Walking
world
CAER DREWYN HILL FORT
Corwen is situated in a superb location where the wide valley of the River Dee meets the Vale of Edeyrnion before winding its way to
THINGS YOU NEED TO KNOW J Distance: 2.9 miles/4.66 kilometres J Time: Allow around 2 – 2.5 hours J Start: Use the pay and display car park off
Llangollen. To the south of the town the rolling Berwyn Mountains
Green Lane near the centre of Corwen and
provide high-level tough walking for experienced walkers, while
just north of the A5. There is plenty of space to
north of Corwen you will find the elevated hill fort of Caer Drewyn which is one of the most complete hill forts in Wales. Caer Drewyn is the most southerly hill fort in the Clwydian hill range and was built in the Iron Age sometime between 600 BC and 43 AD. Unlike other hill forts in this region Caer Drewyn does not have earthen banks and ditches but has a large dry stone wall instead and it is
park and the car park has toilets.
J Grid Ref: SJ 079435 J Nearest postcode: LL21 0BD J Ordnance Survey Map: Ordnance Survey Explorer 256 – Wrexham and Llangollen
J What to expect: This walk uses a combination
this you will see if you follow this month’s walk from the streets
of roads with pavements and quiet lanes lower
of Corwen to the summit of Caer Drewyn. Within these walls there
down. The climb to Caer Drewyn is quite
are the foundation remains of ancient round houses where the forts
rough and tough and uses steep tracks and
occupants lived. The original entrances to the fort where on the
paths. The descent uses tracks and an old
west and north sides and as you stand amongst the ruins you will
lane. Choose a day of settled weather and wear
see why this site was chosen for a defensive structure as the view
walking boots
in all directions is extensive. Caer Drewyn has never been properly excavated and consequently there are many unanswered questions about its history – why are there strange round holes in some of the walls and where did the stones to build the fort come from as there are no ancient quarries in the area and yet it must have taken
J Dogs: OK on leads J Suitable for: All walkers who don’t mind steep ascents and some rough going
J Refreshments: Corwen has cafés, restaurants, pubs and shops
many tons of material to construct the fort. Caer Drewyn is a large fort and covers an area of three hectares within its surrounding rampart walls. The hill fort continued to be used long after the Iron Age ended. Legend has it that it was used by Owain Gwynedd, the self-proclaimed King of Wales, while King Henry II was camped on the nearby Berwyn Mountains and it is also believed to be the site where Owain Glyndwr gathered together his troops after he proclaimed himself King of Wales in 1400. Today all is peaceful here and after a stiff climb to the upper reaches of the fort you will no doubt settle down to enjoy your lunch surrounded by history and magnificent views.
NWM 2021 Page 89
