Preseli
Today, mainly on visual grounds, the Preseli
Hills appear to form a single area of open, upland landscape.
However, in terms of their historic interest, they comprise a
series of discrete blocks which encompass areas of the foothills to
the north and south.
Summary
Photo Jeremy Moore, ©CCW
Ref number: HLW (D) 7
OS map: Landranger 145
Unitary authority: Pembrokeshire,
Carmarthenshire
The best surviving and most complete, typical historic
cross-section across the central block described here encompasses
the Preseli ridge between Foel Eryr in the west and Foel Drygarn in
the east.
The area contains a rich legacy of upstanding, prehistoric and
later remains, and carries with it several important historic
associations, including that of being the source area of the
Stonehenge bluestones.
A full published description for this landscape area is
available as a pdf download within the Related Articles section
below.
Principal area designations:
The larger part of the area is within the Pembrokeshire Coast
National Park and the Preseli Environmentally Sensitive Area. The
area includes the Ty Canol Wood National Nature Reserve and the
greater part of the Mynydd Preseli Site of Special Scientific
Interest.
Criteria: 2, 3, 4, 5
Contents and significance:
A large area in north Pembrokeshire, comprising high open hills
and summit crags with adjoining enclosed foothills incised by deep
narrow valleys, the whole representing the best surviving and most
complete, typical historic cross-section across the Preseli
Hills.
The area contains:
remarkable and extensive evidence for prehistoric land use and
ritual, superimposed in part by recent enclosure, and includes:
Neolithic chambered tombs and stone axe source; Bronze Age funerary
and ritual sites, the source of the Stonehenge bluestones; Iron Age
hillforts, settlements and enclosures; early Christian monuments;
early medieval churches; 19th century Parliamentary Enclosures;
significant historical literary and religious associations.