Sarn Helen, Roman road network in western Wales, United Kingdom
The Sarn Helen stretches 160 miles from Carmarthen in southern Wales to Aberconwy in the north, crossing mountains, valleys, and moorlands.
Roman engineers constructed this road system in Wales during the first century CE to connect military installations and facilitate troop movements across the region.
The name combines the Welsh word 'sarn' meaning causeway with 'Helen,' possibly referring to Saint Elen of Caernarfon from Welsh medieval literature.
Several sections of the original Roman road remain accessible for hiking and mountain biking, with a 270-mile trail following parts of the ancient route.
The road passes near the Dolaucothi Gold Mines, which Romans operated in the first century, creating an extensive network of underground tunnels and waterways.
Location: Wales
GPS coordinates: 51.79516,-3.60700
Latest update: May 17, 2025 05:43
Photo license: CC BY-SA 2.0
Photo license: CC BY-SA 2.0
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