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Dyffryn Camp is a prehistoric hillfort located in Wales, occupying a strategic position on geology of Ashgill age. The underlying bedrock comprises undifferentiated Ashgill Rocks—a formation of mudstone, siltstone and sandstone typical of South Wales—which would have presented both advantages and constraints to Iron Age builders. The solid foundation offered suitable ground for the construction of substantial defensive earthworks, whilst the exposed rock outcrops and natural contours of the landscape shaped the hillfort's layout and perimeter.
The site's positioning reflects the standard hillfort strategy of commanding views across the surrounding lowland terrain, affording its occupants early warning of approaching parties across the Ashgill-bedded landscape. The fort's defensive scheme would have relied on the natural slopes and outcrops of these indurated rocks, reinforced by artificial ramparts and ditches cut through the weathered stone.
Dyffryn Camp is protected as a scheduled monument by Cadw, the Welsh monuments authority, under reference CM156. This designation recognises the fort's archaeological significance as evidence of later prehistoric settlement, territorial control and social organisation in Wales. The site remains an important record of Iron Age material culture and land use practices in the region.
Dyffryn Camp is a scheduled monument protected by Cadw under reference CM156. View the official record →
Dyffryn Camp is a prehistoric hillfort located in Wales, occupying a strategic position on geology of Ashgill age. It is designated a Scheduled Ancient Monument by Cadw under reference CM156.
Dyffryn Camp dates from the prehistoric period, and is classified as a hillfort. It is one of over 32,000 scheduled monuments protected across the UK.
Dyffryn Camp is a Scheduled Ancient Monument, legally protected by Cadw — the body responsible for designating and safeguarding heritage sites in Wales. The official designation reference is CM156.
Several scheduled monuments lie within 10 km, including Llech Ciste Standing Stone (3.2 km), Allt-y-Ferin Mound and Bailey Castle (3.8 km), Crugiau Round Barrows (3.9 km).
This page is just one thread. A full Aubrey report pulls together 13 strands of Dyffryn Camp's history, each drawn from the record and mapped to the exact spot:
Every location is different. Not every section appears for every place, only what the historical record actually holds turns up in a report.
Dyffryn Camp stands on Ashgill Rocks (Undifferentiated), bedrock that formed in the Ashgill. The rock here is mudstone, siltstone and sandstone.