Ancient Sites • Elan Valley

Penrhiw Wen Sites

Penrhiw-Wen is just off the old Aberystwyth Mountain Road and includes two standing stones — Maen Serth / Esgair Dderw Standing Stone and Maengwyngweddw Stone (The White Widow) — plus Clap yr Arian Cairn.

Two other cairns were destroyed for road metalling some time ago, and a Bronze Age axe was found at one of the cairns. All three sites are a short walk from the road and are among the easiest sites to reach in the Elan Valley.
Map Ref: SN940 700

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This page includes Maen Serth / Esgair Dderw Standing Stone, Maengwyngweddw Stone, Clap yr Arian Cairn, and the Clap yr Arian Axe.

Maen Serth / Esgair Dderw Standing Stone

Maen Serth / Esgair Dderw Standing Stone, 2.1m high.

In 1176 two local princes, Einion Clud and Morgan ap Meredydd, were returning from the Great Eisteddfod in Cardigan, held by the Lord Rhys, Prince of South Wales, to celebrate the completion of Cardigan Castle, when they were ambushed and killed by the soldiers of Roger Mortimer, Earl of Wigmore, who had designs on their land. Tradition says they were killed here at Maenserth, known locally as the Princes Stone.
Map Ref: SN863 770