Preseli Hills

hills, Wales, United Kingdom

Written by

The Information Architects of Encyclopaedia Britannica

Last updated

July 17, 2026

Quick Summary

The Preseli Hills are located in Pembrokeshire, Wales, United Kingdom. This upland area reaches an elevation of 1,760 feet (536 meters) and is known for its rich prehistoric remains, including dolmens, standing stones, and stone circles.1

These hills are significant because they are the source of the bluestones used in the construction of Stonehenge, a prehistoric monument in England. Geologists believe these stones were transported from the Preseli Mountains to Salisbury Plain, though the exact method of transport is debated, with some suggesting glaciers may have played a role. The Preseli Hills are part of the Pembrokeshire Coast National Park.21

Summary created from Britannica articles using AI. AI can make mistakes, so verify using Britannica articles.

6 Britannica Sources

Ask Britannica AI about this topic

Britannica doesn't have a full article on this topic, so we've curated a list of our relevant coverage.

Stonehenge
First stage: 3000–2935 bce
…from southwest Wales, specifically the Preseli Mountains. Other stones of rhyolite, rhyolitic tuff, volcanic ash, and dolerite are believed to be from the same region. A source for one of the rhyolites, however, was identified in 2011 as Pont Saeson, north of the Preselis. The Altar Stone (a toppled upright…
Read More
…from southwest Wales, specifically the Preseli Mountains. Other stones of rhyolite, rhyolitic tuff, volcanic ash, and dolerite are believed to be from the same region. A source for one of the rhyolites, however, was identified in 2011 as Pont Saeson, north of the Preselis. The Altar Stone (a toppled upright…
Read More