Castell Pant-Mawr

Castell Pant Mawr, also known as Pen-y-Castell, occupies a prominent hill overlooking the Ystwyth valley just outside Llanilar. It is an odd site, consisting of an oval summit divided in two by a ditch, each of the halves possessing a perimeter bank, and with other irregular earthworks which may protect the approach or the hill as a whole. Opinion is divided as to whether this is a pre-medieval fort or a rather odd variation on a motte and bailey theme, but what is clear is the site deserves more research and archaeology. Access is via the farm at its base so permission will be needed to look closer at it.