Wen (Llanfair-ar-y-bryn)

Cairn(s) • 7.22km NNW

1

1
Y Pigwn Cairns

Cairn(s) • 7.5km SE

11

3
Garn Wen

Cairn(s) • 7.55km E

1
Y Pigwn

Stone Circle • 7.67km SE

28

6

1
Tomen-y-Rhos

Round Cairn • 8.23km SSE

10

2
Carn Twrch

Round Cairn • 8.24km NNW

6

1
Gelli

Burial Chamber • 8.35km NW

7

1
Ty Newydd

Standing Stone / Menhir • 8.37km NW

3

1
Ty Newydd Stone Row

Stone Row / Alignment • 8.4km NW

3

1
Cerrig Cewri

Round Cairn • 8.45km NNW

8

1
Blaen Clydach Fach

Cairn(s) • 8.58km ESE

1
Berrisbrook

Standing Stones • 8.63km WSW

2

1
Cwm Henwen Cairn

Cairn(s) • 9.1km SE

10

2
Pant Madog

Round Cairn • 9.12km SE

8

3
Cwm Henwen

Standing Stone / Menhir • 9.16km SE

7

3
Pen Caenewydd, Mynydd Myddfai

Cairn(s) • 9.2km S

16

1
Maen Hir

Standing Stone / Menhir • 9.45km WNW

2

1
Pant Meddygon

Standing Stones • 9.55km SSE

8

3
Cilgwyn

Standing Stone / Menhir • 9.68km SW
Poppy Stone

Standing Stone / Menhir • 9.97km NW

2

1

1
Maen Bach

Standing Stone / Menhir • 10.02km WNW

3

1
Gwern Wyddog

Standing Stone / Menhir • 10.14km SE

6

1

2
Cefn Gwenffrwd

Standing Stone / Menhir • 10.29km NW

2

1
Varlen Cairn, Traianmawr

Cairn(s) • 10.47km ESE

1
Tyle Mawr

Cairn(s) • 10.84km ESE

9

2
Crugiau Merched

Cairn(s) • 10.94km WNW

20

2
Banc Maes-yr-haidd

Cairn(s) • 11.71km W

8

1

1
Cwn Bran camp

Enclosure • 11.75km SW

1
Ynys Hir

Stone Circle • 11.81km ENE

4

2

2
Esgair Garn, Llanddewi Abergwesyn

Round Cairn • 12.1km N

8

1
Garn Dwad

Cairn(s) • 12.2km NE

12

1

1
Nant Tarw

Stone Circle • 12.35km SSE

58

4

5
Foel Darw, Y Mynydd Du

Round Cairn • 12.38km SSE

6

1
Cnwch Eithinog

Cairn(s) • 12.39km NW

10
Cae’r Maen

Standing Stone / Menhir • 12.46km NE

2

1
Cnwch Eithinog

Standing Stone / Menhir • 12.52km NW

8

1
Blaenau Uchaf

Standing Stone / Menhir • 12.78km SE

9

3
Cefn Gwernffrwd

Cairn(s) • 12.99km NW

1

1
Cefn Gwenffrwd

Round Barrow(s) • 12.99km NW

4

1
Cefn Gwernffrwd Complex

Stone Circle • 12.99km NW

11

2
Cefn Gwernffrwd

Stone Row / Alignment • 12.99km NW

3

2
Nant Cwm Dwfn

Standing Stone / Menhir • 13.03km NNE

1

1
Garn Las (Llywel)

Cairn(s) • 13.44km SSE

12

3
Pen-y-Gurnos

Round Barrow(s) • 13.49km NNW

8

2
Bannau Sir Gaer

Stone Circle • 13.65km SSE

22

1

3
Careg Fawr

Standing Stone / Menhir • 13.75km SW

2
Carreg Pumsaint

Standing Stone / Menhir • 14km W

1

4
Dolaucothi Gold Mines

Ancient Mine / Quarry • 14.08km W

2

2
Tri Chrugiau, Mynydd Epynt

Barrow / Cairn Cemetery • 14.12km ENE

7

1

1

1
Garreg Fawr (Llanfihangel Nant Bran)

Standing Stone / Menhir • 14.22km E

1
Y Fan

Hillfort • 14.34km WSW

1
Crug Siarls

Stone Circle • 14.5km WNW

8

1

1
Pen y Garn-goch

Barrow / Cairn Cemetery • 14.72km NE

9

1

1
Carn Wen (Cynwyl Gaeo)

Round Cairn • 14.9km WNW

9

1

1
Pen y Garfan

Round Barrow(s) • 15km NW

7

1

1
Rhyd-wen Fach stone setting

Stone Circle • 15.05km SSE

3

2
Carn Saith-Wraig

Cairn(s) • 15.14km NNW

20

1

1

2
Blaen Nant-y-rhiw Standing Stone

Standing Stone / Menhir • 15.71km NNW

3

1
Blaen Nant-y-rhiw

Round Cairn • 15.79km NNW

5

1

1
Carn Penrhiwllwydog

Cairn(s) • 15.86km NW

8
Defynnog Church

Christianised Site • 15.87km ESE

1
Fan Foel

Cairn(s) • 15.93km SSE

34

5
Pant-y-Turnor

Standing Stone / Menhir • 15.98km S

7

2
Twr y Fan Foel

Round Cairn • 16.12km SSE

41

3
Banc Paderau

Round Cairn • 16.16km NNE

6

1

1
Bryn Gwyddel

Round Barrow(s) • 16.2km NW

6

1

1
Picws Du, Y Mynydd Du

Round Cairn • 16.21km SSE

29

1

3
Moel Feity

Round Cairn • 16.24km SE

12
Waunewydd

Standing Stone / Menhir • 16.32km SE

1
Carn-y-Gigfran

Round Cairn • 16.38km S

12

2
Y Gaer (Defynnog)

Enclosure • 16.76km ESE

1

1
Maen Richard

Standing Stone / Menhir • 16.77km E

1
Pen Twr Ring Cairn, Cefn Gardys

Ring Cairn • 16.87km NE

7

1
Esgair Irfon

Cist • 17.13km N

10

1
Waun Leuci stone setting

Stone Setting • 17.2km SE

12

4
Tawe valley Triangle

Stone Setting • 17.21km SE

12
Pen y Corn

Cairn(s) • 17.22km WNW

8

1

1
Waun Leuci

Standing Stone / Menhir • 17.31km SE

24

6
Afon Tawe

Ancient Village / Settlement / Misc. Earthwork • 17.42km SE

3

1
Bryn y Gorlan

Stone Circle • 17.48km NW

17

1

1
Pen-Y-Ddinas

Hillfort • 17.52km WSW

1

1
Waun Leuci cairn

Round Cairn • 17.58km SE

2

3
Cylchau

Cairn(s) • 17.65km S

10

1
Carn Goch Hill Fort

Hillfort • 17.67km SW

34

5

1
Graig-wen (Llanddewi Brefi)

Cairn(s) • 17.78km WNW

4

1

1
Banc Ty-hen

Cist • 17.85km WNW

8

1
Carnau’r Garreg Las

Cairn(s) • 17.92km S

36

3
Craig Twrch (Cynwyl Gaeo)

Barrow / Cairn Cemetery • 17.97km WNW

8

1

1
Carn Fawr (Cynwyl Gaeo)

Round Cairn • 18.07km WNW

10

1

1
Bryn Mawr

Cairn(s) • 18.08km WNW

7

1
Cerrig Duon and The Maen Mawr

Stone Circle • 18.12km SE

49

11
Garn Wen, Llanfihangel Abergwesyn

Round Cairn • 18.17km NE

9

1
Trichrug

Cairn(s) • 18.22km SW

11

1
Tyle Bychan

Standing Stone / Menhir • 18.23km ESE

4

2
Twyn-y-Gaer (Trallong)

Enclosure • 18.26km E

2
Nant-y-Llyn, Y Mynydd Du

Round Cairn • 18.27km SE

20

1
Llwyn Du Hillfort

Hillfort • 18.37km SW

2

1
Pen y Waun Dwr

Round Cairn • 18.38km ESE

4
Waun Leuci summit

Round Barrow(s) • 18.39km SE

18

2
Carreg y Bwci

Round Barrow(s) • 18.44km W

15

1

1

7
Esgair Fraith (Cynwyl Gaeo)

Cairn(s) • 18.44km W

9

1

1
Garn, Banciau Duon

Round Cairn • 18.53km WNW

9

1
Pen y Waun Dwr Stone

Standing Stone / Menhir • 18.56km ESE

5

1
Sythfaen Llwyn Ddu

Standing Stone / Menhir • 18.64km SW

4

2
Esgair Gerwyn

Cairn(s) • 19.29km NNW

2

1

1
Cnwch Mawr (Llanddewi Brefi)

Round Cairn • 19.61km WNW

8

1

1
Hirfaen Gwyddog

Standing Stone / Menhir • 19.64km W

11

1

4
Bryn Goleu

Round Cairn • 19.95km W

4

2