Parc Cybi, Holyhead, LL65 2YF

Tŷ Mawr Standing Stone

Prehistoric

Source image

5.2

Wildland

Under 1 hour

Time

Check

Cost

Atmospheric

Feel

FarmlandHistory loversPhotographers

Why it's Wildland

5.2

A solitary, unusually twisted stone rises about 2.7 metres from the fields on Holyhead’s outskirts. Its purpose is uncertain: it may be a prehistoric ritual or commemorative monument, or a comparatively recent cattle-rubbing stone.

This is a small, unusual piece of Holyhead’s archaeological landscape: a tall, contorted monolith whose original purpose remains unresolved. It is worth a short stop for the stone itself and the question it leaves open, rather than as a full-day destination.

Atmospheric · Quirky

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Parc Cybi, Holyhead, LL65 2YF

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The experience

A brief visit focused on the solitary standing stone. Take time to notice its height and contorted shape, while keeping its uncertain date and purpose in mind.

Things to do

Study the stone’s shape

Look at how the slab twists as it rises; Cadw identifies this unusual shape as a notable feature.

A few minutes

Consider the unresolved purpose

Coflein records two possibilities: a prehistoric commemorative or ritual monument, or a comparatively recent cattle-rubbing stone. Neither interpretation is established as certain by the supplied record.

A few minutes

Make a day of it

Quick escape · Under 1 hour

Meet the twisted monolith

01
Visit during reasonable daylight hours, as listed by Cadw.
02
Look closely at the stone’s unusual twisting shape and consider the competing explanations for its purpose.
03
Wear footwear suited to potentially slippery or muddy ground.

Verified history

Coflein records the stone as an erect monolith measuring 2.67 metres high, 1.2 metres wide and 0.4 metres thick. An 1889 Ordnance Survey county-series map showed it standing in the centre of a small field. Its date and function are uncertain: Coflein suggests it may be a comparatively recent cattle-rubbing stone or a prehistoric commemorative or ritual monument. Cadw describes it as probably erected during the Bronze Age; the supplied evidence does not resolve the uncertainty.

Hidden details

An uncertain identity — The stone is not securely identified as prehistoric in the Coflein record: it may instead have been used by cattle to rub against. Keep that ambiguity in view when interpreting the monument.

The field setting has changed — When first mapped on the 1889 Ordnance Survey county-series map, the stone stood at the centre of a small field.

When to go

· During reasonable daylight hours, as specified by Cadw.

Cadw lists the monument as open all year; the supplied evidence gives no seasonal highlight.

Cadw warns that the site is exposed to the elements and may be slippery or muddy underfoot. Wear appropriate footwear.

Worth pairing with

RSPB South Stack

A possible additional stop near Holyhead: the supplied Trip.com source lists it 4.3 km from Tŷ Mawr. Check current visitor details before planning a visit.

What to look for

The stone’s contorted outline and its scale: Coflein records it as 2.67 metres high, 1.2 metres wide and 0.4 metres thick. Its purpose is disputed, so treat prehistoric interpretations as possibilities rather than established fact.