Penycloddiau

Penycloddiau is a hill in Flintshire, Wales, rising above the village of Ysgeifiog. It belongs to the Clwydian Range and holds one of the five Marilyns in the area. The summit features an Iron Age hillfort covering 26 hectares, making it one of the largest in Wales. Excavations in 2017 by the Clwydian Range Archaeology Group uncovered Bronze Age stone tools dated to 4,000 years old. These finds pushed back the known date of human activity in the region. The hill lies on two long-distance footpaths: Offa’s Dyke Path and the Clwydian Way. A car park sits between Penycloddiau and Moel Arthur, where paths lead up to the summit. The Iron Age defences still stand clearly, with ramparts and ditches visible across the hilltop. Nearby, the Soldier’s Stone marks a point of historical interest recorded by the BBC’s A History of the World project. Visitors reach the summit through grassy slopes and bracken-covered paths. The views stretch across the Clwydian Range and into the Dee Valley. The hillfort’s wide ramparts enclose a flat plateau, giving a sense of the site’s original scale. The contrast between the ancient earthworks and the open moorland creates a quiet, reflective atmosphere. The air carries the scent of heather and distant farmland.