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Pen y Gaer Camp is a prehistoric hillfort situated in Wales and protected as an ancient monument by Cadw under reference CN051. The fort occupies a commanding position on bedrock composed of Ordovician felsic tuff, an extrusive volcanic rock formed during the Ordovician period over 450 million years ago. This ancient geology provided a naturally defensible foundation for the hillfort's construction.
The site belongs to a class of fortified settlements that proliferated across Britain during the Iron Age, though some hillforts show evidence of earlier occupation. Pen y Gaer's elevated location would have afforded clear views across the surrounding landscape, serving both defensive and administrative purposes. The volcanic bedrock underlying the monument would have presented particular challenges and opportunities for construction, potentially determining the placement of ramparts and entrances.
Today, the hillfort remains a significant archaeological resource, its earthwork remains preserved within the Cadw protection scheme. The monument contributes to our understanding of prehistoric settlement patterns and defensive strategies in Wales, whilst the distinctive geological foundation of Ordovician tuff distinguishes this site within the broader landscape of Iron Age fortifications.
Pen y Gaer Camp is a scheduled monument protected by Cadw under reference CN051. View the official record →
Pen y Gaer Camp is a prehistoric hillfort situated in Wales and protected as an ancient monument by Cadw under reference CN051.
Pen y Gaer 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.
Pen y Gaer 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 CN051.
Several scheduled monuments lie within 10 km, including Roman Bath-House, Tremadoc (6.3 km), Ty'n y Berllan Settlement (6.5 km), Coed Cae Fali Hut Circle Settlement (6.9 km).
This page is just one thread. A full Aubrey report pulls together 13 strands of Pen y Gaer 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.
Pen y Gaer Camp stands on Unnamed Extrusive Rocks, Ordovician, bedrock that formed in the Ordovician. The rock here is felsic tuff.