On Monday 12th October I got a call from Toby Driver the aerial archaeologist with the Royal Commission based in
Aberystwyth asking me if I would like to go up with him in a light aircraft to see the hillforts and the project area from
the air. I think it took me all of 10 seconds to say yes. So a time was quickly arranged to meet at the airport in
Welshpool on Tuesday before he could change his mind.

On Tuesday I woke up excited that in the afternoon I would be flying up in the sky I was looking up at as I undrew
the curtains. It was going to be a clear day and so the views would be fantastic. The morning went really quickly
and as I left to make my way to the airport my colleagues asked if I had my sick bag ready – yes don’t you just
love friends!!!

At the airport I was introduced to our pilot for the day, Bob, who jokily informed me it was his second flight
– well at least I was hoping he was joking!!

At around 2pm we set off and immediately I was taken aback by the views as we could see Powis Castle.
On our journey up north to the project area we passed Old Oswestry Hillfort and the new world heritage site of
Pontcysyllte Aqueduct. Then we headed over to Castell Dinas Bran, which sits inside a hillfort before flying over
the Llantysilio Mountains. It’s amazing what you see from the air. Sites you think you know well throw up new surprises.
The Llantysilio Mountains are riddled with old field systems, possibly given to workers from the many quarries that
litter the mountains here.

We then continued further north to the Clwydian Range.

Not only was the day great for the weather it was also a perfect day to pick as other members of the Countryside
Service were out heather burning within Moel Fenlli hillfort. And what a sight it was from the air. We could see all
the previous burns from other years and the ones they had done that day as well as everyone, which included students
from Llysfasi College.

We continued further north up the range passing over Moel Y Gaer, Llanbedr, Moel Famau and Moel Arthur before
reaching our farthest hillfort Penycloddiau. And what a way to finish. I have walked through it, seen aerial shots of it
but that still didn’t prepare me for the size of it. At 21 hectares it is one of the largest hillforts in Wales but you don’t
get a sense of scale until you’re in the air. It was breathtaking.

So what did I learn on my little jaunt out?? Well that from the air you get an amazing perspective on the sites and see
features that you can’t always see on the ground. And oh that I have cast iron stomach – Toby’s words not mine.