Bryn Celli Ddu (or The Mound in the Dark Grove in English) is an ancient tomb on the isle of Anglesey near the village of Llandaniel Fab. It’s under the care of CADW and is free to visit.
Although it’s not one of Anglesey’s top attractions, it’s worth stopping to see if you’re passing by since it’s less than 10 minute walk from the car park.
Keep reading to find out more about what it is and how to get there.
What is Bryn Celli Ddu?
Bryn Celli Ddu is an ancient tomb on the isle of Anglesey. When it was built in the Neolithic period (around 3,000 BC), it would have been a stone circle and henge.
In the bronze age, the original design was torn down and it was turned into a burial chamber, similar to what you can see today with six upright stones and two capstones as the roof.
It’s unclear who would have been buried in the tomb but both burnt and unburnt human remains have been discovered. After each funeral, the tomb would have been sealed off. It would then be cleaned and reused for another funeral.
As well as being one of two passage tombs in Wales (with a narrow access passage to walk through), it’s unique because it has been aligned with the sun so that it shines through the passage on the summer solstice.
How To Visit Bryn Celli Dhu
To visit Bryn celli Ddu, park at the dedicated roadside parking area on the A4080.
The postcode for the car park is LL61 6EQ, although you can use this Google Maps pin for a more accurate location. The car park is free but it’s very small and can get busy during the summer. If there is no space in the car park, there is a small layby a little further down the road where you can safely park.
To reach Bryn Celli Ddu, head out of the car park on foot and turn right. No less than a minute later you'll need to turn left at the sign for the Wales Coastal path. The rear of this sign says ‘Bryn Celli Ddu’ so you know you’re on the right track.
After about 4-5 minutes of walking down the narrow path, turn left over the large wooden bridge and continue along the path until you find yourself at the monument. The total walking time from the car park is about 9 minutes.
What Can You Do at Bryn Celli Ddu?
The site is unmanned and open to the public so you have complete freedom to explore the monument as you like.
As well as photographing from the outside, you can go inside the tomb (don’t worry there are no bodies here) and climb on top too. Of course, this is an ancient religious site so be respectful.
You should allow around 30-40 minutes to reach Bryn Celli Ddu from the car park, explore it, and return to the car park again.
Interested in prehistoric sites? The large map in the car park (see below) shows many other prehistoric sites you can visit across the isle of Anglesey including Barclodiad y Gawres and Lligwy.
Visitor Information
| Opening Times | The monument is open to visit 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, year-round. However, it’s best to visit during the day when there is plenty of daylight. |
| Prices | Bryn Celli Ddu is free to visit. |
| Facilities | There is no visitor centre at Bryn Celli Ddu so there are no toilets or other amenities. By the car park, there is a bin and a small seated area where you could have a rest and enjoy a sandwich. |
| Suitable for Wheelchairs? | The path leading to Bryn Celli Ddu has no steps but it is an unpaved dirt track. On a dry day, it is possible to take a wheelchair here, provided you have wheels suitable for this type of terrain. If there has been a lot of rain, then this may be more difficult. |
| Dog-friendly? | Yes, Bryn Celli Ddu is suitable for dogs, although they must be kept on a lead. |
| Family-friendly? | Yes, Bryn Celli Ddu is a family-friendly activity. It’s not far from the car park and suitable for those with little legs. The path to the monument is suitable for pushchairs provided the weather has been dry. If it has been wet, the path can become muddy and could make it more difficult. |
Facts About Bryn Celli Ddu
1. The monument is around 5,000 years old.
The original stone circle and henge at the site was built between 3074 and 2956 BC
The sign at the site says it was built around 2,000 BC, this is referring to the second phase of the design. The site was excavated between 1928 and 1929 and is now in the care of the Welsh Government’s CADW department.
2. There’s an unusual pillar stone inside.
A unique feature of Bryn Celli Ddu is the pillar stone (below) inside which is covered in patterns. It isn’t tall enough to be a support stone for the roof and, according to two researchers, is a petrified tree trunk, although where it came from and why it’s there remains unclear.
3. The sun shines right through the passageway once per year.
What makes Bryn Celli Ddu special is that the tomb has been aligned on the midsummer sunrise. This means that sunlight shines through the passageway during the summer solstice each year.
4. One of the stones is a replica
Outside the tomb, you’ll see the pattern stone (below) which has carvings of serpentine shapes on it. This is not the original stone but a replica that has been placed there by CADW.
The original had been carved with a striking tool and deliberately buried under the tomb out of sight. It was recovered by archaeologists and is now on display at St Fagan’s Museum in South Wales.
Published: 6 March 2023