Bryn Cader Faner

8.7 miles (14 km)

This walk climbs to a�Bronze Age�round�cairn�in the�Ardudwy�area of�the Rhinogydd mountains. It's a fascinating monument and one of the finest of its type in Britain. From the elevated position of the stone circle there are magnificent views over Snowdonia. The site sits at a height over 1250ft (380m) so it is quite a challenging climb.
The walk starts from Llandecwyn and follows a section of the Taith Ardudwy Way to the cairn circle. You can pick up the trail just to the east of the train station. Follow it east towards the tranquil Llyn Tecwyn Uchaf where you turn south towards the village of Llandecwyn, with its ancient church.
You continue south past another beautiful body of water at Llyn Tecwyn Isaf where you turn east to Caerwych. The route then climbs to Y Gyrn before the final ascent to Bryn Cader Faner. The diameter of the circle is 8.5 metres (28�ft) with 18 thin jagged pillars which jut upwards from the low cairn.�It is thought to date back to the late third millennium BC. After admiring the structure and taking in the views you return on the same path.
If you would like to extend the walk you can continue south and visit Llyn Eiddew Mawr. If you head east you can visit Llyn Trawsfynydd. The huge lake has some nice cycling and walking trails running around the perimeter.

Bryn Cader Faner Ordnance Survey Map - view and print off detailed OS map

Bryn Cader Faner Open Street Map - view and print off detailed map

Bryn Cader Faner OS Map - Mobile GPS OS Map with Location tracking

Bryn Cader Faner Open Street Map - Mobile GPS Map with Location tracking

Further Information and Other Local Ideas

If you head east to Llyn Trawsfynydd then you could visit another of the interesting historical sites in the area at Tomen y Mur. This ancient Roman Fort is located just a quarter of a mile to the north east of the lake's visitor centre. The fort was originally constructed�in AD 78, and abandoned around AD 140. A millennium later, in the�Norman�period, the site was reoccupied and refortified with a�motte�within the old walls. You can still see these walls today. Informative plaques detail the history of the site and the views from the top of the motte are also excellent. To visit the site just follow a footpath north east from the visitor centre.