Mynydd y Dref
Encyclopedia
Mynydd y Dref or Conwy Mountain is a hilly area to the west of the town of Conwy
, in North Wales
. To the north it overlooks the sea of Conwy Bay
, and to the south lie the foothills of the Carneddau
range of Mountains, of which it forms a part. Mynydd y Dref is the remains of an ancient volcano
that erupted about 450 million years ago.
At the summit of Conwy Mountain are the Neolithic
Hut Circles and the Iron Age
hillfort of Castell Caer Seion (sometimes called Castell Caer Lleion). Castell Caer Seion comprised a stone walled fort, and remains show this to have been an extensive site, incorporated more than 60 hut circles and levelled platform houses, and with a citadel and outposts.
Limited excavations were undertaken in 1951. No datable remains were found, only slingstones, querns and stone pestles and mortars, which suggests that, unlike many hillforts in north Wales, this site was not reoccupied in the late Roman period.
Millstone was quarried on Conwy Mountain during the Napoleonic wars
.
Tracks and footpaths cross Conwy Mountain, and many walkers, which can be accessed from Sychnant Pass
at its western end.
The route along Conwy Mountain comprises a section of the North Wales Path
, a way-marked long distance walk of some 60 miles which runs close to the North Wales
coast between Prestatyn
in the east and Bangor
in the west.
Conwy
Conwy is a walled market town and community in Conwy County Borough on the north coast of Wales. The town, which faces Deganwy across the River Conwy, formerly lay in Gwynedd and prior to that in Caernarfonshire. Conwy has a population of 14,208...
, in North Wales
North Wales
North Wales is the northernmost unofficial region of Wales. It is bordered to the south by the counties of Ceredigion and Powys in Mid Wales and to the east by the counties of Shropshire in the West Midlands and Cheshire in North West England...
. To the north it overlooks the sea of Conwy Bay
Conwy Bay
Conwy Bay is an inlet of the Irish Sea, defined by the east coast of Anglesey and the north coast of Wales. Puffin Island and the Great Orme mark the limits of the bay....
, and to the south lie the foothills of the Carneddau
Carneddau
The Carneddau , are a group of mountains in Snowdonia, Wales. It includes the largest contiguous areas of high ground in Wales and England, as well as six or seven of the highest peaks in the country—the Fourteen Peaks...
range of Mountains, of which it forms a part. Mynydd y Dref is the remains of an ancient volcano
Volcano
2. Bedrock3. Conduit 4. Base5. Sill6. Dike7. Layers of ash emitted by the volcano8. Flank| 9. Layers of lava emitted by the volcano10. Throat11. Parasitic cone12. Lava flow13. Vent14. Crater15...
that erupted about 450 million years ago.
At the summit of Conwy Mountain are the Neolithic
Neolithic
The Neolithic Age, Era, or Period, or New Stone Age, was a period in the development of human technology, beginning about 9500 BC in some parts of the Middle East, and later in other parts of the world. It is traditionally considered as the last part of the Stone Age...
Hut Circles and the Iron Age
Iron Age
The Iron Age is the archaeological period generally occurring after the Bronze Age, marked by the prevalent use of iron. The early period of the age is characterized by the widespread use of iron or steel. The adoption of such material coincided with other changes in society, including differing...
hillfort of Castell Caer Seion (sometimes called Castell Caer Lleion). Castell Caer Seion comprised a stone walled fort, and remains show this to have been an extensive site, incorporated more than 60 hut circles and levelled platform houses, and with a citadel and outposts.
Limited excavations were undertaken in 1951. No datable remains were found, only slingstones, querns and stone pestles and mortars, which suggests that, unlike many hillforts in north Wales, this site was not reoccupied in the late Roman period.
Millstone was quarried on Conwy Mountain during the Napoleonic wars
Napoleonic Wars
The Napoleonic Wars were a series of wars declared against Napoleon's French Empire by opposing coalitions that ran from 1803 to 1815. As a continuation of the wars sparked by the French Revolution of 1789, they revolutionised European armies and played out on an unprecedented scale, mainly due to...
.
Tracks and footpaths cross Conwy Mountain, and many walkers, which can be accessed from Sychnant Pass
Sychnant Pass
Sychnant Pass in Conwy County Borough, Wales, links Conwy to Penmaenmawr via Dwygyfylchi. Much of the pass is in Snowdonia National Park, and a large area of land within it has been designated a Site of Special Scientific Interest.Before the coming of the railroad to the north Wales coast, the...
at its western end.
The route along Conwy Mountain comprises a section of the North Wales Path
North Wales Path
The North Wales Path is a long distance walk of some 60 miles which runs close to the North Wales coast between Prestatyn in the east and Bangor in the west....
, a way-marked long distance walk of some 60 miles which runs close to the North Wales
North Wales
North Wales is the northernmost unofficial region of Wales. It is bordered to the south by the counties of Ceredigion and Powys in Mid Wales and to the east by the counties of Shropshire in the West Midlands and Cheshire in North West England...
coast between Prestatyn
Prestatyn
Prestatyn is a seaside resort, town and community in Denbighshire, North Wales. It is located on the Irish Sea coast, to the east of Rhyl. At the 2001 Census, Prestatyn had a population of 18,496.-Prehistory:...
in the east and Bangor
Bangor, Gwynedd
Bangor is a city in Gwynedd, north west Wales, and one of the smallest cities in Britain. It is a university city with a population of 13,725 at the 2001 census, not including around 10,000 students at Bangor University. Including nearby Menai Bridge on Anglesey, which does not however form part of...
in the west.