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Pen y Coed Hillfort is a prehistoric hillfort situated near Cyfronydd in Wales, occupying a defensive position on bedrock of Wenlock mudstone, siltstone and sandstone. The site exploits the natural topography of this geological formation, where the harder bands of rock would have provided stable ground for construction and settlement. The fort's position takes advantage of the landscape's natural contours and visibility across the surrounding terrain.
The hillfort belongs to a tradition of Iron Age fortified settlements that are characteristic of Wales and the border regions. Such sites typically enclosed areas for habitation and the protection of livestock, with defences comprising one or more banks and ditches cut into the underlying rock and soil. At Pen y Coed, the construction methods and scale reflect the investment required to create substantial earthworks suited to this particular geology.
The site is now protected by Cadw, the Welsh Historic Monuments service, under reference MG233, ensuring its preservation as an important record of prehistoric settlement and defensive practice in Wales. The hillfort remains a significant archaeological resource for understanding Iron Age communities and their relationship with the landscape of the region.
Pen y Coed Hillfort, Cyfronydd is a scheduled monument protected by Cadw under reference MG233. View the official record →
Pen y Coed Hillfort is a prehistoric hillfort situated near Cyfronydd in Wales, occupying a defensive position on bedrock of Wenlock mudstone, siltstone and sandstone. It is designated a Scheduled Ancient Monument by Cadw under reference MG233.
Pen y Coed Hillfort, Cyfronydd dates from the prehistoric period, and is classified as a hillfort. It is one of over 32,000 scheduled monuments protected across the UK.
Pen y Coed Hillfort, Cyfronydd 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 MG233.
Several scheduled monuments lie within 10 km, including Mound in Churchyard (2.8 km), Gaer Roman Site (4.2 km), Camp 270m SSW of Ty Mawr (4.4 km).
This page is just one thread. A full Aubrey report pulls together 13 strands of Pen y Coed Hillfort, Cyfronydd'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.
Pen y Coed Hillfort, Cyfronydd stands on Wenlock Rocks (Undifferentiated), bedrock that formed in the Wenlock. The rock here is mudstone, siltstone and sandstone.