Latest Fieldnotes

Visited: April 14, 2014

Hunebed D36 Valthe lies just half a kilometre due south of the Village of Valthe in the Dutch province of Drenthe. The No 58 bus from either Groningen or Assen passes through the centre of Valthe, where you should alight at the Linderakkers bus halt. Just a few metres from the bus shelter, a green Hunebed Sign directs you to Holtesweg, which leads through fields, crossing Langhietsweg on the way. By this point, you will already see a small group of trees standing clear of the general woodlands, to the right of the path ahead, and within it, Hunebed D36 Valthe.

This hunebed is very nearly 10 metres long and 4 metres wide, consisting of 10 sidestones, originally 5 capstones and one entrance stone, but there is no evidence that there was ever a ring of kerbstones around this monument. Today, only one capstone remains in place, three of the others having become dislodged from their supports over the course of time while one is missing: they nevertheless continue to present an impressive aspect, particularly the huge westernmost capstone. Another feature of this hunebed, which is not known ever to have been excavated and where only minimal restoration has ever taken place (in 1952), is the extensive coating of lichens, which gives the stones a yellowish-green appearance.

Visited: April 15, 2014

Following a visit to Hunebed D31 Exloo, consider walking just over half a kilometre farther along the neatly cobbled access road. Soon you will see, in the field on your left, a stand of mature trees circling a large burial mound, several metres tall. Without a distinctive name (the information board beside it simply states ‘grafheufel’ – grave mound in Dutch), this is labelled after the region where it stands, as Grafheuvel Exloo Zuideres (’Grafheuvel’, in Dutch, means ‘Burial Hill’).

The information pillar beside the grave states:

“Between about 2850 BCE and the start of the current era, the prehistoric inhabitants of these parts were in the habit of covering their graves with a mound of sand or turf. Later, more people were often buried in an existing mound, which then had to be made somewhat larger.

“This particular mound was investigated in 1847. It was found that a circle of boulders had been incorporated into the hill.

“On the basis of this excavation, the burial mound was dated in the Bronze Age, between about 2000 and 1500 BCE.”

Visited: April 11, 2014

On a junction of three paths, about 500 metres north of the Galgenberg, lies a somewhat shallower, though expansive grassy burial mound, the Driemarkenpunt.

Until recently surrounded by woodland, felling has left it rather brutally exposed, and it seems likely to be a year or two before new vegetation softens the scene.

Visited: April 13, 2014

The Stakenberg is one of the largest of the many burial mounds to be found in the Balloërveld, to the north of the villages of Balloo and Rolde. The name of this mound translates as Stake Mountain, and probably derives from the fact that in former times, a pole marked its summit for waymarking purposes.

In 1933 archaeologist A E van Giffen examined this mound, finding pieces of charcoal and cremated remains. Also present were an earthenware dish and two bronze earrings. These objects from the grave goods accompanying the deceased date this hill to the Middle Iron Age, around 400 BCE.

Visited: April 13, 2014

Unlike the Stakenberg and Galgenberg in the Balloërveld, which are large named burial mounds, the Mandenberg is low ridge in the southwest of the region. Nevertheless, it is the site of some 40 ancient burial mounds, all unnamed, some fairly obvious but others nearly imperceptible. Each grave is, however, indicated by a white marker post with one face painted red. These graves date from the Early and Middle Bronze Age, around 1700 – 1000 BCE.

Some of the graves were partially excavated in 1933 by archaeologist A E van Giffen, and yielded bronze rings and bracelets. In one grave were found three gold rings.

OK. So when is a stone circle just a circle of stones? And when is a circle of stones a stone circle? Plezica throws up both questions. And not bad questions they are, as we’re in west Wicklow, territory of the embanked stone circles of Boleycarrigeen and Castleruddery, and of the boulder circles at Athgreany and Broadleas (actually Kildare, but for geographic and situational purposes, lumped in here, along with Brewel Hill and Whiteleas circles too).

Plezica (pronounced Plessica according to Liam Price, of whom more anon) stone circle, for that is what it’s called on the National Monuments Records database, is not that well known. I found it on the NMR a couple of months back and have had an itch ever since. I’ve searched t’internet (not very thoroughly) and have found no mention of it anywhere. There is a Plezica House and a Plezica stoneworks and a few mentions of Plezica on some property websites, but no mention of a prehistoric stone circle, nor any other prehistoric monument of any kind. So Plezica has played on my mind and finally, on Good Friday last, I scratched.

I’m not a great gardener but had spent a surprisingly enjoyable few hours in the afternoon having a go at the back garden before things got totally out of hand in the summer. Six o’clock in the evening is not the best time to head out into unknown territory, but the N81 corridor could have me down there in 20 minutes and the pull was just too much to resist.

There’s a chicane-like kink in the road at Crehelp, below Church mountain, about a mile south of Athgreany stone circle. Take the right turn here and travel for about another mile through the pleasant pastureland in the direction of Dunlavin. This minor road kinks in turn as it drops into a small valley – this is Plezica. There’s a footpath marked on the OS map (sheet 55) and it’s this path that I took (I had a much more detailed screenshot from archaeology.ie).

So once more over a field gate into the unknown. Down the track/path, the site is at first hidden behind the crest of a hill to your right, then comes into view after about a minute. The field is a large one of open pasture and today the cattle are behind an electric fence to the west. The circle is overgrown and pretty nondescript at first glance. Curiously, it’s fenced in with barbed wire and has its own farm gate. The fencing is right up on the raised platform that holds the circle, seeming to have been constructed to contain the stones inside it more than to keep anybody/thing out.

Two trees have fallen within the enclosure and cover the stones in the east and north-east quadrant. None of the stones save the centre stone is taller than a metre. I counted, like Kelleher below, 18 in all, but not as evenly spaced as he describes. Two are of quartz, though one of these is quite small and lies flat and loose on the ground. The granite stones remind me of the boulders of Broadleas, or some of the stones outside the ring at Castleruddery. None of them appear to be embedded in the turf and there’s little evidence of packing, again a reminder of Broadleas.

The circle is most definitely on a raised and level platform, though substantial ploughing of the surrounds may make this seem more pronounced. The centre stone is curious; not on its own there – I saw a slab of slate-like stone beside it that is lying almost flat and is embedded into the turf. New growth and little time hindered any further exploration.

The site is beautifully placed, almost at the head of a valley that slopes south towards Keadeen and Brusselstown. Indeed, from above to the north, there are no other features of substance, though east is the ridgeback of Church mountain, less impressive here than at Whiteleas.

So what is it? A circle of stones yes; but a stone circle? Maybe. Price, who travelled widely in the county, doesn’t mention it. Neither does Burl. Much of Price’s work guided the later mapping and inventorying of the area, and yet nothing. There was much cairn-like material scattered throughout the floor inside the circle. That, and its small size and the fact that none of the stones seem embedded, could lead one to think ‘denuded tumulus of some sort’, the centre stones part of some chamber or cist, the circle itself kerbing. And yet, much of it reminds one of its neighbours, maybe a small derivative of these grander rings.

Plezica may not be all that it promised to be, but it’s still got enough to keep this megalithic adventurer/explorer happy, further deepening the mystery of the sites along the N81 corridor between Blessington and Baltinglass. There’s much more to see out there!

Visited: April 11, 2014

As recently as 1992, the sites of two completely dismantled hunebedden were discovered during clearance operations in the forest, some 80 metres south of the existing hunebed D8 Kniphorstbos. All the stones from these megaliths had long been robbed, leaving just shallow hollows in the ground.

Although there was no systematic investigation of the hunebedden, some pottery dating back to the Funnel Beaker Culture was recovered before the sites were covered over by mounds in order to preserve them for possible future research. The remains were labelled as D8a and D8b. The hollow left by Hunebed D8a measured 11 by 6 metres, suggesting a small hunebed with four or five pairs of sidestones. Hunebed D8b was smaller, measuring 6 by 3.5 metres, with no more than three pairs of sidestones. In addition to items of Funnel Beaker pottery, D8b also produced some fragments of flint.

From the splendid hunebed D8 Kniphorstbos, simply head south through the trees until you emerge into a clearing with one magnificent tall tree at its centre. D8a lies close to this tree.

Visited: April 14, 2014

Hunebed D34 Valthe-West lies to the south of the road linking the villages of Odoorn and Valthe, some 250 metres along a dirt track. It’s a walk of just over half a kilometre from the centre of either village to this track, which is easily identified because its northward extension leads to the (very obvious) burial mound of Eppiesbergje. This path passses between fields and heads south towards a small patch of woodland. The hunebed lies just within the border of this woodland.

D34 is an incomplete medium-sized hunebed, originally with five capstones, of which only three now remain, one in place on its supports and the others lying in the grave. The entire hunebed sits in a shallow depression on the summit of its original barrow, which is still clearly visible as a circular mound surrounding the monument. All the supporting sidestones are largely buried under the sand: only their tips are visible, giving this monument a somewhat low profile.

Until the end of 1954, the remains of a second hunebed, the ruinous D33 Valtherveld, lay some 150 metres to the north, until its stones were salvaged to renovate hunebed D49 Schoonoord.

Visited: April 13, 2014

The Balloërveld, an extensive area of protected natural heathland, lies just a couple of kilometres northeast of the Drenthe village of Balloo and is especially noted for its huge number of Bronze Age burial mounds. There are hundreds of them, almost all unnamed, and most less than a metre high. But there are a few exceptions: the Galgenberg (Gallows Hill) is the northernmost mound in the region, a large burial chamber dating from the Early Bronze Age. Because of its elevation above the flat heathland of the day, Galgenberg became the site of a gallows beside one of the mediaeval roads running through what is now the Dutch province of Drenthe.

A partial excavation of the Galgenberg by Professor Van Giffen in 1933 revealed, within the mound, human remains dating both from the Bronze-Age and mediaeval times.

To visit Galgenberg, start in the centre of the village (Balloo) and follow Henweg in a northerly direction for about 350 metres. Next take the first road to the right (Crabbeweg) for another 500 metres or so till the cultivated fields give way to the sandy roads and heathland of Balloërveld. Galgenburg is just over a kilometre on, in a generally northward direction.

Visited: April 14, 2014

Eppiesbergje, also known as Eppiesbarchie (and Eppiesbarchien in Flemish), is the largest burial cairn in the Dutch province of Drenthe, and was built during the age of the Single Grave Culture between 2850-2450 BCE as a grave for an important person. This mound lies just over 100 metres north of Odoornerweg, almost exactly mid way between the villages of Odoorn and Valthe. Probably approaching five metres in height, and surrounded by a roundel of mature oak trees, it can be seen from a considerable distance away. The No 74 bus from Emmen station takes you to the village of Valthe; the No 59 likewise to Odoorn: from either village it is little more than a kilometre to walk to Eppiesbergje.

You can view a short YouTube video about Eppiesbergje.

Visited 15.4.14

Directions:
From Narberth take the B4313 north. The site is close the road on the eastern side, a little way past Pont-shan. It is just about visible from the road.

There is a newly laid tarmac track which leads from the metal field gate towards the site. I hopped over and strolled up the track – only a short distance. The first thing you notice is the old quarrying into the side of the slope which is now home to several storage containers. The path then continues around to the left and onto the actual enclosure, which was home to a herd of cows.

Unfortunately, there was a farmer in a tractor in the next field so I felt uncomfortable exploring the site as much as I would have wished. There is no public right of way to the site. I had to settle for a view from the edge of the storage area (which kept me out of sight of the farmer). I could just make out a low grass single bank – about 0.5m high.

Not a lot to see here although the views are pretty good.

COFLEIN states:
‘The earthworks of an oval enclosure at Faenor Gaer, Llawhaden, are defined by generally concentric banked and ditched circuits, about 95m and 126m north-east to south-west by 65m and 100m respectively. It is set on the butt of a south facing ridge, or spur, having a north-east facing entrance. Indications of occupation have been observed in the interior, where ‘burnt earth and daub’ were observed after ploughing in 1960’.

Visited 15.4.14

Directions:
To the north-east of Narberth on the A40, take the A478 north. Then take the first turning on the right. The Barrow is next to the house on the right about 1.5 miles along this lane. You can’t miss it – it’s the only house!

Not much to report – a long grass ‘bump’ in a field.

Not one to recommend.

COFLEIN states:
‘A ploughed-down round barrow 34m in diameter and 0.9m high’

Visited 15.4.14

Directions:
Take the minor road north out of Whitland. Drive through Cwmfelin Boeth and then take the first turning on the left. Continue straight on at the junction. At the point the tarmac road turns to gravel is a house on the right – park here.
Opposite the house is a gated entrance to a dilapidated church. Walk down the overgrown path and just before you reach the graveyard St Canna’s Stone can be seen on the other side of a barbed wire fence on your left.

Karen didn’t feel comfortable parking outside the house but I assured her it would be ok. I undid the rope tying the gate closed and looked around for the stone. After an initial unsuccessful search around the graveyard I spotted the stone in the field next to the church. It is just the other side of a barbed wire fence; keeping in a flock of sheep and their lambs.

The stone is small (not much of a chair!) and it appears to have been turned around since the photo was taken. It was a bright, sunny day and I was unable to make out the engraved name on the stone. It really isn’t much to look at.

At this point I noticed a lady coming out of the house and going over to Karen who was still sat in the car. I headed back in case there was any ‘bother’. There was no need for concern as the lady was very pleasant and it turned out that she owned the field where the stone / sheep / lambs were. She informed me that she knew about the stone and that many lambs had been born next to it as it is in a sheltered spot. She said that she originally came from Maenclochog to the north. I told her that I had been there whilst visiting the nearby Gors Fawr stone circle. She seemed impressed!

I said that it was a shame that the old church had been neglected (I tried to have a look around inside but it was locked) She said that someone had bought it in 2000 to turn into a home but has never visited it since! She added that now only one old lady visited the church to tend the grave of a relative. I found it sad that such a fine church / graveyard could be neglected in such a way. It would make a fine home and afford good views. The Preseli Mountains could be seen in the distance.

I am glad I visited this site although in all honesty the stone isn’t much to look at.
Perhaps if you happen to be in the area and have some spare time it may be worth a look?

Visited 15.4.14

Directions:
From Haverfordwest take the B4341 west. After a couple of miles the stone can be found next to the road on the left. It is just before a house called Lamber Forge.

Although it being mid week and on a B road, the road was very busy and parking difficult. Karen parked outside the large wooden gate, opposite a house, and I carefully made my way back along the road towards the stone.

The stone is a little less than 1m high. It looks old. It is covered in moss and patches of white lichen. Ivy is starting to grow over the top of it.

I have doubts about the folklore regarding the ‘hanging by sheep’ as I have visited another stone in the Gloucestershire/Oxfordshire area (I can’t remember the name) with exactly the same story attached to it. Bit of a coincidence I think!

Worth a quick look if you happen to be in the area but take care with the speeding cars.

Herm is a rather special, unspoilt place. No cars or motorbikes, and you can walk around its coastline in a couple of hours. There are several broken and battered small passage tombs, and we only stopped by one (Robert’s Cross). There used to be an enormous menhir on Herm Common but it fell prey to unscrupulous quarrymen. After circling the island we stopped for a beer in the Mermaid and read our newly purchased book “Hidden Treasures of Herm Island” by Catherine Kalamis. I’m not sure that you could buy this anywhere but on the island, but I recommend it for the in-depth history of the island and its owners over the years. Many of them, it seems, found the Common a weird and almost threatening place. I can imagine it gets pretty windswept and bleak, but to us the whole island seemed lovely and well worth a visit (boat from St Peter Port, Guernsey, several times a day). It was my first visit but my wife had been there many times as a child.

Careful when you cross the road, kids! It is next to some cannons. If you spot the cannons, you’re in the right place.

I make no exaggeration in saying that Dehus is possibly the most amazing long barrow type monument I have ever encountered. I suppose it is trumped by La Hougue Bie on Jersey, but Dehus has one very special feature: a man’s face carved into a capstone, looking down at you. There are side chambers and an enigmatic central standing stone that does not reach the ceiling.

Visited on holiday on October 2013. The location of the tomb is not marked or signposted anywhere in the park, but it is in the trees near the car park. Clearly some work was still going on then, or recently, as it was fenced off by some rather unattractive orange plastic. Medium sized stones of up to 5 feet length, arranged now in two elongated rows. The whole is in a hollow where it was (I presume) excavated and has a retaining wall on the higher side.

12/04/2014 – About 300m NE of the cupmarked outcrop, this boulder is clear of the trees and has a nice view all round. Good number of cupmarks. I liked this one.

12/04/2014 – Nice rock outcrop with at least fourteen cupmarks on upper surface according to Canmore. We made out about seven in the gloom. It’s a nice rock but what an effort to find it. Hidden right in the middle of a wood. Hard work and would be tricky without a GPS.

Lying just south of the minor road traversing Cwm Cadlan at its eastern end, this massive monument may well qualify as one of the easiest visited major upland cairns in all South Wales (please refer to my Twyn Bryn Glas field notes for approach details, should you be so inclined... amongst other stuff). Needless to say I had no idea it was here before Carl’s note. Ahem.

Just a short stroll from available parking within a disused quarry, the monument stands surrounded by what Coflein terms ‘solution holes’. Now I’m not quite sure how these differ from the ubiquitous ‘shake holes’, but assume – OK, hope – a non-geologist such as I can be forgiven such craven ignorance. As I approach it is immediately apparent that, as well as being a seriously large cairn, the monument also retains elements of quite substantial kerbing in situ. What’s more I discover just the one empty plastic milk carton upon the great stone pile... not even a full pint, at that.. where, so close to the road and in overwhelmingly plain sight, I had expected a veritable rubbish tip. A very pleasant, unexpected surprise indeed. Famous last words, but perhaps the lack of ‘central excavation’ may have something to do with this (current) happy state of affairs.

The cairn is not alone, another (which I did not visit due to impending darkness) set a little to the approx north-east, the great ring cairn some way to the west at SN98321087, unseen in the advancing gloom of dusk. Oh, and according to the map there are quite a number more ‘round about upon the flanks of Cefn Sychnant. Numerous others to the north.

A great way to end the day, you might say.

Well I say... Ding, dong! As Leslie Phillips – that, ahem, ‘old school’ connoisseur of feminine beauty – might have said.... if he had’ve been a stone head. Hey who knows, perhaps he is? It would have been an appropriate exclamation, too, since in my opinion, this slumbering monument really is something special. Now, having trudged around these Isles for over a decade actively searching out remnants of our prehistoric past.... for some reason or other.... I kinda thought those jaw dropping moments – such as I experience upon encountering this (apparent) ring cairn – were more or less confined to those ‘hard to get to’ sites located in the middle of nowhere. Not there for the taking, just a short distance from the road. But there you are.

Funnily enough, bearing in mind its considerable circumference, the monument is not shown on the current OS maps (1:50 or 1:25K) so should not be confused with the pair of cairns actually depicted a little to the east. Easily done, however, with only the ‘aerial’ view from high ground to the north proving conclusive (Carl’s notes appear to refer to the cairn at SN98921108 and not this). Yeah, matters are not helped by the fact that, from my experience anyway, its very low profile renders it very difficult to spot from roadside. Consequently, upon stumbling down from Cadair Fawr (touch of shin splits, unfortunately) I’m utterly unprepared for the sheer size of this great stone polo. OK, there are other ring cairns in South Wales.... but, to my recollection (or lack of knowledge, perhaps), none of such dimensions, none hidden away in such plain sight. Why have I not been here sooner?

According to RCAHMW’s David Leighton (Jan ‘83) the site is an “...annular oval bank of mixed grade rubble and boulders without an entrance. It measures 20.7m internally (E-W) by 18.3m and is 2.5m-4.3m wide and 0.7m high. A small recumbent boulder near the centre is perhaps the remains of a cist”.

I wish I had much more time... but unfortunately the light is beginning to fade as the day draws to its inexorable conclusion. Hey, perhaps the sole logical reference point I’m aware of at this moment. A pastel pink glow illuminates the skyline to the west, the high escarpment of Craig-y-Llyn highlighting the location of The Llyn Fawr.... another sacred facet of this South Walian landscape back in the day. Once again a shake hole stands – if a hole can be said to stand? – fractionally outside the western arc of the ring cairn, so close, in fact, that a small section of said stonework has partially fallen into the enigmatic cavity in the limestone. The question inevitably presents itself: ‘why erect the ring so close?’ A reasonably sized recumbent stone lies within the centre of the monument suggesting the remnants of a former cist, whilst rising to the east, a massive round cairn stands at SN98551095. I am parked nearby.

Mr Leighton concedes that there is a possibility this massive masonry ring residing upon Cefn Sychnant is a trashed round cairn; however I agree, if only due to the conspicuous absence of internal cairn material, that a ring cairn is much more plausible, more probable. And what a glorious example it is, too. After half an hour I have to leave to catch that eastern monument before dark. But I know the Mam C will love this, so intend to return. As I prepare to vacate the site a boy racer trundles by staring at the day-glo clad individual sitting in the middle of the moor for no apparent reason. ‘What is he doing?’ Ah, bless. Guess I could’ve reciprocated and asked the same (presumed) question in return. Mind how you go, my muppet friend.

The quickest – not to mention simplest – way to the summit of Cadair Fawr, a 1,591ft (485m) outlier of the Fforest Fawr, is to adhere to Carl’s fieldnotes and approach from the A4059 to the north, this option also allowing the traveller easy access to the substantial cairns located upon the south-western flanks of Cefn Esgair-carnau should he/she so wish. Easy.... but no doubt wet. OK, no so easy, then.

A more ‘intimate’ route, however, is to start from the minor road traversing Cwm Cadlan to the south, the valley presenting a veritable cornucopia of archaeology that – in my opinion – matches its northern counterpart with ease. I also find there is a somewhat logical symmetry to achieving the zenith at the extremity of a walk. Something Phil Oakey and Little Boots would no doubt also appreciate should they ever go walking together. Now there’s a thought. Hence I approach the summit today from the excellent cairn upon Twyn Bryn Glas, set some way below to the south-east. Now assuming one doesn’t stumble down a shake hole into some mystical, otherworldly, parallel dimension.... careful now.... the short moorland stomp, followed by a brief ‘pull’ to the summit, should prove relatively straightforward, assuming the absence of low cloud. The perennial caveat.

As I gain height the landscape begins to assume a more brutal, primeval character, shattered limestone outcropping now vying for space with the ubiquitous long upland grass.... before finally superseding it altogether in places. Yeah, despite its relative lack of height, clearly Cadair Fawr so wants to be a proper mountain, just like the big ones nearer Brecon. And you know what, I reckon it almost succeeds. It certainly possesses a substantial cairn, comprised of the aforementioned limestone slabs, which is truly synonymous with its location, almost blending into the uncompromising landscape. Takes some doing, that. The signature mark of a proper warrior’s final resting place. To be honest I reckon it would look out of place most anywhere else.

As with that at Twyn Bryn Glas, the monument is not set upon the summit to benefit from some outstanding views of Fforest Fawr and The Brecon Beacons, instead residing some distance to the approx south-west, such specific location surely an act of inherent significance? As a result the northern apex of the mountain obscures all but the Fforest Fawr summits rising above the escarpment edge. The Afon Hepste down below doesn’t even get a look in..... Sadly the centre of the cairn has been ‘excavated’ in the usual manner, although I (perhaps) detect traces of what might have once formed a cist, stones which seem to suggest internal structure.

Cadair Fawr possesses a vibe that I find difficult to define today. Perhaps that is what is so appealing, the atmosphere it invokes defying categorisation. It seems awkward, unique. Neither hill nor mountain, occupying a ‘middle ground’, a no-man’s land, perhaps, between the soaring, wild splendour of The Great Escarpment and the ravaged valleys of industrial South Wales. An adolescent mountain which never grew up? Yeah, it is rather appealing. The Citizen Cairn’d wonders if there is a hint of self analysis in there?

After the passing of several hours watching the sky do its thang it is time to move on. The map shows two further cairns located below to the approx south. Hey what do you know? Right on my route.

05/04/2014 – Fort situated on summit of Mortlich hill overlooking Deeside. I couldn’t make out any features of the fort as the heather is quite deep on the top. Still it’s a nice walk with easy access from Aboyne Loch.

The biggest hill fort in South East Wales, and probably the best fort in South Wales, this one is a stunner.
Circlemaster said he couldn’t believe how few posts there were of this place, and neither can I.
It’s been on my list for a few years now, so, if I throw together a few separated but easy to get to sites I can have my two most wanted Welsh sites in one day, brilliant !
There is a large car park, purpose made for the site, I cant remember the last time I saw a car park for a hill fort, there cant be many, with an information board too.
There are many many good points about this ancient site, the first is, that there are two forts here, it’s a two for the price of none, it’s all free, as free as the air and the rain. The two forts, Y Gaer Fach and Y Gaer Fawr, are separated by a small gully and are no more than 180 meters apart, one could shout over to your mate in the other fort.
The walk up to the first and smaller of the two forts starts at a large modern standing stone, the Gwynfor Evans (Politician) memorial stone. Y Gaer Fawr is a hundred yards up the hill.
Oval in shape, we pass over two lines of old fort walls, they tend to fade out a bit as you move away from the south west corner, but in the north east corner a well defined entrance is found, it just happens to not only face gentler sloping ground but also faces the larger higher fort Y Gaer Fach. We proceed on up to the high.
ground

The first thing we come to is the frankly massive, nay, titanic, front wall, from the outside it looks to be at least twelve feet high, on the inside half that. At the southern end of the wall is the main entrance but we don’t see that until were on our way out. We enter the fort at the south west corner and head north east along the wall. Until it forks, the left wall goes down hill the right fork carries on in the same direction, we go that way.
Nearly half way along this higher wall inside the fort on the highest ground is Y Gaer Fawr’s party piece, a giant cairn.
The giant cairn is 3m high 55m long and 20m wide, it’s a monster cairn. Cairns this size usually have chambers in them, but then cairns like this, ie; a long cairn, aren’t usually in this kind of position.
Coflein freely admits it’s an anomaly, it could be neolithic, either way it’s huge, and a perfect example of a later culture living along side monuments from a bygone age.
We cross from the giant cairn over to the east side of the fort, missing in the process a possible low standing stone and posterns, small entrances to the fort, a good picture of one is found on the coflein site. Oh well, i’ll have to go back now wont I, perhaps on a sunnier day. From the east wall you can see annexes below, and if you look up to the hill to your east, Tricrug, then turn round and look at the giant cairn in profile, the two are a perfect match, it looks very much like the cairn builders were imitating the long bump on the hill, which has subsequently accrued some time in the bronze age it’s own cairn.
The match is quite uncanny.
We then head south and to the front wall, which has a very good looking entrance in it, but coflein assure us it is not an original feature the entrance actual is buried under slippage amid the massive front wall somewhere. And then we walk away, well, Eric’s been gone for some time now, some king of huff apparently, at my taking to many pictures. Me?
It’s hard not to, there’s so many features, I could stay here all afternoon, but we’re a long way from home, and the car aint gonna drive itself.