Caer Gai

Caer Gai is a Roman fort near Lake Bala featuring rectangular earthwork remains spread across roughly 4 acres of countryside. The site shows clear ramparts and ditches that outline the original military post's defensive design.

The fort was built in the first half of the 1st century under Emperor Titus as a wooden structure. During the 2nd century, stone fortifications replaced the original wooden buildings, making the site more permanent.

The site connects to Welsh tradition through associations with Cai, a figure from medieval texts, showing how Roman places became woven into local stories and memory. Visitors can sense how this ancient military post left traces in the region's cultural imagination over centuries.

The site is relatively open and easy to explore on foot, though sturdy footwear helps on uneven ground. The best time to visit is during drier months when the paths are more accessible and clearer to walk.

Excavations found a statue fragment with an inscription honoring Julius, son of Gavero, a soldier of the Nervian cohort. This piece reveals personal stories of soldiers who were posted here nearly 2000 years ago.