Dinas is the Welsh word for "fortress", though nowadays it has also come to mean "city". Dinas is a Celtic fort on top of a prominent hill (386m - 1262') north of Ponterwyd; it has a commanding view in all directions, especially up and down the upper Rheidol valley. Its defensive earth ramparts have been worn down by centuries of weathering and trampling, but they are still impressive on the south side of the summit which they surround.
In this panorama, you can see Anne and Tim sitting on the highest part of the summit. As you turn clockwise, the first big hill to come into view is Disgwylfa Fawr (summit in shade). Turning further, the concrete object lower down Dinas hill is the top of a surge shaft connected to the Rheidol hydro-electric scheme, of which more below. On the skyline above the shaft are two hills, Drosgol and Banc Llechwedd-mawr. Continuing round, you are looking up the Rheidol valley, with Blaen-peithnant farm down by the river. Pen Pumlumon Fawr - the highest point of Plynlimon - is immediately above Blaen-peithnant, and to its right is Y Garn, with forest nearly up to its summit. Clockwise again, past the sheep, the Rheidol widens into Dinas reservoir, another part of the hydro scheme. Above its right edge you can see the continuation of the Rheidol valley, with the Cambrian Mountains stretching to the horizon.
Rheidol Hydro-electric scheme. Two miles up the Rheidol valley from Dinas (not visible from the hill) is the dam of Nant-y-moch reservoir, built in the late 1950s, which collects water from a 150 sq. km. upland area. A 4 kilometre-long tunnel under Dinas hill takes water from Nant-y-moch to a small power station at the top end of Dinas reservoir. Water from Dinas reservoir is taken by a 4.4 kilometre tunnel to a much larger power station in Cwmrheidol, below Devil's Bridge.
| Pan: | Click and drag the mouse (or use the arrow keys) |
| Zoom: | Click and drag the mouse while pressing [Shift]/[Ctrl] key to zoom
in/out (or use + and -, or > and < keys) |
| Spin: | Click on a side of the viewer window to spin from that direction |