Читать книгу The Ceredigion and Snowdonia Coast Paths. The Wales Coast Path from Porthmadog to St Dogmaels онлайн

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The Celts, who arrived in Wales from about 600BC, were warlike and had a culture steeped in legend. Their language (the various tribes speaking different versions of the same tongue) gave the basis for modern Welsh. The latter part of the first millennium BC saw the development of numerous hill forts, such as at Pendinas above Aberystwyth and at Pendinaslochdyn near Llangrannog.

Seen across a shimmering sea, Pendinaslochdyn appears in silhouette (Day 13)

The Roman invasion

The Roman invasion of Britain from AD43 made relatively little impact on West Wales. There was known to be one fort, near the path at Pennal, but roads were largely absent and the Celtic peoples carried on their way of life much as before.

After the Romans

The history of West Wales after the Romans departed is often shrouded in mystery. Irish tribes began to settle here; then, according to tradition, early in the fifth century one Cunedda and his eight sons came from Southern Scotland, subjugating the Irish settlers and imposing the Welsh (Brythonic) dialect of the Celts. It is perhaps no mere coincidence, then, that the conquered areas bear the names of Cunedda’s sons. Dunawd, for instance, is said to have given his name to Dunoding (an area that included the coast between present-day Porthmadog and Barmouth, the land of Ardudwy); Ceredig to Ceredigion, and Merion (the son of Tyrion, who had already died) to Meirionydd between the Dwyryd and Machynlleth. These are some of the oldest names in Wales.