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Small Fort

Large Fort

Artefacts from similar sitesBased on finds at other Iron Age forts in Wales, we would expect to find a number of different artefacts from people living and dying here - the burial cairn may provide evidence of Bronze Age life and the rituals of death.

Artefacts from the later Iron Age may include items such as pots, brooches, glass beads, farming tools and weapons.

Y Gaer Fach - The Small FortThe smaller of the two forts is harder to imagine as the ramparts are far more dilapidated. There are at least two periods of building activity on the site, as there are remains of two separate sets of ramparts - inner and outer. It has been suggested that the inner ramparts, which are later than the outer ones, may not have been finished as they appear to be only about a quarter complete. As to why, this remains a mystery.

On the eastern side of the fort facing the larger fort, there is a long track formed by collapsed walls leading up to an entrance.

GARN GOCH HILL FORTFarmers, traders, warriors and invadersThe massive stone ramparts of Garn Goch make it one of the most spectacular Iron Age hill forts in Wales, dating from the first millennium BC to the invasion of the Romans.It dominates the surrounding countryside, and a walk along the ridge taking in both the small and large forts (Y Gaer Fach and Y Gaer Fawr) gives you not only an impressive view but also a sense of drama. Who lived here, who died here, were the inhabitants protecting an ancient burial site?

Garn Goch would have been a bustling community - people farming the land and tending cattle. They would have made goods to sell and barter, including pottery, baskets, jewellery, tools and weapons. They would also have been fierce warriors, defending their community against whoever invaded.

Life at Garn GochGarn Goch was home to many families. They lived in thatched, wattle and daub roundhouses, safe within the seemingly impenetrable walls of Y Gaer Fawr.

Many would have been skilled craftsmen, some working with iron, others farming or managing the woodland.

We believe that people lived here during the Bronze Age - the large burial cairn is a major feature of the hill fort, and it’s possible the community grew around them.

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Defending against invaders Although some of what we believe about Garn Goch is speculation, we do know that the hill fort was built in the period before the Romans invaded Wales; the Iron Age.

The people of Garn Goch surrounded themselves with massive stone walls or ramparts, which were built following the contours of the hill, giving it its distinctive and unique shape.

The main fort is 700 feet (213m) above sea level and gives you an excellent panoramic view. The ramparts would have also given shelter, defending the people against the harsh weather.

What is certain is that building the fort would have taken a huge effort, and many years to complete, so we can assume this location was very important.

Perhaps again the burial cairn gives us a clue?

The Red CairnGarn Goch translates as ‘red cairn’, and probably got its name from the colour of the hill which, as the aerial photograph shows, is the muddy red of the bracken.

Despite more than 2000 years, you can imagine today how impressive this fort must have been in Iron Age Wales.

Roman InvasionIn AD 48 the Romans marched into Wales, reaching here by around AD70. The inhabitants of Garn Goch must have fought hard to defend their land.

They were fierce warriors, but inevitably the Roman conquest consumed them and the tribes of Wales became part of the new imperial province of Britannia, or Roman Britain, which was to last for the next 300 years.

DEMETAE

ORDOVICES

DECEANGLI

S I L U R E S

C O

RN

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ILI

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OC TA P I TA E

AD 47-52: Ostorius Scapula

The Roman Governors of Wales

AD 57: Quintus Veranus

AD 52-57: Didius Gallus

vAD 73-77: Julius Frontenius

AD 58-60: Suetonius Paulinus

AD 77-78: Agricola

The Tribes of WalesThere were several tribes of pre-Roman Britain, which were given names by the Romans such as the Demetae, Cornovii, and Deceangli.

The territory of the Silures was south east Wales - the Brecon Beacons and South Wales Valleys. They were difficult for the Romans to conquer and control, and for a time they led the British opposition to the Roman advance.

Caradog, one of the main leaders of the Britons, escaped to join the Silures, joining forces with the Ordovices, stirring them into rebellion. Some believe that Caradog resisted the Romans right here at Garn Goch.

FOLLOW THE STORY...DILYNWCH Y STORI...• Carmarthen Castle

• Carmarthen Amphitheatre

• County Museum, Abergwili

• Dolaucothi

Gold Mines

• Y Pigwn

• Y Garn Goch

• Castell Caerfyrddin

• Amffitheatr Caerfyrddin

• Amgueddfa y Sir, Abergwili

• Mwyngloddiau Aur

Dolaucothi

• Y Pigwn

• Y Garn Goch

CaerfyrddinCarmarthen

Dolaucothi

Y Pigwn

Garn GochAbergwili

Follow the story Discover more about how the Roman invasion of Wales influenced Welsh cultural identity and the Welsh landscape by exploring the five other sites in the ‘Romans in Carmarthenshire’ story.

Roman GovernorsA number of Roman governors fought hard against the various tribes of Wales. Scapula was one of the most notable, campaigning against tribes the Romans called Silures and Ordovices, battling with their leader, Caradog (Roman Caratacus).

Scapula was succeeded by other governors who made difficult but steady progress against the Welsh tribes, and eventually it was Frontinus who defeated the Silures, followed by Agricola who defeated the Ordovices.

The Demetae are the only pre-Roman Welsh tribe that would emerge from Roman rule with their tribal name intact, suggesting they made peace early with the invaders, perhaps even becoming a ‘client tribe’ of the Romans.

The RampartsThe massive stone rampart, with which the inhabitants of Garn Goch surrounded themselves, was enormous - in places there is evidence it was around thirty feet (ten metres) high.

These ramparts would have protected them from the weather, and discouraged all but the most determined invader!

Aerial photo of Garn Goch© Crown copyright: Royal Commission on the Ancient and Historical Monuments of Wales

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As you explore the site look out for:• A large mound of loose stones near the northern ramparts. This is thought to be a cairn marking a burial

chamber and it probably pre-dates the fort.

• At least six entrances (known as posterns) defined by large upright stones. They may once have held wooden gates to closely control access into and out of the hill fort.

• A low boggy area at the centre of the fort where rush is growing; this could have been a pond and would have supplied fresh water to those who lived in the hill fort.

• A level area which was once the site of one of the huts.

When you have finished exploring, return to the entrance through which you came into the fort. Head downhill to the junction of paths and either turn right to retrace your steps, or continue straight down the hill to the tarmac road which leads back to the car park.

Brecon Beacons National Park

A483

A4069

A482

A483

A48

A40

A40

A40

Llangadog

Llandeilo

Llandovery

Bethlehem

Capel Gwynfe

C A R M A R T H E N S H I R E

M4

M4

Brecon Beacons National Park

Brecon

Lampeter

New Quay

Carmarthen

Swansea

MerthyrTydfil

Getting hereGarn Goch is in the Brecon Beacons National Park and the Fforest Fawr Geopark.

It is located between Llangadog and Llandeilo (SN 685242).

From the A40, take the A4069 through Llangadog.

When you have passed through the village, turn right for Bethlehem, then follow the signs to Garn Goch where there is a small car park.

©Brecon Beacons NPA Crown Copyright 100019322 2013

Garn Goch

A walk around Garn GochThere are two hill forts to explore, occupying separate summits on the same ridge with splendid views of the surrounding countryside.The Small Fort (Y Gaer Fach): 0.3 miles/0.5 km (approx. 15 minutes)

The Large Fort (Y Gaer Fawr): 0.5 miles/0.8 km (approx. 30 minutes)

From the car park, follow the obvious path uphill, past the memorial stone on your right. Continue on a wider grassy path and into Y Gaer Fach, the smaller of the two forts. Looking north from here you have a fine view of the Towy Valley.

Now head for Y Gaer Fawr, the much larger fort. Keep going downhill slightly into the hollow and then to the right of the large stone ramparts on the south-western end. Here you’ll find a handy rock on which you can sit and admire the massive piles of stone! Imagine the time and effort it would have taken to build what was once a near-impenetrable wall, around five metres thick.

Head downhill again now, keeping the fort on your left, until you come to a junction of paths. Turn left and enter the fort through the gap which may have been one of the gateways. You are now in the fort, where many families once lived and worked.

Garn Goch

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Large FortY Gaer FawrSmall Fort

Y Gaer Fach

Nant Geidrych

Bethlehem

212m

236m

Garn Goch

Glangeidrych

Garn-wen

Crug Glas

Wern y Garn-goch

Gurnos

Rhuad-y-môn

Cairn circley

Garn Goch CircuitSuggested WalkLlwybr a awgrymir

Key Allweddol

Public FootpathLlwybr troed

TrackTrac

Open Access LandTir Mynediad Agored

Beacons WayFfordd y Bannau

Leave our stones unturned! The impressive stone cairn and ramparts that make Garn Goch one of the most spectacular late Iron Age settlements in Wales can easily be damaged.

You can help us protect this Scheduled Ancient Monument by leaving stones where you find them and not building shelters in the ramparts.

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500 ft100 m

©Brecon Beacons NPA Crown Copyright 100019322 2013