Mynydd y Cilgwyn, Bedd Twrog, Carmel

The North Wales Pilgrims Way runs around the foot of this conical mount, whose summit bears a legendary saint’s grave easily worthy of a short uphill detour.

Highlights

• Possible grave of St Twrog

On the summit of this rocky hill lies a circular stone structure, identified by some as the grave of St Twrog. It is a fitting monument to an early saint with the powers of a giant. Mynydd y Cilgwyn has panoramic views over Anglesey and Snowdonia, a place worthy of a Celtic hero.

The cairn-like stone ring appears to have the concrete footing of a trig point left in the centre. It has been identified as Bedd Twrog, the grave of Twrog, which has long been said to exist somewhere in this region. St Twrog was a 6th-century missionary who brought Christianity to pagan parts of North Wales.

A slate sign was placed beside this grave in recent years by a local priest, who has adopted and promoted this grave. The sign bears a Celtic cross and an Orthodox cross with the name of the saint in English and Welsh.

Simple though it is, someone had taken offence and smashed it to pieces when I visited. The saint’s memory is untarnished by the vandalism: he was famous for breaking the monuments of his rivals (see his stone at Maentwrog.

Directions

Footpath starts at end of: Frondirion Uchaf, Carmel LL54 7SF

W3W: steroids.swam.acids

GPS: 53.0646N 4.2436W

Directions: The grave is at the summit of Mynydd y Cilgwyn, which is to the east of Carmel village. Driving south through Carmel village, turn left at the end of town down a side road marked with a cattle grid. Drive along here for ½ mile to the end of the road, where there is a house and a red phone box. Walk directly up the steep hill for 10–15 minutes, and the path will take you to the grave on the hill’s summit.