The Capel Garmon
Burial Chamber is a neolithic burial chamber of the 3rd millennium
BC.
It is located in a farmer's field near Betws
y Coed high above the Conwy Valley and there are wonderful views of
Snowdonia. It is a major archaeological site and it is well worth a visit
if only for the fantastic views of the Snowdonia National Park, indeed
I would have to describe it as a "tomb with a view".
What appears to be the entrance is in fact one of the inner burial chambers
and the real entrance is on the south side from where a passage led to
a rectangular space which branched off to two circular burial chambers,
the east and the west. The chamber has undergone considerable renovation
but there are traces of the original stone walling in the lower courses
of the eastern chamber. Look hard for a line of three very small drill
marks that indicate the junction of new and old work. There is only one
capstone remaining, but it is a fantastic piece of stone fourteen feet
wide, and there are two false portals leading nowhere. These are believed
to be for ceremonial purposes only.
The present entrance was formed for use as a stable in the 19th Century
and because of the disturbances not many artifacts were discovered during
excavation. However some sherds of late Neolithic ( Beaker) pottery were
found and some traces of bone were found in the passageway. When viewing
the chambers it is important to realise that it is a Cairn and would originally
have been covered with a pile of stones. The outline of the cairn is now
recorded by the lines of stones around the perimeter of the chamber.
Directions :
OS 116 SH 818 543
Leave Betws y Coed on the A5 travelling north to Conwy. Turn right after
a few hundred yards at sign pointing to Capel Garmon. Follow the narrow,
very steep road to Capel Garmon (approx 1.5 miles). Pass through the village
and continue for another 1/4 mile. Continue over the brow of the hill
and there is a gate with two stone gate posts on the right. Pass through
the first set of gates and continue along the lane past one house on the
right till you come to second house, a farmhouse and farm yard. On the
left you will see sign post for tomb and footpath. Walk across field approx.
2 minutes.
Should you be based in Betws y Coed there is a path leading up toward
Capel Garmon from near the Waterloo Bridge. Alternatively you could cycle
up the hill as per directions above. Both the last two alternatives are
preferable to driving there by car as it is a lovely walk or cycle ride,
especially the down hill return !
There is a nice pub and restaurant in Capel Garmon and an interesting
grave yard, another case of "tombs with a view". Click here
for pictures of Capel
Garmon village >
