Iron Age – Defensive Hillforts
The age of the Iron Age Hillforts in Wales started sometime around 700BC until around 60AD when the Roman Empire had successfully subdued the local Celtic tribes and chieftains.
Although hillforts are known during the Bronze Age, the golden Age of hilltop fortification took place during the Iron Age. However, some hillforts were still in use during the Roman period. These are known as Romano-British defensive enclosed settlements and it is apparent that most communities quickly settled down under Roman rule.
Hillforts were constructed for defensive purposes. However, there is no clear evidence as to why they were constructed as most were without any source of water and unlikely to have been used as permanent settlements or as long-standing locations for tribal warfare. Although hillforts were designed to withstand a small-scale attack, it is quite probable that they were constructed as a deterrent.
Some historians believe that hillforts were constructed by the Celtic migrants as they settled on territories controlled by the native Britons, or even by the natives to deter the migrating Celts. It has also been suggested that hillforts were a place of tribal gathering, a meeting point for local tribes and a chance for them to show off their power, i.e. the larger the defence the more the power and less likely to be attacked.
Below is a list of all the known Iron Age Hillforts in the area
There are many different kind of hillforts scattered throughout Gwynedd, the most spectacular being Tre’r Ceiri hillfort on Lleyn Peninsula that includes 150 hut circles and the impressive Dinas Dinorwic defensive hillfort, former stronghold of the Ordovices.
I have included an O/S number on all historical sites to enable everyone to locate using an O/S map.
Gwynedd
Maes y Gaer – Iron Age hillfort – Abergwyngregyn SH663725
Pen y Gaer – Iron Age hillfort – Bethesda SH628672
Ty’n Ffridd – Iron Age defended settlement – Rachub SH62826790
Pen Dinas – Iron Age defended hillfort – Tregarth SH610680
Garth (Pier) Camp – Iron Age hillfort – multi period use (earthwork) – Bangor SH580728
Dinas Camp – small Iron Age promontory fort (also probable Roman) – Felinheli SH518672
Crug Camp – Iron Age / Romano-British – multi period defensive earthwork – Crug House, Bethel SH639653
Dinas Dinorwig – Iron Age hillfort – Llanddeiniolen SH549653
Caer Glascoed – defensive Iron Age / Romano-British enclosure – Llanddeiniolen SH548643
Dinas Mawr – defensive enclosure & nearby hut settlements – Penisarwaun SH553636
Caer Carreg y Fran – early Iron Age hillfort – Cwm-y-Glo SH547627
Dinas Ty Du – Iron Age fortified hillfort – Llanberis SH565609
Dinas Dinoethwy – defensive Iron Age hillfort (probable) – Bontnewydd SH487591
Y Gadlys – Iron Age & later medieval defensive fort – Llanwnda SH480579
Bedd Gwernan –Iron Age defended enclosure (probable) – Llandwrog SH45564
Dinas Dinlle – Iron Age hillfort – Llandwrog SH436564
Plas Newydd – Iron Age defensive fort (un-investigated) – Glynllifon, Pontllyfni SH450541
Bryngwydion – Iron Age defended enclosure (probable / earthwork) – Pontllyfni SH442535
Foel Hillfort – Iron Age defended enclosure camp – Clynnog SH450507
Craig y Dinas – Iron Age defensive enclosure – Llanllyfni SH448520
Caer Engan – Iron Age (Celtic) hillfort – Llanllyfni SH477526
Gelli Ffrydiau – Iron Age defensive hilltop enclosure – Nantlle SH525535
Castell Caerau – Iron Age hillfort – Dolbenmaen SH509439
Craig y Tyddyn – defensive enclosure – Dolbenmaen SH505427
Dinas Emrys – Iron Age / Romano-British / early medieval (rems) – Beddgelert SH607491
Dinas – Iron Age defended hillfort – Beddgelert SH591488
Pen y Gaer – defensive hillfort – (nr Aberglaslyn Pass) Nantmor SH586457
Conwy
Dinas (Nant y Coed) – Iron Age hillfort – Llanfairfechan SH700738
Braich y Dinas – Bronze Age / Iron Age / Roman (destroyed by quarry) – Penmaenmawr SH693755
Dinas Alltwen – defensive hillfort – Dwygyfylchi SH744772
Castell Caer Seion – Iron Age hillfort (60 hut circles) – Mynydd y Dref, Conwy SH758777
Pen y Dinas – large Iron Age hillfort – Great Orme, Llandudno SH779829
Cerrig y Ddinas – Iron Age hillfort – Henryd, Conwy SH754739
Caer Bach – early Iron Age hillfort – Rowen SH743730
Pen y Gaer – Iron Age hillfort (20 hut circles) – Caerhun SH750692
Lleyn
Tre’r Ceiri – Iron Age hillfort / Romano-British (150 huts circles) – Llanaelhaearn SH373447
Pen y Gaer – Iron Age hillfort – Llanaelhaearn SH428455
Carn Pentyrch – Iron Age defensive hillfort – Llangybi, Four Crosses SH424417
Garn Boduan – late Iron Age hillfort (170 hut circles) – Nefyn SH311391
Dinllaen – promontory fort (ruined by golf course) – Morfa Nefyn SH275418
Garn Fadrun – Iron Age fort / Romano-British / early medieval castle (rems) – Tudweiliog SH280350
Garn Saethon – defensive enclosure – (nr Garn Fadrun) Llanfihangel SH298338
Pen y Gaer (Llanbedrog) – Iron Age promontory hillfort – Llanbedrog SH323314
Pen y Gaer (Abersoch) – Iron Age defensive hillfort – Abersoch SH298282
Castellmarch / Castell Abersoch – Iron Age defended enclosure – Abersoch SH313285
Castell – Iron Age hillfort – Llanengan SH294267
Pared Mawr /Porth Ceiriad – Iron Age promontory fort – Llanengan SH303246
Castell Caeron – Iron Age hillfort – Botwnnog SH232303
Rhiw – Iron Age defensive enclosure – Rhiw SH230283
Creigiau Gwineu – defensive hillfort – Mynydd y Graig, Rhiw SH228274
Castell Odo – Iron Age Celtic hillfort – Aberdaron SH188284
Anglesey
Din Sylwy / Bwrdd Arthur – Iron Age hillfort / Romano-British – Llanddona SH586814
Dinas Cadnant – Iron Age defensive enclosure (earthwork)– Menai Bridge SH551733
Castell Bryn-Gwyn – late Neolithic religious sanctuary to Roman period fortified settlement (earthwork) – Brynsiencyn SH466671
Moel-y-Don – Iron Age defensive promontory fort to early Medieval – (nr) Brynsiencyn SH516678
Trwyn-y-Parc – Iron Age promontory fort (possible Roman) – Bodorgan SH370650
Y Werthyr – Iron Age hillfort (prehistoric) – Bryngwran SH374782
Dinas Porth Ruffydd – Iron Age defensive promontory fort – Trearddur SH225795
Dinas Gynfor – Iron Age hillfort – Llanbadrig SH390951
Din Lligwy – Iron Age & Romano-British defensive settlement – Moelfre SH495862
Parciau Hillfort – Iron Age / Romano-British defensive settlement – Benllech SH594847
