Gop Cairn by Arthur S
Gop Hill Cairn
Gop Cairn is the largest Prehistoric mound in Wales and second only to Silbury Hill, Wiltshire in Britain. An enormous limestone cairn on the summit of a prominent limestone ridge above Trelawnyd, Gop Hill summit looks out over Prestatyn, Rhyl, Llandudno, The Great Orme and the mountains of Snowdonia.
Gop Cairn is around 12m in height above the level of the ridge to the East but around 15m higher than the ground to the South and West, even more so with regard to the slopes on its northern side. The length of the cairn on the long-side is around 25 metres by 15 metres. The top of the mound is depressed towards the centre due to excavations undertaken for Boyd-Dawkins, a professor in the 1880s. Boyd-Dawkins’ excavations established that the core of the cairn was of massive limestone blocks and recovered a number of flint artefacts but no burials.
On the slopes to the South is Gop Cave from which Boyd-Dawkins excavated several presumed Neolithic burials from stone chambers with in the cave.
Created: 31 May 2021 Edited: 29 November 2023
Gop Hill Cairn
Gop Hill Cairn LiDAR Map
Contains public sector information licensed under the Open Government Licence v3.0
Local History around Gop Hill Cairn
There are some historic monuments around including:
Moel Hiraddug Hillfort St Elmo's Summer House Round Barrows Brynbella Mound, and sections of Offas Dyke adjoining it. Tyn-y-caeau round barrow Round Barrows North West of Axton Baptist Chapel Trelawnyd Churchyard Cross Siamber-Wen Medieval House Round Barrow 225m E of Minffordd Cottage Criccin Cross Criafol Round Barrow Offa's Dyke: Section E of Trelawnyd Tynewdd round barrow Coed-y-bryn round barrow Round Barrow 800m NE of Criafol Farm The Gop Caves Crown Wood Round Barrow Round Barrow at Coed Bell, Gronant Pen-y-graig round barrow Round Barrow 400m SE of Tai Marian Maen Achwyfan Coed Bron-Fawr Round Barrow Pant Ifan Round Barrow Round Barrow West of Ty Draw Coed Glyn-Bach Round Barrow Prestatyn Castle Pont Dafydd (old) Cae Gwyn CaveRound Barrow 270m NW of Traveller's Inn Bryn Digrif Round Barrows Three Round Barrows in Cwm Wood Round Barrow 225m E of Village Offa's Dyke: Section North West of Tre Abbot-Fawr Ffynnon Beuno CaveDyserth Castle Clive Engine House, Meliden Offa's Dyke: Tan-y-Graig Section Pennant Mines Winding Engine House & Chimney, RhualltBarrow on E Slope of Gop Hill Hen-dy round barrow Prestatyn Roman SiteOffa's Dyke: Section North of Crown Inn Round Barrow 270m E of Axton Baptist Chapel Round Barrow 350m SW of Glol Farm Barrows 378m E of Berthen-Gam School Coed Shepherd Round Barrow Round Barrow 450m South West of Glol Farm Glol Camp Round Barrow on Coed Yr Esgob Two Round Barrows on Moel Maen Efa Berthen-Gam Round Barrow Gop Cairn Bryn yr Odyn Round Barrow Round Barrow 153m NW of Plas yn Rhos .
