Cwm Llwyd

Iron Age Hillfort

The Cwm Llwyd Camp is a hillfort believed to date back to the Iron Age period, around 800 BC to AD 74, during the Roman conquest of Wales. Hillforts were often strategically located on hilltops and were typically enclosed by one or more earthworks, serving various functions including defense, display of power, and symbolism.

Situated on the southern slope of Mynydd y Gaer, Cwm Llwyd Camp is protected by a single bank and ditch. The northern side of the hillfort features a steep-sided bank measuring approximately 3-4m in height and 10m in width. On the eastern side, a stone wall continues along the line of the bank and descends towards the stream, following the steep natural bank. The western side of the hillfort shows a gradual tapering of the bank, while the southern side lacks a bank but is marked by a steep drop at the edge of the camp.

The hillfort is located on the western side of a small valley with a deep cut, providing a strategic defensive position. The banks and ditches would have served as physical barriers to protect the interior of the hillfort and its inhabitants. The size and design of the hillfort suggest its significance as a symbol of power and authority within the landscape during the Iron Age period.

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