Castell Cawr

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Castell Cawr, or Tan-y-Gopa as it is known locally, is a heavily forested hill above the town of Abergele in Conwy county borough, Wales. On it is found the Iron Age hillfort of Castell Cawr, which overlooks the River Clwyd. [1] Rare lesser horseshoe bats inhabit caves on the hill. The woods are owned by the Woodland Trust. The hill rises to 189 m (620 ft) above sea level, with extensive views to Snowdonia and the Clwydian Range.

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Thomas Pennant visited the area in the 18th century, and noted the existence of the hillfort. In 1860, James Halliwell-Phillipps wrote that the outline of the hillfort was obscured by vegetation, and identified the workings of a Roman lead mine on the hillside. The Welsh knew these excavations by the name "Ffos-y-bleiddiaid" ("Ditch of the Wolves") [2]

Castell Cawr from Tower Hill Castell Cawr.jpg
Castell Cawr from Tower Hill

See also

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References

  1. "Castel Cawr Hillfort". The Megalithic Portal. Retrieved 25 April 2016.
  2. James Orchard Halliwell-Phillipps (1860). Notes of family excursions in north Wales. pp.  49–.

Coordinates: 53°16′36″N3°35′52″W / 53.2766°N 3.5977°W / 53.2766; -3.5977