Latest Fieldnotes

Visited 26.1.13

Directions:
From Monmouth take the B4233 through Rockfield. Keep on the road until you drive through The Hendre and then take the first left immediately after the entrance to the golf club. You will then shortly come to a fork in the road with a passing place – park here. You are now parked immediately next to the Barrow; the other side of the hedge.

This is a fairly large Barrow and easy to spot.
I didn’t bother to battle my way through the hedge as there seemed little point.
Not really worth the effort of visiting unless you happened to be in the area.

27/01/2013 – I been wanting to have a walk round here for a while. Looking at the photos on TMA, the big stone at the cairn had caught my eye. Overnight, it had been quite warm so snow was melting pretty fast and with the cairn being in a wood I guessed it would be pretty snow free. I was wrong. I managed to get the car stuck at the start of the walk. We just left it there and walked the short distance to the cairn. There was still too much snow to make much of it out so I’ll have to come back later in the year. It is a nice setting in the wood though and the snow was nice to walk in. Back at the road I finally managed to get the car out with a helpful push from Mrs T. Short walk in an area full of interest.

Along with the other Gwent chambered tombs (Gaer Llwyd, Heston Brake and Thornwell), this had been on my radar for a good while, but I’ve never made it here, despite Gladman’s compelling exhortations.

So on my way back from Herefordshire (7.1.2013) I decide that it’s about time I broke the train journey and had a look for this. Various Newport-Cardiff buses run past Cleppa Park industrial estate, so it’s easy enough to get here.

It’s a grey, overcast day, dry at present but with the threat of more rain hanging in the air. I take the bridge over the motorway mentioned in other notes, then the track. The stones are visible soon enough and access is fairly straightforward, apart from the fact that the almost persistent rain over the last couple of weeks has turned an already muddy field into something resembling a good day on the Somme, so I’m a bit splattered by the time I squelch across to the stones themselves.

There is a decent amount left of this tomb, including a dismounted but substantial capstone and four orthostats of a pebbly conglomerate, one of which lies pinned under the capstone itself, as well as some smaller stones. There is also the faint trace of a mound, a ghost of a ghost, but still there. A self-seeded bush, getting more like a tree as the years pass, has burst its way forth between the cap and its crushed supporter. In the long run, I don’t think this is a great state of affairs, so if anyone happens to be passing with a saw ...

Sadly, the place lacks atmosphere for me today. It’s a Monday and the traffic on the M4 below the tomb is unceasing. The muddiness doesn’t encourage much sitting about either. The siting of the tomb would be very smart, looking down to the mighty Hafren/Severn making its way to the Bristol Channel, but the motorway and the sprawling industrial estate beyond have robbed the monument of even that joy, to a large degree.

I can’t help but feel that this place, one of only a precariously surviving handful of such ancient tombs in this part of Wales, has been – and continues to be – done a disservice by the surroundings. So although the visit doesn’t charge me with the energy and enthusiasm of many of the more remote places this obsession takes me to, I would join in Gladman’s pleas to come here and see what there is (preferably with a saw).

I take my leave, feeling rather saddened. Instead of the route over the motorway, I elect to find a footpath that the map shows running along the western edge of the field. This involves a steepish descent from the tomb to a little stream, crossed by a sturdy footbridge. Unfortunately, once over the bridge, the mud of earlier pales into insignificance compared with the bog under the trees. It’s a nasty, mucky business this, but eventually I emerge onto the hillside opposite, with the concrete of the motorway blocking all views south. An underpass provides the way out (so this might be a useful approach for anyone who doesn’t like the vertiginous feel of crossing motorway footbridges), back onto the main road and a bus ride back to Newport.

I don’t have a clue who Barbara is or was but she does have a most impressive ‘natural hillock’ named after her. There are strong rumours of a cist here but more interestingly local rumour has mentioned that there is a stone cist in the woods across the road above the small quarries. Something to look for during more summery weather.

Leave Turriff, a place of very great importance, on the B9025 and take the first minor road heading north indicated Dunlugas. (This road follows the River Deveron and is a beautiful walk to Banff) Keep going until The Haughs farm and a minor road heading east, marked Tillyfar. The hillock is directly behind the barns.

Visited 24/01/2013.

Offa’s Dyke Path has been routed across the moor on a snaking network of duckboards, making our progress across what would be tough terrain much quicker and smoother than expected. It doesn’t take us long to reach Aber Sychnant cairn, which is skirted by the Path itself – probably a little too close for comfort, but tired legs and receding daylight make me grateful for the ease of access today.

The cairn is all but buried under a heather toupee, but is a good size and largely intact apart from the inevitable central scoop. The views are not that extensive, as the cairn sits in a shallow valley, with higher parts of the moor rising on all sides. Substantial enough to be worth a visit though, despite the irritation of dropping my glove and having to come back again to retrieve it.

The first of the hills to be tackled is Moel Gyw, surmounted by a barrow to add incentive. Offa’s Dyke path has been re-routed to avoid the climb up to the summit, but on such a beautiful day there is no way I was going to miss out on the views. Rashly, I choose to go for a direct approach from the northwest, which turns into a mistake that can’t easily be rectified once started. The climb is extremely steep, through and over dense, deep heather. I find myself clinging to the bushes above me as the only way to gain enough purchase to carry on upwards. By the time I finally emerge on to the hilltop next to the cairn, I am knackered, my knees are aching from scrambling over the heather, the laces of my boots are festooned with bits of vegetation and under my warm winter clothes I’m boiling alive. Not the best route to choose, it would seem. But, oh boy, was it worth the effort. The views are utterly magnificent. To the south, the flat moorland expanse of Cryn y Brain that we hope to be tackling later can be seen, the shapely, Sugarloaf-esque peak of Llantisylio Mountain further to the SSW, with the start of the Berwyns range beyond. And then, rising over the temperature inversion of the valleys, the serried ranks of the ranges of Snowdonia, that I will later come to know as the Arans, Cadair Idris and the Arenigs, and the mightiest peaks of the Snowdon massif itself, the Glyderau and Carneddau. Eyes dragged away north from this vista also get a view of Foel Fenlli, illuminated briefly in the rays of the early winter sun.

The sides of the cairn itself are buried in heather, but the centre is clear and an inevitable excavation scoop into the stone construction is visible. The positioning is interesting, being set back from the steep western edge of the summit, where the Ordnance Survey have built their trig pillar and a slate upright marks Offa’s Dyke Path, which no longer comes up here. For such a modest height (whatever my legs tell me), this is a spectacular place, one of the undoubted highlights of the Clwydian range.

As well as a fine church and a decent medieval castle converted into a hotel, Rhuthun has a piece of enigmatic rock parked in its centre. Maen Huail now resides next to a bank, after it was moved to make room for a car park. It is a rough, unworked block of limestone, its age impossible to determine and its purpose less so. Arthurian enthusiasts will be impressed to know that Arthur was reputed to have used it as an executioner’s block to behead Huail (see Folklore). The setting is not the most atmospheric or inspiring, but certainly worthy of our attention. No bankers have yet been publicly executed on it, as far as I know.

Visited 21.1.13

Directions:
From Porthcawl town centre follow the signs for Rest Bay. There is a large Pay and Display car park opposite the Lifeguard station.
From the lifeguard station take the coastal footpath north (sea on left) until you come to another footpath which leads inland on your right.
At this point you will need to cross a barbed wire fence and follow the field boundary wall until the Barrow comes into view on your right
**Please note that the Barrow in not visible from either footpath. You will need to negotiate the fence and do a little bit of ‘trespassing’ to get a view**

Well, you can’t say the weather forecasters got it wrong. ‘Snow on Friday from 5.00am’ they said and sure enough at 4.45am it started to snow. By 8.00am it was clear that there was no work for me today. Therefore sledging, snowball fights and snowman building was the order of the day with the children and Karen. Saturday was pretty much the same with the snow showing no sign of thawing and cars not moving.
By Sunday we were going a bit ‘stir crazy’ and decided it was time to get our for a couple of hours.

The question was, of course, where to go given the weather?
There was no chance of driving along any country lanes due to the snow so I needed somewhere where access would be a lot easier? ‘I know’ says I ‘the beach!’
After the initial shock everyone came around to my way of thinking and the children quickly grabbed their coats and buckets and spades. Porthcawl here we come!
Before hitting the beach of course I had a little bit of ‘old stoning’ to do.

Karen stayed in the car with the children as I walked down the beach and along the coastal path. About 20 intrepid surfers braved the cold – hardy bunch those surfers.
The path starts off as a concrete track but soon becomes a wooden walkway. A barrier had been placed across the walkway with a sign informing me that due to sea erosion this section of the path was closed to the public pending repairs.
Obviously, I ignored the sign and walked around the barrier. That was easy enough although walking along the walkway itself proved more difficult. The wooden slats were covered in snow / ice and it was far too slippery to walk on. Instead I chose to walk along the edge of the path, keeping to the pebbles.

Snow flurries started up as I reached the point where the second path appears on the right. I stood on the wall but could not spot the Barrow due to the undulating fields. The only way to get closer was to hop over the double barbed wired fence (more difficult because of the snow) and walk along the field wall. This I did and before too long I reached the Barrow. The remains of Sker House loomed in the background.
I was concerned I wouldn’t be able to see it due to the snow but I needn’t have worried as the top was clear of snow and three sheep were taking advantage to eat away at the only available grass in the field.

COFLEIN gives the following details:
‘This is a round barrow, 11m in diameter and 0.8m high. It is likely to be a prehistoric funerary monument’.

Before long it was time to head back to the car and go and build some sand/snow castles!
It is a 30 minute walk from the car park to the Barrow.

***
After returning home and doing a bit more research it turns out that there are another 3 Barrows in the same field which I was unaware of (my O/S map only showed the one Barrow). I didn’t see anything obvious although the field was covered in snow and I wasn’t specifically looking for any more. One to keep an eye out for if visiting the site.

I’ve been to Bryn Cader Faner three times and I always approach from the south west. But this time we tried to come at it via the Y Gyrn cairns, from the west. At this time of year this turned out to be somewhat problematical, snowy and icy roads curtailed progress and I had to park right over by the main road, the A496, adding a couple of miles of tedious road walking.
We tried to avoid the road walking on the way there by taking a footpath over a hill and then back down again, then a bridge over a river. All very pretty, but, it’s still not what we came to see. Then the footpaths become a tad indistinct, small streams have to be jumped, even the boggy pooy holes didn’t have the decency to freeze, and the snow drifts were really something else, in places at least four feet deep.
Later rather than sooner we get to a place where the way ahead is more obvious, not any easier but more obvious. The big rocky summit of Y Gyrn towers above us, we decide not to venture over to Maes Y Caerau but carry on under the steep cliffs, fortunately some intrepid explorer had been out here before us so we just followed in his footsteps. At one time my legs sunk in a drift up to the hilt but still never touched the floor. It was hard going to say the least.

At last we reach the spot where we’ve deduced the trio of cairns reside, but only one is obvious there is a maybe but we’ll have a look at that one after we’ve been to BCF. The third eludes us completely.
The obvious one is a little beauty, large boulders define the cairns edge and just off center a ruined cist is to be seen, the two large edges of the cist have fallen in to meet at the middle.
The positioning of the cairns is interesting, nestled under the cliffs of Y Gyrn with only a narrow view of Tremadog bay, but a wide open view of the 623 meter high Moel Ysgyfarnogd.

After an easier more leisurely walk up to the enigma that is Bryn Cader Faner, we walk back down to these cairns, we still cant see the third but the maybe does indeed turn out to be the one were looking for. It is the ring cairn, the one that i’ve seen pictured elsewhere, but what with all the snow drifting up on it and the gorse bushes growing on it it’s not as easy to make out as the nearby kerb cairn, one for a return visit in better weather and armed with my trusty shears. The daylight is quitting our adventure now so we beat a hasty retreat, passing within sorrowful distance of Maes Caerau.
The way back was easier as we elected to stay on the roads, it was a long and tiring walk and it was pitch black by the time we reached the car.

A good pair of cairns but so very far to walk to.

After a bracing visit to a busy Leckhampton Hill, this is an oasis of quiet, the perfect New Year’s Day objective for legs lacking a certain degree of energy and a brain turned sluggish by lack of fresh air.

Low winter sun slants through the trees topping the long mound, painting tiger stripes across the field. The horses pay me no mind today.

I can’t help feeling that, on the quiet and unheralded, this is one of the Cotwolds’ finest long barrows, for all that the chamber has been destroyed. It’s always a pleasure to come here, anyway. A good harbinger for this year’s stone-hunting pleasures.

New Year’s Day, 2013. After what seems like weeks of interminable, miserable wet weather, finally a sunny break happens to coincide with the start of a new year. Hopefully that’s a good omen.

Anyway, transport options are limited, so a stroll up to my local fort seems to be the way to go. The approach from the north is as stiff as ever, the regrets about too many mince pies and not enough exercise come sharply to the fore. It seems that lots of locals have also chosen to make this their place of post-indulgence pilgrimage, because the interior of the fort is pretty busy. Amazing what a bit of sunshine can do.

In the 18 months or so since I was last up here, the northern ramparts and the ever-enigmatic barrow have been kept nicely clear of vegetation. The views across Cheltenham, over towards the Malverns and the northern reaches of the Cotswolds are as far-reaching as ever. It’s soooo nice to be back outside.

As well as maintaining the tidiness at the north of the fort, some enterprising people have cleared the brambles and scrubby vegetation from the southeastern and southern section of the ramparts, leaving them much easier to see. There is no sign of an external ditch here, but ploughing of the adjacent field may have filled it in. Parts of the rampart, notably around the trig pillar, have been cordoned off by that orange plastic temporary fencing, presumably to try to combat erosion damage.

Over on the western flank, where quarrying has destroyed whatever archaeology there may have been, the views are the most extensive, but the wind is bitingly keen. Enough to encourage a hasty retreat along the Cotswold way, then off to the Crippets.

Visited 11th November 2012

We parked up opposite the Andle stone today, and taking advantage of the fine weather walked across Stanton Moor, passing the Cork Stone, to the Nine Ladies.

It’s been about five years since I was last here, though I’ve visited so many times, as it’s the closest stone circle to where I live, and sometimes I think you forget just what treasures you can find on your doorstep, as I wonder why I’ve left it so long to come back. The circle looks perfect in todays sunshine, and as usual is busy with walkers.

As mentioned in previous posts this place has a joyful atmosphere and it is truly beautiful here, it’s nice to re-connect with the circle on this crisp winter’s afternoon. The low sun is throwing some great shadows, which nicely pick out the low mound on which the stones are set.

Walking up to the King stone it seems as if the poor outlier is leaning at a more severe angle than I remember it, but perhaps it’s just my memories playing tricks. I certainly vow not to leave it so long until I return again next time!

Visited 1st November 2012

The weather is as fine as you could wish for on a winter’s day, with no wind, certainly a rarity in Orkney, and the sun giving off a weak warmth from the clear blue sky. The coastline of Yesnaby is fantastic, and we’ve often walked here, but never yet to the broch. At the remains of the old shore battery at Yesnaby we park up, if you head to the left you will soon come to the impressive seastack of Yesnaby castle, but today we head right along the cliftop instead and towards the broch.

Although the fields are a bit muddy from the recent rain, we pick our way across them, surveyed by curious cows, and climb over a couple of stiles which bridge the ‘standing stone’ fences which divide up the fields here. Soon the broch is visible on its headland, and straight away I’m pleasently surprised by how much remains, particularly after having seen the sad remains of the nearby Oxtro broch earlier. The intact doorway beckons you in, and the walls must rise to around six feet in height at the front of the tower. The doorway now though is chocked with rubble and the entrance low.

I pick my way around the edge of the tower, very close to the cliff edge, and feeling a bit like a character from a videogame, before I step over the remains of the seaward wall which has now mostly gone after fifteen centuries of battering from the prevailing winds. Inside much of the stonework has fallen into the centre of the tower leaving a jumble of stones.

Although both smaler and more ruined that Orkney’s more famous brochs of Midhowe and Gurness, Borwick is hidden gem and certainly worth a visit. We sit down on a grassy hummock at the back of the broch and watch the sea crashing against the rocks at the foot of us. It’s warm enough to sit comfortably, and taking previous contributor JCHC’s advice break out the flask for a nice cup of coffee. The only sounds are the sounds of the sea and the trickle of the waterfall next to us as it tumbles over the rocks down to the shore.

The vivid colours of the clear northern light give the landscape a painterly quality, and as we sit here watching the sun dip lower everything seems a bit surreal. Ellen and I sit together quietly lost in our own thoughts as sun sets to our left, colouring the sea a blood red. A place like this is a wonderful spot to just sit and take everything in, to absorb the magical atmosphere of Orkney, but now as the sun sets the chill of evening starts to bite, so we set off back on our walk to the car.

This must have been an impressive cairn ‘back in the day’ and it had superb views looking west and east to the Perthshire Highlands. Standing at least 30 meters wide, impressive trees encircle the site and it stands at 1 meter tall. Any kerbs left are covered in turf. A few bits of cairn material lift their heads above the grass.

Very easy to find this one, take the minor road just east of Greenloaning, on the A9, and immediately pull in to the path heading south. From here an easy walk until the path stops at a gate, look east and the circle of trees will be seen. Over the gate, jump the fence, job done.

Visited 18/1/2013.

On the one hand i’m disgusted at myself for taking so long to get up to this hill fort on the Wrekin, but on the other I couldn’t have picked a much better day for it.
I parked at the northern end of the hill near the actual car park, and made my way up where I’d seen a dog walker come from. a bit muddy but frozen ..... but slippy.
On the way up, the dog walkers path turns into a bigger track, big enough to drive on. Five big signs warning me of a military firing range punctuate the steep track. Cripes, i’ll not wander far off course today. Big bangs sound reassuringly far off though.

All too soon some height is gained, the air is cooler, ice and old crunchy snow makes walking slower and more precarious. There are quite a few people up here, Shrewsbury and Telford are close by big towns with lots of people some of whom like to hill walk now and then.
Just before the track gets very steep an information board shows up, does the information board think “ay up another walker, please read me.... please”
I duly oblige and instantly feel more informed, firstly I pass through the Hell gate, then through the Heaven gate, with plenty of ramparts all over the place. Brilliant !!!

Passing through the Hell gate, the mounds either side of it are maybe six feet high. A car then starts up behind me and i’m perplexed as to how he got up here, he shows me by leaving, slowly that’s the key. Gawd you can drive up here ? not in my car I’ll bet. Between the Hell gate and the heaven gate I slink off into the trees to locate some of the ramparts, they are very worn down, little more than terraces now, I follow along one up to the heaven gate, my second favorite fort entrance on the Wrekin.

It has to be said, the ramparts aren’t that well preserved , but the entrances to it all are. Heaven gate is high up, 1300 feet high, rising to a height of five feet either side of you as you pass by. Apparently the gate names derive from perhaps two civil war battles, the Hell gate battle went badly but the Heaven gate one more favorably, for who I don’t know. Cromwell presumably.
Ahead, at the top of the hill is a trig point and Toposcope, these both sit on top of a now cared for, but worn and torn barrow. It isn’t recognisable as such but map says it’s so.
Passing the walker swamped trig point you exit the inner fort by another gate, a gate with no name and not marked on the artists impression on the information board. The hill top isn’t so wide here, vertical rocks guard the south side and a worn rampart on the north side, they both meet up at the south west gate, the last gate and my favorite on the hill. From here Caer Caradoc and the Lawley are very visible to the south west. The fort on the Wrekin is surely meant to be seen mostly from there.

I was always told that the Wrekin is an extinct volcano, but it isn’t so, it was made by volcanic happenings, but it isn’t a volcano, volcanic plugs rather. The rocks above the south west gate are very volcanic in appearance, slippy too, don’t look over the side it’s a long way down. One large rock has broken off the main outcrop leaving a slim gap between them, is this the needle. Don’t know, nor could I find anything that is supposed to be a solar alignment wotsit on such and such a day. Oh well, summer wont be long.
Ive been up here for hours now it is time to go and pick up the kids from school, this morning was so much better than sitting at home watching day time TV wishing I was else where.

Craddock Moor Stone Circle 15th January 2013

I paid a return visit to this circle today to see if I could find some of the stones now lost to nature lying under the turf and gorse. The last time I was here there were about 15 stones showing, all recumbant and some only just identified by small patches of granite showing through the turf. Using a broken shaft from a steel shafted golf club I was able to probe the soft peaty soil and found 7 more stones within the setting, one of them being over 7 feet long and to the north-west of the circle. This is the tallest I have detected here. So I now know of 22 in total. Such a shame that this circle, just a stones throw from the ‘flagship’ Hurlers at Minions is being totally ignored and neglected because it isn’t in the public gaze like the favoured ones.

Visited 13.1.13

Directions:
From Brecon take the A470 south and immediately after the A4215 turning (on the right) take the minor road on the left. It has a N.T. signpost for somewhere or other.
Follow the road until you come to a white house (TY Canol) and take the turning left.
(Straight on takes you to the N.T. place).
Continue along this very narrow rough ‘road’ until you come to the first metal field gate on your left. (There is a passing place opposite the gate where you can briefly park).
Hop over the gate and head across the field, towards the trees, where you will find the Hillfort.

It had been a lovely sunny day on the Brecon Beacons with not a breath of wind (probably the first time I have ever experienced that up here!) There were plenty of people out and about but unsurprising there was no one about at this place. Just as well given that there was nowhere to park and the ‘road’ is not much wider than the car. Karen, Sophie and Dafydd stayed in the car as I went out exploring – although I was on a tight time limit as Karen wanted to catch the burger van on top of the Beacons for a cuppa before it closed!

Now, it’s not very often you walk downhill to a Hillfort but that’s exactly what you do here.
The field slopes gently down towards the wood and is a pleasant if boggy walk. To add to the occasion it started to snow which was nice!

At first I mistook the curving gulley of a stream as part of the Hillfort’s defences before realising my mistake and spotting the real thing in amongst the trees.
I was surprised how well defined the defences were. I spotted three lines of defences.
The outer ditch/bank was about 1.5m high, the inner two a more impressive 2.5m high.
The whole site is covered in trees although it was still easy to make out the ramparts.

As previously stated I didn’t have time to explore the whole site and all too soon it was time to squelch back to the car.
This is a good place to visit although be warned that the road is narrow and rough and the ONLY place to park is in the passing place – so a driving ‘assistant’ is handy!

COFLEIN states:
‘A promontory fort/defended enclosure, resting on steep slopes above the Afon Tarell to the North and tributary defiles to the East and West, whilst the approach from the South is barred by a multivallate façade, of two to four ramparts. The interior is divided into two natural spurs’.

Visited 13.1.13

Directions:
Follow the directions given for Cwm Henwen Standing Stone
From the parking area take the overgrown steps up the grass bank opposite and head towards the equally overgrown picnic table to the right. Hop over the barbed wire fence, through the open field gate to the right and over the next barbed wire fence.
The stone becomes visible when you reach the brow of the hill.

Dafydd and Sophie decided they wanted to join me on this little adventure (Karen was happy to sit in the car overlooking the reservoir and read her book in peace and quiet!)

Dafydd wanted to take ‘the lead’ and headed up to the overgrown picnic area. Sophie let it be known that she had no intention of walking and so I carried her in Dafydd’s wake.
When we reached the barbed wire fences I carefully lifted the children over before hopping over myself. Sheep scattered as we walked up through the fields.

‘Are we allowed in this field Dad?’ enquired Dafydd
‘Erm..... not exactly’ I honestly replied!
Sophie was more intent on watching the fleeing sheep to be bothered about trespass laws!

The stone itself is a whopper and well worth the effort of a visit.
It is a dark red/purple colour – the same type of stone as Maen Llia (probably my favourite standing stone) and the nearby Cwm Henwen standing stone.
The stone is almost pyramid in shape and the top half of it is covered in a thick matting of moss – almost as if protecting the stone from the worst of the Brecon Beacons weather.
Several large grooves run down the side of the stone – adding even more character.
Two largish stones lay flat on the ground at its base – packing stones?

There are several large field clearance stones you pass propped up against the fence when walking up to this fine standing stone.

Before long we all waved goodbye to the stone and headed back to the car.

Certainly a site to recommend.

Visited 13.1.13

Directions:
Please see directions given for Cwm Henwen Standing Stone.
The Cairn is to the immediate north of the stone –the other side of a barbed wire fence.

The Cairn is easy to spot with stones protruding from the ground clearly showing its outline. All the stones are less that 1ft high and covered in masses of moss – which isn’t surprising given the amount of rain they get in the Brecon Beacons!
Most of the Cairns stones have been removed unfortunately.

COFLEIN states:
‘A plundered cairn, 14m by 12.5m and 0.9m high, whose center has been dug out, leaving a tail of spoil to the NE’

Visited 13.1.13

Directions:
From Trecastle (A40) follow the signs for the Usk Reservoir (5 miles).
When you arrive at the reservoir there is a car park and picnic area.
Walk across the dam to the far side of the reservoir and follow the road to the left.
As you walk past the trees you will see a forestry track with a locked metal barrier.
Walk up the track and after a short distance you will see a ‘path’ on your right heading through the trees. Follow this ‘path’ and you will shortly come to a metal gate.
Go through the gate and the standing stone is immediately in front of you – can’t miss it!

(There is a road which runs around the reservoir from the car park to the start of the forestry track if you would prefer not to walk. However, it is a very pleasant walk along the top of the dam and well worth the minimal effort required)

The stone is a rich red colour (same as Mean LLia) and is largely covered in moss.
COFLEIN reckon the stone is 1.4m high but I would say it is less than 1m.
It is so close to the nearby Cairn that you would think the two are connected somehow?
Is this the stump of a once taller stone?
If it wasn’t for the trees there would be good views over the reservoir.

Worth the effort to see when visiting this fairly remote but pretty part of the Brecon Beacons.

12/01/2013 – We started from the small car park at NJ 5285 5467. There is a path heading north just past the entrance to the farm as the road turns left to Knockbog. Climbing a short way through trees the path then turns east to contour round the hill. This took us to just north of the circle with an easy walk of 100m through the wood south to reach it. Last time here the undergrowth hid the small stones and it was quite hard to make out the circle. Today it had all died back and what a brilliant difference it made. This really is a nice little circle on the edge of a peaceful wood. We headed back to the path and then north along a fence line to climb Knock Hill. If you are going up the hill it’s well worth paying this circle a visit as well. Lovely if a bit chilly day.

I’m going to make a plea here for The South Downs Way to become a site in it’s own right on TMA much like The Ridgeway is. On New Years day Mrs Cane and I walked from the car park near Combe Hill enclosure along the final stretch of the SDW down to Beachy Head. Now I’ve walked this section before, but on that occasion it was dusk and though I realised there were barrows and cross dykes dotted along the escarpment overlooking Eastbourne, I didn’t quite appreciate just how many there were. In a low bright January sun you can pick out far more easily the sheer profusion of Bronze Age handiwork in the landscape as the walk progresses. I’ve divided the barrows up according to their most local names, as there is no overall place name for this area, unless you name it the ‘Eastbourne Escarpment’, or indeed, ‘The South Downs Way’. So starting in the north just south of The Combe Hill Neolithic enclosure we have Babylon Down, Bourne Hill, Foxholes Brow, Foxholes, Beachy Brow, Eastbourne Downs Golf Club (rubbish name I admit!) and Pashley. Indeed this is a regular barrow cemetery stretching about 4 miles with quite a variation in barrow type from quite large bowl barrows, disc barrows and even conjoined examples down to the barely visible ‘trampled into the track’ type. Three to four thousand years ago they must have presented quite a spectacle if you were looking up from the flood plain below at this great range of hills as it wound its way down to the sea to come to an abrupt end at Beachy Head. It’s interesting too, to speculate as to why there are so many here anyway. Perhaps because it’s a terminus to the South Downs and possibly a trading point for goods coming in and out of the country and therefore of quite high importance and with a large population? Maybe because water was sacred to our ancestors and the area beneath the escarpment was flooded for a great deal of the time? Or perhaps they were just setting a precedent, as Eastbourne in relatively modern times has been a place to retire to and die!

Sometimes some places take you by surprise, this one did it to me, I know the local terrain, I knew where would be visible from up the top, but I didn’t know what to expect from the remains of these two hill top enclosures, and the weather had been mostly grey with hints of changeability.
The kids elected to stay in the car, whilst stone mad dad went for one last walk. Less than a mile from car park to fort to the other fort and back, shouldn’t take long. Eric took one look at the steep sided hill and shook his head sternly, “your on your own this time Dad”

So off I went, for most of the upward yomp the car park was in full view, I neglected to put back on my walking boots and the hillside turned out to be a bit slippy in my work trainers. As height is gained the views west and north open out, Rhobell Fawr is dominating the north and far to the north west The Rhinogs begin to peep over the nearer hills. Still higher still and Cader Idris is very prominent to the south south west with huge clouds billowing down over the high ridge. Then to the south west the Mawdadach estuary can be seen happily taking away as much water off the hills as it can carry. Then sweating and breathing hard the top has been attained, before I reach the nearest stretch of tumbled walls I notice there is a lot of pure white quartz scattered all over the hill top, pretty.

Standing upon the spread of wall material on its north western side I note that with my usual alacrity I have climbed the hill via it’s steepest way, there is a footpath edging round its northern way but it’s the very long way, my way though very steep was most direct. I begin the circumambulation of the fort, or is it an enclosure, i’d rather the fort label as a pig pen can be described as an enclosure and this is so much more. At its steepest point the walls have disappeared altogether, but soon the hill is more gentle and the scattered rubble gets higher and wider. Then it gets much more complicated as the walls are so substantial that interior walls can be seen, whether these are truly ancient or more recent I cant tell. From there I make my way to the top, where a tall square cairn has been erected, from the fort walls, pah, and booo!!
Just yards away is the entrance, it is a complicated affair, the inner wall turns outwards at 90 degrees then back on itself at 90 degrees to form a double wall. But these were not the surprises that took my breath away great as they were, the sun I thought had already gone down, but I was mistaken, it still had some way to go before it dipped behind the lower hills below Cader Idris, just south of Pared y Cefn hir. A massive golden glow burst through the clouds and I stood rooted to the spot for how long I don’t know, then I remembered my camera and set about trying to record the moment, for these do not come along often, my camera is mostly obstinate at capturing light and dark at the same time but it seemed to be coping well.
I ran about on the hill top trying to get all the best bits in the best light ive seen in along time, mostly the entrance, then I recalled the other lesser enclosure and realised it would be directly between me and the sun, I jogged off down the hill, trainers giving up all hope of being dry. There it is, damn, I thought, I’m not going to have time to get a good look at that one too, so I made do with a selection of photos on my way past, down and on my way back to the car. Getting down was harder than coming up, more slippy, legs more wobbly, the precipice walk is near here , but not here, but it should be. Eventually I got back to the car, to hoots of derision as to how long it took, ah well you cant have it all, but we’ll always have that sunset.

Visited 5.1.13

Directions:
From the A4093 take the B4564 (sign posted Gilfach Goch).
Where the road forks, stay left and drive past the pub (Old Gilfach Goch? – I think it was called) which will be on your right.
A little further up the road (on your left) you will see a small tarmac area which is blocked off with large boulders. This is next to a ruined derelict building.
There is room to park in front of the boulders off the road.
Walk up the tarmac, past the small wooden cross (in memory of Mr and Mrs Adams) which is directly behind a large round boulder, over the metal field gate and head directly up the very steep hillside.
You should then come out pretty much right on top of the cairns – assuming you haven’t died falling off the near vertical section on the way up!

My first (and nearly last!) site visit of 2013.
We had planned to go to Cheddar for the day but for various reasons (which I won’t bore you with) it didn’t happen. This left me ‘stranded’ at home feeling like a caged animal. Karen obviously felt ‘the vibe’ and suggested I go out somewhere on my own – probably to get me out of the house!
It was by now early afternoon so I looked through my notes to try to find somewhere I hadn’t been to which wasn’t too far away. So Gilfach Goch here I come!

After clambering up the very steep (and rather dangerous) hillside it was my good fortune to come out very close to the cairns. Coflein states there are 6 cairns although I was only able to spot 4.

The top of the hill was the usual open moorland with lots of clumps of ‘spiky grass’.
It was very mild for the time of year with only a slight wind. The sky was full of dark brooding clouds although the sun was doing its best to break through. Nearby, several wind turbines were in the process of being erected and over in the distance many more were slowly turning in the breeze. The view down on the village was pretty good although there wasn’t much of view in any other direction otherwise. A cockerel was giving its all in the distance – despite it being mid afternoon. Perhaps he got up late!

As for the cairns themselves – which were all pretty close together:
Cairn 1 – 0.5m high x 5m across – grass covered
Cairn 2 – 0.3m high x 5m across – covered in ‘spiky grass’
Cairn 3 – 0.3m high x 3m across – covered in rough grass
Cairn 4 – 0.3m high x 5m across – grass covered.

The site feels a lot more remote than it actually is
One for the dedicated (mad) only.
Oh, and by the way, it helps if you are fit and not afraid of heights!
Coflein states:
‘Six small cairns, 3-5m in diameter and c0.5m high, set on the E side of Mynydd Maes-teg, in an area where no other evidence of settlement or clearance has been noted’.

From the cairn at Beaufort I walked back the road I’d came going past the Bruiach taking the minor road south after the ring cairn. This road is a bit up and down but very scenic.

As late as 1886 something must have stood here but now all that is left is an impressive grassy mound with perhaps 1 or 2 kerbs in place. The big boulders I assume are field clearence. Despite the damage the cairn still stands 15 meters in width and stands at just over a meter high. There is something defiant about this place as it clings on, the surrounding scenery is fantastic and with darkness falling very atmospheric. Plus it was eerily silent, nothing moved, no wind just me and some stars high above.

With that it was back to the car at Kiltarlity, another long but fantastic day.

Visited 3/01/2013.