Pentre Ifan is the best preserved Neolithic dolmen in Wales. It is situated in the Pembrokeshire National Park about two-thirds of a mile south of the Pentre Ifan hamlet. There are seven principal stones and the capstone is 16 feet long and 8 feet wide and is estimated to weigh over 16 tons. It is protected by the Ancient Monuments Protection Act of 1882 and is now looked after by CADW (the Welsh Governments historic protection society that also looks after all the famous Welsh castles).
Antiquarians originally believed it must be a burial chamber but it is now thought to be more of a marker of an important place in the surrounding landscape. It is a remote site and has retained a feeling that there may be ‘faery folk’ in attendance; more so than at many other more popular sites. There is a photographic image of Pentre Ifan from 1885 that became famous as an image of Ancient Wales. It sometimes suggested as a Temple of Ceridwen and if visited will leave you with feelings of awe and wonder that such places have survived intact into the modern era. Julian Cope sums it up: ‘a magnificent temple, Pentre Ifan is enthralling, capturing the heart and willing the visitor never to leave.’ (The Modern Antiquarian 1998 Thorsons)
Location: 1km south of Pentre Ifan hamlet SA41 3TZ
Coordinates: 51.9990°N 4.7700°W
Pentre Ifan is the best preserved Neolithic dolmen in Wales. It is situated in the Pembrokeshire National Park about two-thirds of a mile south of the Pentre Ifan hamlet. There are seven principal stones and the capstone is 16 feet long and 8 feet wide and is estimated to weigh over 16 tons. It is protected by the Ancient Monuments Protection Act of 1882 and is now looked after by CADW (the Welsh Governments historic protection society that also looks after all the famous Welsh castles).