Maenarthur (Arthur's Stone) is the name of a farm and a forest to the west of Pontrhydygroes. The name is thought to come from a standing stone (now recumbent) which lies in a corner of one of the farm fields, on the boundary between the old parishes of Llanafan and Ysbyty Ystwyth. The highest part of Maenarthur farm is a hill top just outside Maenarthur woods; the summit stands at 308m (1007') and gives wonderful views in most directions, the exception being the south-west quarter, where the view is of forest trees. Permissive access to the hill top has been provided, with the support of landowners Iwan and Gwyneth Davies, by the creation of a short detour from the Forestry Commission Coed Maenarthur Trail, which is itself accessed from the Miners' Bridge in Pontrhydygroes (grid ref. SN 738723).
The view from the summit starts looking roughly north-east, and then pans to the left. In the middle distance you can see the white specks of cottages on Rhos-y-gell. Slightly left, on the skyline and above the dark conifers, the snow-topped hill is Pen Pumlumon Fawr (or "Plynlimon") - highest of the Cambrian Mountains. To its left and more distant is Drosgol, and left again, just visible above nearer green hills, is Disgwylfa Fawr. Further left you will notice a white cottage just showing through the tops of the conifers; above and left of this are the remains of Frongoch lead mine - one of the largest in this area. Beyond the mine, it is possible in clear conditions to see on the horizon the Tarren hills, nearly 20 miles away beyond the Dyfi estuary. Above the last of the deciduous trees can be seen the top of Cwmnewidion, and left of this a broad ridge of green farmland rises gradually to the hamlet of Brynafan. At the left edge of the panorama, pine trees hide the lower Ystwyth valley, above which the distant hill is Mynydd Bach, near Llangwyryfon.
The panorama now returns clockwise to Pumlumon. Beyond this, the russet hill directly below the moon is Craig Lan-las. To its right, and more distant, is Pen y Garn (2005'). Right of this, the ground slopes gradually and then reaches the upper Ystwyth valley - hidden in this view by trees. In the valley behind the trees lies the Hafod estate, and right of the valley is the conifer plantation of Coed Bwlchgwallter, with the snow-clad dome of Bryn Dafydd above it. Trawsallt hill forms the skyline above the right-hand edge of the forest, then the Cambrian Mountains stretch away to the south, beyond the hidden cleft of the Ystwyth gorge - in which lies the village of Pontrhydygroes. At the right-hand end of the panorama, above the snowy foreground, is Craig y Bwlch, better known to locals as Hendre Quarry.
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