Penrhos Feilw Standing Stones facts for kids
The Penrhos Feilw Standing Stones are two tall, ancient stones found on Holy Island. This island is located off the west coast of Anglesey in north-west Wales. These mysterious stones are believed to be from the Bronze Age, which was thousands of years ago. We don't fully know why they were put there or what they were used for. Each stone stands about 3 meters (10 feet) tall, and they are placed about the same distance apart.
What Are These Stones?
You can find these stones behind a farmhouse called Plas Meilw. They are about 2 kilometers (1.2 miles) southwest of Holyhead town. They are also a similar distance south of Holyhead Mountain.
Not much is known about the full history of these stones. Experts believe they are very old, possibly between 3,500 and 4,000 years old! Because they are so old and important, they are protected as a Scheduled ancient monument. This means they are a special historical site.
Each stone that you can see above the ground is about 3 meters (10 feet) high. At the bottom, they are about 1 meter (3 feet) wide. However, they are quite thin, only about 20 centimeters (8 inches) thick. The stones stand about 3 meters (10 feet) apart in an open, grassy area. This spot is above Porth Dafarch, nestled between two small hills.
The stones are lined up in a way that points northeast and southwest. From their location, you get a great view of the coast and Holyhead Mountain. Some people think these stones might have been part of a larger stone circle long ago. But there is no real proof to support this idea. There's also a story that a stone burial box, called a cist, used to be between them. Again, there's no evidence to confirm this story.
Interestingly, the stones are only about 100 meters (330 feet) away from the Plas Meilw hut circle. This was a place where ancient people might have lived. The reason why these standing stones are here is still a bit of a mystery.
Visiting the Stones
The Penrhos Feilw Standing Stones are looked after by Cadw. Cadw is the Welsh government's group that protects historic places. You can visit the site for free almost any time of the year. It is usually closed only around Christmas and New Year's Day.
To reach the stones, you walk through a kissing gate. This is a special type of gate that lets one person through at a time. After the gate, you cross a grassy field. There's a small space by the road where one car can park.
