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The Cae Coch Standing Stone lies a short distance above the Roman Road about 300 metres to the west of the Maen y Bardd Dolmen. It is one of many standing stones along this stretch of the ancient trackway on the southern slopes of Tal y Fan. Location: Conwy, Wales
The Neolithic tomb of Llety'r Filiast lies on the mighty Great Orme overlooking Llandudno, the 'jewel' of the fashionable North Wales Riviera. The Bronze Age Copper Mine, another of the prehistoric attractions of the Great Orme, is a stone's throw to the west of the tomb. The monument consists today of a stone chamber which is possibly a portal dolmen and a 20 metres long mound which is the remains of the stone cairn that would have originally covered the chamber. Location Conwy, Wales
The 2.4 metres high Hafodty Standing Stone lies in a field south of the track from the Sychnant Pass to Maen Penddu and Tal y Fan. Location: Conwy, Wales
The Capel Garmon Chambered Tomb is a fine example of a Neolithic tomb built in the Cotswold-Severn style and a 'must visit' site on the North Wales prehistoric circuit. It lies on the eastern side of the upper Conwy Valley with superb views of Snowdonia to the west. The tomb consists of two chambers which were originally covered by a large oblong stone cairn aligned east-west. The cairn was kerbed with a dry-stone wall which formed a 'horned' forecourt at the eastern end where ceremonies were performed. Today the line of this outer wall is shown by small stones. The two chambers were originally accessed through a narrow 'lateral' passage from the south of the cairn. Chambers and passage were constructed with large upright stones and dry-stone walling. Only the large capstone that sits on the western chamber remains of the tomb roofing. The monument was excavated in 1853 by the landowners, the Wynne family of Voelas Hall, and again in 1924 by Wilfred J Hemp when the site was tidied up and partially restored. The later excavation found fragments of one Neolithic and two Beaker pots. Location: Conwy, Wales
The Bwlch y Ddeufaen Standing Stones straddle the Roman Road from Rowen to Llanfairfechan. This road was the main route between the Roman forts of Kanovium (in the Conwy valley) and Segontium (near Caernarfon). However the many standing stones and cairns along this stretch indicate that this was an ancient prehistoric trackway used for thousands of years before the Romans came to Wales. The south east stone is 3 metres high and the north west stone is 2 metres high. Various other smaller stones which might have formed part of a 'stone setting' can be seen near the north west stone. Location: Conwy, Wales
The enigmatic Monument 280 stone setting lies 100 metres west of the famous Druid's Circle. No obvious prehistoric monumental form can be seen in what looks like a random arrangement of stones although a small circle similar to the kerb cairns of the region can be detected (if you have a vivid imagination). Location: Penmaenmawr, Conwy, Wales
The Maen Pebyll Long Cairn lies on the western edge of Mynydd Hiraethog The site offers a superb view across to Snowdonia, a view well appreciated I'm sure by the builders of this Neolithic tomb over 5000 years ago. The cairn is now in a ruinous state and has been for many years. Only four large stones remain which would have formed part of the chambers of the tomb. Even the low mound that was evident as late as the 1920s and indicated the extent of the long stone cairn that covered the chambers is now impossible to discern although a scattering of small stones can be still seen around the megaliths. The Rev. John Smith reported in 1854 that the cairn was robbed in 1805 to provide walling for the Inclosure Act. The large chamber stones were subsequently broken down and carted off over the years by quarrymen and other looters. The enraged John Smith, describing the last incident that occurred in 1850, wrote that the remaining stones were 'blasted and thrown down from mere wanton love of mischief by a vandal living at Bryn y Garnedd'. It is thought that this Neolithic monument is a Cotswold-Severn style tomb similar to the spectacular Capel Garmon which is nearby. Although this is a much ruined site, the view is well worth a visit. Location: Conwy, Wales
The Druid's Circle, also known as Meini Hirion, is a stunning stone circle situated high above Penmaenmawr and the North Wales coast. The site was excavated in 1958 and 1959 by W.E. Griffiths who found four cremation burials within the circle. At the centre a pot containing the burnt bones of a young girl aged about 11 years old were found in a cist. Another child cremation was found whilst the remaining two cremations were individuals of indeterminate age and gender. An entrance to the circle can be seen on the western side. There has been much speculation about the nature of this site. Was it a ceremonial or funery monument? Did it originally surround a cairn or barrow? And do the child cremations hint at human sacrifice and the dark side of prehistoric life? The small plateau on which the circle lies contains two other fine monuments, the Ring Cairn (Circle 278) and the puzzling 'stone setting' known as Monument 280. Location: Penmaenmawr, Conwy, Wales
The Foel Lwyd North Cairn is a Bronze Age funery cairn which lies on the northern slopes of Foel Lwyd midway between the monuments above Penmaenmawr and those that line the Roman Road south of Tal y Fan. It is 8 metres in diameter with a distinctive kerb of large stones. A robbed out cist and capstone are visible. Location: Conwy, Wales
Maen y Bardd is a classic example of the dolmen type of Neolithic tomb with a large capstone that seems to precariously balance on supporting stones to form a chamber that usually contained the bones of several people. It would originally have been covered with a stone cairn the remains of which can still been seen around the monument. This elegant structure lies on the southern slopes of Tal y Fan Mountain overlooking the Conwy Valley. It is situated in a landscape which is a veritable outdoor museum of prehistoric sites which can be found on both sides of the Roman Road which runs from Rowen to Bwlch y Ddeufaen. All manner of standing stones, cairns, stone circles and settlements spanning the Neolithic to Medieval eras can be viewed in this 'must-visit' area. Location: Conwy, Wales
Two inscribed stones that date to the Dark Ages can be found on the south side of the delightful St Digain's Church in Llangernyw. Both stones are about 1.4 metres high and inscribed with crosses. The oldest living tree in Wales, a four thousand year old yew, lies to the north of the church. Location: Llangernyw, Conwy, Wales
The Hendre Waelod Dolmen is a Neolithic burial chamber. It is superbly situated on the gentle slope of a spur that runs down to the Afon Conwy (River Conwy). There is public access via the footpath which passes the site. It has two tall portal stones at the eastern entrance which faces up the slope. One stone of a facade that adjoined the entrance can be seen next to the southern portal stone. The enormous chunky capstone has slipped however it is possible to inspect the chamber (and even get inside if you dare!) from the rear of the dolmen. Small earthfast stones around the monument are all that remains of the cairn that would have originally covered the tomb. There is another possible tomb reported close by on private land. See your favourite archaeo database for details. Location: Conwy, Wales
It is reported that a funery pot and bronze dagger were found here and carried off by looters. A more formal archaeological investigation took place in 1851 and two additional prehistoric pots were found. The barrow has a twin, the gigantic Blaen y Cwm Barrow which lies on the opposite spur of the valley about half a kilometre to the west and so could be a part of a coherent ritual landscape similar to the nearby Brenig complex. The barrow is on private farmland but can be well viewed and appreciated from the road. Location: Conwy, Wales
The Bronze Age Foel Lwyd North West Cairn is situated on the lower north west slopes of Foel Lwyd close to Bwlch y Ddeufaen and the Roman Road. This denuded stone cairn is 8 metres in diameter and has a large cist exposed at the centre. The capstone lies to the north west of the cist. A very pleasant location overlooking the coast and Anglesey. Location: Conwy, Wales
Carnedd Penyborth Goch Cairn sits on the summit of Drum, a northern foot-hill (775 metres) of the Carneddau Mountains of Snowdonia. The cairn has been modified (mutilated) into a walker's shelter, i.e. a place for walkers to put their empty crisp packets and chocolate bar wrappers. However a stone 'platform' about 20 metres in diameter can clearly be seen around the shelter. This monument has been touted as a Bronze Age platform cairn but the high altitude and remoteness might tend to discount this as a ceremonial site. More likely it is the remains of one of the numerous large mountain top stone-pile cairns that are a feature of the region. Location: Conwy, Wales |
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