July 2026
One thing guaranteed to ensure a Friends full house is an event led by archaeologist Fiona Gale and our recent visit to Gop Hill outside Trelawnyd was no exception. In pleasant sunny, if windy, conditions after the June heatwave, over 20 of us made the short uphill walk to this wonderful prehistoric man-made mound, the second largest in the UK after Silbury Hill in Wiltshire – and with much better views! Fiona was the perfect guide, giving us fascinating detail about this iconic part of our National Landscape.
We began our climb from the village car park, threading our way through the gorse with Impressive limestone outcrops beneath our feet. Our first stop was the magnificent Gop cave. Fiona explained that this was the actual burial site on the Gop as opposed to the earthwork at the hill top. In the chamber here was where ancient human remains had been found together with pottery, an axe head and other important artifacts, giving us clues as to what life was like over 5000 years ago in the Neolithic period. Fiona answered our many questions with her customary expertise and good humour, pointing out that there was a great deal that we didn’t and could never know about these ancient sites. Hopefully there would be opportunity to discover more in the future.
Then is was on to the summit itself, over 800 feet above sea level and crowned by its magnificent man made mound. Fiona explained that the mound had been excavated by Victorian archaeologist Boyd Dawkins and his team in the 1880’s. The small hollow beneath the highest point was where the excavation was situated. She recalled that nothing had been found to indicate burials and it was more likely that the site was of ritual importance as a landmark and a beacon. There were many stories involving the Gop, including a legend the Boudicca, Queen of the Iceni, had fought the Romans here. That set us all thinking!
Fiona’s final stop was on an area of loose limestone near to the summit where the possibility of a second burial site was considered a possibility. Hopefully, there will be a chance to discover more about the Gop’s hidden secrets sometime in the future. It was time to return to our cars but not before a last look at our surrounding from this outstanding viewpoint – the Clwydian Range and the mouth of the Dee Estuary nearby and more distant views to Eryri, north-west England and out to the Irish Sea. Breathtaking! – the northern end of our NL has so much to offer. Many thanks Fiona for yet another of your memorable events – and thanks to all joining Friends for their support and company.