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Maen Penddu is a prehistoric standing stone located in Wales and protected by Cadw under reference CN126. The monument stands upon bedrock composed of Caradoc Rocks, an undifferentiated sequence of mudstone, siltstone and sandstone formed during the Caradocian period of the Ordovician. This geology is characteristic of the upland regions of Wales where such stones were erected.
The stone represents a significant element of Wales's prehistoric heritage, belonging to the tradition of monumental standing stones that dot the Welsh landscape. Such monuments typically date to the Neolithic or Bronze Age periods, serving various ceremonial, territorial or burial-related functions within their communities. Their enduring presence across the Welsh countryside reflects the sustained cultural importance of these sites across multiple prehistoric generations.
The monument's protection under Cadw ensures its preservation as part of Wales's archaeological and cultural record. Standing stones of this type provide valuable evidence for understanding prehistoric settlement patterns, ritual practices and the relationship between early Welsh communities and their landscape. Maen Penddu thus contributes to our knowledge of how prehistoric peoples organised and marked their environment.
Maen Penddu is a scheduled monument protected by Cadw under reference CN126. View the official record →
Maen Penddu is a prehistoric standing stone located in Wales and protected by Cadw under reference CN126.
Maen Penddu dates from the prehistoric period, and is classified as a standing stone. It is one of over 32,000 scheduled monuments protected across the UK.
Maen Penddu 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 CN126.
Several scheduled monuments lie within 10 km, including Pen y Gaer Camp (4.5 km), Afon Dulyn ring cairn (6.2 km), Hafod y Garreg Deserted Rural Settlement (6.3 km).
This page is just one thread. A full Aubrey report pulls together 13 strands of Maen Penddu'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.
Maen Penddu stands on Caradoc Rocks (Undifferentiated), bedrock that formed in the Caradocian. The rock here is mudstone, siltstone and sandstone.