The Modern Antiquarian. Stone Circles, Ancient Sites, Neolithic Monuments, Ancient Monuments, Prehistoric Sites, Megalithic MysteriesThe Modern Antiquarian

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Part 3- New Years Day on Anglesey!

An impressive hangover and a 6am wake-up call to start 2010! I had (once again) spent an impressive amount of time on the TMA/ Google Earth application deciding which ones to visit. The plan; The large standing stones Bryn Gwyn, along the coast to Barclodiad-y-Gawres, up to Penrhosfeilw, Presaddfed, Mein Hirion, Lligwy and home (completing a lovely circumambulation of the island too!)

Well, we obviously woke up late after an evening of didge, drums and poi like the hippies we are. So it was decided that one of the sites would have to be eliminated, so we lost Penrhosfeilw as its most "out the way" and we could spend longer at the other places in the restricted daylight window!

Sure wernt disappointed with Bryn Gwyn! What beasts they are! Appart from the somewhat worrying cow stampede and the fact that it was a cow pat bog in places (some of us remembered wellies, some had a day of soggy feet) its a wonderful site and the stones are huge.

On we went to along the coast with the sun still shining to Barclodiad-y-Gawres, only to find it crawling with visitors and closed for the winter! Ah well, had a peep inside thanks to someone elses torch and continued with our journey as the weather changed on us. Presaddfed in the rain, James the Cat got a piggy back to save his shoes and we all had a good laugh at the bit of wood that is in there to get crushed into a million splinters should the capstone ever collapse!

On to Mein Hirion, in the wrong direction and in a blizzard. Intreresting trying to find somewhere when there are NO SIGNS and you think youre going north but youre actually travelling east... but eventually found ourselves in the correct town, then through the town, then out of the town, no stones in sight. A quick U-turn and a brief argument then back through the town. Finally see the fabled local info sign in the carpark and get a rough idea of the direction of the stones, but the light is fading fast and we might not be able to get to Lligwy if we take too long here, so we guess and go chargin up the hill! One party member goes down in a cow pat, another sinks way past the tops of his trainers, and Zoe refuses to clamber over the wall so only 2 of 5 make it to the stones. Oh what stones they are! A reddening sky behind and the amazing views in every direction, these beauties stand strong and proud and were my highlight for the day! Worth the trip if you havn't already been!

Quickly in the fading light we headed northwards to Lligwy and found that no photos could do this monster justice! What a capstone! Does anyone even have an estimate on the weight of this beast. I clambered inside only to have my first ever attack of claustrophobia and clamber back out again! I have no idea how James the Cat managed to sit in there and play the didge, I would have been terrified of hitting the wrong note and causing a collapse!

Anyway, the dark had come! We had quite a long drive ahead and it had started to snow again. Homeward Bound (with a mochaccino to help us on our way)

:)

Bryn Gwyn — Images

29.05.10ce
<b>Bryn Gwyn</b>Posted by faerygirl

Mein Hirion — Images

17.01.10ce
<b>Mein Hirion</b>Posted by faerygirl<b>Mein Hirion</b>Posted by faerygirl
faerygirl Posted by faerygirl
15th April 2010ce


Comments (1)

I thought they only did that on Glastonbury tor, keep on playing the didgerdoo in unsuspecting burial chambers and eventually a capstone will get him, I guaratee it or wish it I forget which.
Only kidding, Ive got two myself but no puff to play them but I'm really good with a boomerang. ;)-
postman Posted by postman
19th April 2010ce
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