Ancient field patterns in Llŷn

Looking out from Uwchmynydd at field patterns in Llŷn Peninsula

Discover special places where the tension between people and their environment has created landscapes of extraordinary beauty.

Look across a world of traditional field patterns and bring history to life. Much of the landscape at the tip of the Llyn peninsula was under arable cultivation during the Middle Ages. Some patterns remain visible today at Mynydd Gwyddal and Pistyll.

Cloddiau

The traditional field boundaries - stone walls and cloddiau (earth banks) - are a prominent feature and date back several centuries. They are an important habitat for wildlife.

A landscape enhanced

The rich variety of traditional boundaries in Llyn contributes to local distinctiveness and enhances the peninsula’s landscape.

Look across a world of traditional field patterns
Field patterns West of Mynydd-y-Graig, Llyn Peninsula, North Wales.
Look across a world of traditional field patterns

Bringing history to life

Most traditional boundaries continue to serve the purpose for which they were originally intended - to identify divisions between properties and to protect crops and animals. See if you can spot the narrow strips of fields that feature wider corners at one end where the plough would have turned around.

Wildlife corridor

The boundaries also serve as important wildlife corridors, offering shelter and protection for species unable to survive in open ground.

History in harmony with nature

Often, boundaries will carry both historic and wildlife interest - a testament to constructions that may have been in existence for centuries. Today, we carefully manage the cloddiau to preserve this traditional characteristic.