Latest Fieldnotes

From the Bruiach Rong Cairn head further west following the road as it gradually heads north. The cairn is to be found right next to the road on the east side after a fairly sharp corner.

It sits at almost 12 meters wide and is almost 2 meters high. Sadly the kerb is hidden by years of neglect, old trees and weeds.

This was going to be the last stop but I was informed by a passing local (this was a good day for info from locals) that there was a cairn near Boblainy. Night was approaching so the long legs moved into overdrive.

Visited 3/01/2013.

Today, with an interlude of winter sun for about an hour.

A circular (triangular) walk from Upper Lambourn using OS map 170. Set off late morning along a surprisingly unmuddy byway as far as Postdown’s Farm from where we had to do some road walking. Clear signs of recent flooding, the adjacent fields were lake-like in places – we passed a couple of large round barrows on our left as we walked towards Seven Barrows Nature Reserve. The road was badly flooded by the entrance to the nature reserve and the entrance impassable on foot without wellies, fast flowing water running off into a nearby field (must be springs around here to cause to the water to flow such). We managed to jump across a water filled ditch and scramble under some blackthorn hedging to get a better look at the seven (possibly eight) barrows.

The landscape is astonishing – apparently 26 barrows in all dating back to 2200BC. We didn’t actually count the ones we saw besides the seven in the nature reserve but there were several. The sense of walking through an important Bronze Age cemetery was tangible.

We continued on foot along the road past Seven Barrows House and took the track towards Uffington to look for the long barrow shown on the OS map. Not much left and it would be easy to walk past if you didn’t know it was there as absorbed into a beech plantation – two fine stones remain though.

Picked up another muddy byway back to Upper Lambourn and happily came across the Hangman’s Stone just before the track back down to the village. A small standing stone approximately a metre high – probably a boundary stone.

Not been here for seven years and somehow I only have two pictures of it, mostly I was trying to refind the nearby cairn circle of Waun Hir, unsuccessfully might I add, so I parked the car up the road and spent some time here at this partially collapsed portal dolmen.
From the roadside the capstone looked like a big shark leaping over the wall, toothless mouth wide open. From on this side of the wall you can see the only other two remaining chamber stones, the left hand portal stone and the blocking door stone.
On the other side of the wall, after crossing with care it’s only very loosely made, you can see what could be remains of cairn material trailing behind the capstone. The capstone is a very big specimen indeed, rounded at the back end and more pointy at the front, it seems to point or be aligned on the nearby cairn topped Moelfre.
I struggle to class Moelfre as a sacred hill, there are two standing stones to the south and the west has Waun hir cairn circle (Bah!) and this dolmen, but what if there was once more. Its rounded and stand alone appearance make this a very memorable landmark.

06/01/2013 – Last time I was here was 5 years back. Unbelievably windy day that had us hiding behind the trigpoint in case our sandwiches blew away. Today, though still pretty windy, we managed to have a better look at the ramparts that make up the fort. I wonder why it was never completed? As Drew writes in his fieldnotes, the views all round are great. We parked at the start of the Ben Rinnes path (NJ 2847 3596) and made our way round the track on the west side of Meikle Conval to the col between it and Little Conval. A short climb up a path took us to the fort. Back over Meikle Conval is a nice way back to the car. Fine day out.

The church is very easy to find, places for up to half a dozen cars, if nothing is going on at the church. I left the kids in the car and went to see this one on my own. The big heavy door was unlocked and the inside was dark, I put on the light but it didn’t make much light, the flash was needed throughout.
The stone is only maybe three feet tall, the spiral carving is at the top. Boy it was quiet in the church, the kind of quiet you only get when the nearest hundred people to you are all dead. I like churches, not in any christian type way, the peace and quiet are absolute, and the feeling that nothing bad ever happens in a church is a good one, why wouldn’t any one like a quiet old church ?

Follow directions for the standing stone, but when you reach the information board by an opening into the forest, enter here, this is the footpath marked on OS maps. Idwal couldn’t find it, A Portaleer needed local help, but it’s really not hard to find at all. It can be seen perfectly well on Google earth, in the corner of where the trees have been felled in an angled kind of way. Any way, follow the path through the dark forest, untill you come acoss some moss covered walls, pass through them making for the edge of the trees and the big white rock will shine at you through the trees. Simples.

Finding it was a simple matter when compared to interpreting it, it isn’t apparently on Coflein, So i’m unsure of it’s date. The information board has it incorporated into an archaeological walk, so there is some hope of it being old. It’s proximity to the standing stone Cerrig y Cledd, the stone of the sword and to Cerrig Arthur stone circle, Arthur being well known for having a sword of some repute, both lend weight to it.

Ive added this site as a carving but it could equally have been a rocky outcrop, rock art, or engraved stone, it’s probably best just to describe it.
The rocks look to have been one large rock at some time, two big chunks have broken off the main rock. One of the broken off rocks has a carved sword on it, where it has broken off the main rock is another carved sword shape, looking for all the world as if the rock broke open and a sword was revealed, Arthurian like. I would really like this to have been ancient, but it all seems too fantastic, perhaps it is an ancient carving, but I doubt that it was used in casting a sword or the finding of some miracle weapon.

Having said that it really should be sought out when visiting the menhir, I was elated and giddy for finding such a potential wonder of a site, my son thought me slightly mad i’m sure.

I’ve wanted to come here for at least a decade, since I first saw it on the map during my first trips round Cader Idris, then in 2011 I got as close as the small car park by the lake and modern standing stone. This time I got there early, with bikes and a bag full of determination.
From the car, head north on the tarmac’d road then turn right up hill to a house that might be called Caegwian, From there a footpath goes north and southeast, go north. Shortly the path joins the pan forestation track, its rough in places but a 4x4 could pass along it. At the top of the track is another information board, it is here that we enter the dark forest to find the sword in the stone (more about this coming soon). From the info board follow the track west then south then east, the stone will appear on the right hand side of the track. The track is very muddy and flooded in places, we got a bit wet and dirty but the bikes were very wet and dirty. Look at my suit!

Since Idwals picture the trees all around and south of the stone have been felled and removed, new trees are growing with in feet of the stone. Cerrig Y Cledd (the stone of the sword) is about five feet tall and looks to be mostly made of quartz. There is no view south so the wonderful vistas around Cader Idris are blocked by a slight rise in the land. However the stone circle of Cerrig Arthur (well known for his sword) would have been visible if not for trees, and the stone would have been perhaps visible on the horizon from there, well, maybe not on the horizon. The sword in the stone glacial erratic is about 250 meters north, well just east of north actually. But don’t try finding it from here through the forest you will get lost, retrace the track and go in by the information board.

A very good stone, worth the effort, and the long wait, probably best visiting after a prolonged dry spell.

Leaving Tomnacross churchyard I followed the minor road down into the village of Kiltarlity and then headed west. The cairn is to the south of the road, being just a jump over the fence.

Fortunately the hollowed out cairn was dry despite the recent flooding so no accidents here. Greywether appeared here in summer and the site was overgrown. Fortunately I appeared in winter and the lack of overgrowth reveals a splendid kerb. With an almost complete kerb and all the standing stones it is yet another impressive site/sight

Visited 3/01/2013.

After finishing at Belladrum I walked back down onto the A833 headed south then took the first minor road west back into Kiltarlity but a funny thing happened on the way to the Bruiach. As I crossed onto the minor road I was met by an elderly gentleman walking his dog, He’d guessed I’d been up at the cairn and promptly said there was an ancient cairn in the local churchyard, Tomnacross.

As he described there is a thing that resembles a two tier cairn which has been used as a court and a gallows in the past. Canmore suggests it might be a motte. I haven’t a clue but the grass covered structure is an impressive sight and is being obviously looked after. Another church and ancient, possibly, combined site. Now on to Bruiach.

It would be interesting to read other people’s thoughts on this site. Whatever it’s age the scenery is spectacular.

Visited 3/01/2013.

On the A833 head south and stop at Kiltarlity, I parked at the restaurant near the road. Cross the road and head in a south easterly direction, the site is just over the crest of the hill.

There are tremendous all round views from, a truly beautiful location. 5 stones still stand with boulders and other field clearence for company. This was the start of the long walk, the other chamber cairn just north of here (same estate) was defeated by the onset of darkness and rain. But with all the other stuff I want to see I’ll surely return. The village has also a decent pub :-)

Visited 3/01/2013.

From the Moniak cairn head further up the track to Reelig cottage and jump the fence into the field/mud bath. From here walk (or swim) diagonally (south westish) to the gate on the far side, past tennis courts. These courts probably haven’t been used since prehistoric times as well going by their condition. In amongst the clump of trees, slightly to the north, The Giant’s Grave can be found. Very few people have been here recently, even the owner of Reelig House hadn’t seen it.

The stones are graded with large stones at the west end and smaller stones at the east end. Canmore says that it is probably a Orkney/Cromarty type cairn. Sadly during the the late 1800’s the covering stones of the cairn were removed to make dykes on the estate. What is left is are the remains of a chamber cairn which has been lengthened to resemble a Viking’s grave. I wouldn’t like to meet this person, he/she must be over 20 ft. tall and with all the muddy conditions it wouldn’t be easy to run away!

It is an idyllic setting with the trees making the place feel very old. I wonder how long it is until the next visitor. Wonderful site.

Visited 3/01/2013.

As seems usual if there is a hard way to find a place I’ll normally find it. However on this occasion the maps were wrong as I approached Moniak from the west leaving the A862 after the B9164 junction. Two roads from the west are now closed thanks to unsafe bridges. So the car was abandoned and the fairly short walk to Moniak accomplished (over the bridge 1st right).

Sadly this cairn has been almost wrecked thanks to continual abuse. Today it is mud thanks to recent floods and animal damage. Dead trees have been left to rot and farm machinery old and new left sitting on and around the site. Canmore have given up altogether which is a pity as the cairn tho bereft of stones still retains it’s shape as a probable Wessex type cairn. At least two kerbs seem earthfast, the rest have taken a battering or have been removed. Others are scattered all over the place.

Still, the tenant farmer has said he will tidy the site up and try to give it some protection. He was also a source of info about local chamber cairns and hillforts but didn’t have any info about the The Giant’s Grave. He did explain that I’d have a sea of mud to wade through. Great fun!

Visited 3/01/2013.

This clava/ring cairn is to be found very close to the A96 just west after the junction with the B9039 and the farm of the same name. It is to be found close to the railway, which has caused damage in the past, and is still impressive in it’s own way. The substantial inner kerb still exists with four of the outer ring still standing.

It is a very short walk from the A96 to the cairn. The only hazard being the floods in recent times. RCAHMS will fill in the details in an area rich with prehistory.

Visited 3/01/2013.

The hanging stones are relatively easy to find and get to. A car park is situated near the path and then the path is easy to follow until you have to head right and follow the wall in a southerly direction. Once following the wall the ground is boggy and uneven so take care.

The stones have great views to the west. The stones have carvings on ‘Hanging stone’ and ‘PR88ALSO94’.

The spot is a fairly isolated and lonely spot. Prepare not to encounter anyone else all day. The trip is worth it for the decent views yet I am unsure of the speciality of these stones. It didnt feel like it was a special site nor were they attractive.

Worth visiting if you are in the area but I wont be heading back. Maybe the weather was to blame though. As you can see from the pics it was misty, wet and I was pelted by a strong easterly wind

Slipper lowe is easy to find and easy to get to. It is just off the road and has a car park right next to it.

It is an eerie place with thin paths leading through it though you can stray from the paths if you like.

It is very boggy and wellies are a must especially in wet weather.

There is not much to see at the site. It is nice to just wander through the trees lost in your own thoughts. There is a rounded central part in the middle that has good views all around.

02/01/2013 – Slowly working my way through the recumbent stone circles. I’ve looked at this one from Tap o’Noth a few times but never visited. Today the weather was good so after we got back to the car from visiting the hillfort I thought we’d give it a go. The circle is in a small copse of trees not far from the road. We parked pretty much south and walked along the edge of a field to get to it. Barbed wire fence blocked our way but with a New Year spring in our step we were soon over and into the wood (if only that was true, we got over eventually though). What a cracking circle this must have been back in the day. Just one stone still standing with a few others lying where they fell. I liked this one very much.

It’s difficult to know where to start... what to attempt to relate .... following a visit to this wondrous place. Truly, this is one of those ancient sites that I would wager not even the linguistic genius of a Shakespeare could adequately describe. To my mind Treaclechops’ succinct few lines are the most representative use of ‘words’ to date; however since this is my third visit over the years guess I need to finally make an attempt in my own gobshite way. I owe it that.

Now there are undoubtedly finer stone circles, from an architectural perspective (Swinside immediately comes to mind); there are those that are arguably better placed in the landscape, too (consider Castlerigg, Uragh, Moel Goedog?). However I reckon none of those other ‘circles I’ve seen (be they open, embanked, circle-henge, RSC, cairn-circle, or any other variant) combines all the necessary ‘components’ – form, placement, vibe – to such devastating effect, to form such a unified whole, all things considered....as the cairn-circle at Moel ty Uchaf.... like the master perfumer using all his/her expertise to create a classic Chanel fragrance in lieu of Brut 33. Yeah, it all comes together here, regardless of whether or not the ‘all’ can ever be properly defined. Perhaps the perfect blend of megalithic attributes?

The setting is excellent, nay, exquisite, the ring crowning a well defined rise [the ‘high(est), bare hill’] set upon the lower slopes of a great, grassy ridge thrusting approx north-westward from the high Berwyn summit of Cadair Bronwen toward the Afon Dyfrdwy, better known in the non-vernacular as the River Dee. Stark, rounded profiles of mountain and hill top form the skyline to south and east, the more synclastic contours of the river valley to the north. But it is the outlook to the approx west which I reckon makes the situation of Moel ty Uchaf so beguiling, so intoxicating, the view incorporating more or less the whole of Snowdonia, for me perhaps the finest (relatively) low level vista in all Wales? Burl cites forty-one stones within the stone circle’s circumference, ‘all about 1ft 6 ins (0.5m) tall’.... with a ‘probable entrance to SSW’. I assume the learned gentleman is correct, the assertions of Aubrey being some of the few things I am prepared to accept more or less verbatim... on ‘faith’, if you like. Yeah, he has been right too many times in the past, to be fair. Which makes it all the more odd that, standing at the ‘probable entrance to SSW’, it appears to me that the landscape is beckoning me toward the high ground.... Cadair Bronwen, rising more or less to the south-east. As I said, odd, my perception, it would seem, somewhat skew-whiff. Autosuggestion, perhaps, some subconscious instinct, some desire to return to the haunts of my youth? Go on, go on.... you know you want to. Obviously it would be far easier not to. No-one would ever know. Except me. And, standing within Moel ty Uchaf, that is enough. Jeez, those ancients knew what they were doing, did they not?....

I return at sunset, perhaps the most evocative, yet difficult time to visit a stone circle.... isn’t it human instinct to rush for the sanctuary of ‘home’ as darkness falls? The ‘dying’ sun illuminates the stone circle with a light that is beyond my capacity to evoke, to describe. Really, it is. Hey, I am a cynical atheist, opposed to all notions of the ‘supernatural’ outside those created within our human brains. And sunset at Moel ty Uchaf only re-enforces the awe – I guess that’s the right word – I experience witnessing the natural cycles of this home we inhabit, this Planet Earth. To think I am literally a part of all THIS is humbling beyond words.

Is this what the erectors of this cairn-circle wanted to convey? Obviously we will never know for sure, but I have a hunch it was. Why not come and experience, come and feel for yourselves? The vibe is superb, the silence total... hell, there’s even a cist in the centre.

07/09/2010 – Nice cairn on summit of Cronk ny Arrey Laa (Hill of the Day Watch). Easy access from east. Very cloudy when we went but the view must be great. Worth visiting if you have time is Lag ny Keeilley (site of an early 8th century christian hermitage) on the steep west slope of the hill. One of the most amazing places I’ve been to in my life.

07/09/2010 – Great hill with fantastic view not that I saw it as the day we went the cloudbase was very low. Nice hillfort covering summit with good access from the west. More folklore about this hill than you can shake a stick at.

I head north, as I have one further cairn to visit on this inhospitable hilltop. Again, the going is surprisingly tough, the paths are faint and before long I’ve stumbled into a much boggier area, where clumsily leaping from tussock to tussock is the only hope of keeping dry feet. Eventually I get towards the edge of the scarp, and the cairn comes into sight, another weirdly rebuilt shape, apparently hanging right on the edge of the void. There’s a small stream to negotiate first, narrow but fast-flowing, swollen by the melt from the heavy snows before Christmas. Here I meet the only people I’ve seen for hours, but as I follow the top edge of the scarp, the views become superlative and breathe is taken away. Whereas the view from the other cairns was of a gently receding slope in front of a long-range mountain backdrop, from here the drop is steep and the Usk valley appears, dizzyingly far below. Crickhowell is a toy-town, white against the fertile farmland of the valley. Crug Hywel fort is now in view, very different to the snow-covered vista of my recent visit.

The cairn, Eglwys Faen (“stone church”, pronounced egg-lewis vine) is indeed perched above the drop. The stones have been fashioned into an odd pyramid, belying the larger footprint below. That said, for some reason this seems less appalling than the damage inflicted upon Mynydd Llangatwg cairn. Perhaps the wonderful placement makes up for any damage, perhaps in truth the landscape really is the thing and the cairn is merely intended to be the draw, the bait. If this is indeed a stone church, the beautiful, epic vista across the valley is worthy of worship, whatever your views about gods.

The most westerly of today’s cairns, Mynydd Llangatwg is a wreck. What would have been a fine cairn, comparable with the larger monuments already visited, this has been properly buggered about with. Instead of a smoothly curving dome, the top of the cairn has been sculpted into two ridiculous horns, while sheep shelters eat into the sides below. What a shame. The location is excellent, with a great view of Waun Rydd, the Brecon Beacons, Mynydd Troed, the Black Mountains and the Sugarloaf. There is an enormous limestone scatter immediately to the west of the cairn, once again providing plentiful material. The ground drops away in every direction but east. Yeah, a great spot for a cairn, shame about the idiocy that has so distorted its shape.

At length I head off west, following a narrow track through the tussocks of reedy grass and whin. Although the top of the hill is pretty flat, the terrain is still quite hard going, with boggy areas to traverse and ankle-sapping vegetation as soon as you step off the “path”. Luckily the next cairn, a little less than half a mile from the summit group, is right beside the path and it’s another biggie. Slightly smaller than the two main summit cairns, with a scooped-out centre now filling with vegetation, Mynydd Pen-cyrn cairn sits on the saddle between the Twr Pen-cyrn cairn group and the solitary Mynydd Llangatwg cairn. It’s an easy stop-off between the two, serving to liven up what would otherwise be a bit of a slog, truth be told.

However, there is also the small matter of the “stone circle”, one of the main reasons for coming here today. This proves a rather harder task to find.

As mentioned, the whole hilltop is covered in scatters of limestone blocks, a crazy jumble of swirls and fans. I wander about for a while in the area where Coflein suggests the “circle” is to be found (slightly north and west of the main cairn group). Eventually I find a circular feature that pretty-much matches the description and location. I would never have described this as a “stone circle” though. I looks more like a ring cairn of some sort. More visits by more knowledgeable people might help decide. It’s somewhat churlish to complain anyway, as the location and the main cairn group make this place more than worthwhile for a visit.

The very top of the hill slopes more steeply in a little crest. Once onto this, the wind increases dramatically and the chill becomes noticeable, even after the heat generated by the steady climb. Views open to the west, to Waun Rydd and the cloud-shrouded central Brecon Beacons.

Of more immediate interest is the collection of cairns on the hilltop, hidden from view until now. The name of the top, Twr Pen-cyrn (pronounced too-er pen keern) defies my translation efforts, settling on either “Tower [of the] head of the peak”, or “Peak-head Tower”, which seems too clumsy to be right. I have a little hand-drawn plan and notes taken from Coflein, but the numbering (and indeed the number) of cairns on Coflein doesn’t readily associate itself with what I’m seeing.

The entire summit area is liberally scattered with limestone blocks, making for plentiful cairn-building material. The first cairn I reach is small and to the southwest of the main summit group. I think, if it follows the Coflein numbering and descriptions, that it’s Cairn VII. Beyond it, framed by an impressive backdrop of the Sugarloaf, Ysgyryd Fawr and Blorenge, is the southeastern cairn in the group. This is a monster, about 15 metres across and a couple of metres high. It has been messed about, inevitably, but remains a truly impressive monument. The ground falls away from the cairn to the east, leaving a fine, unobstructed view across Monmouthshire. To the north, the Black Mountains ridges, centred on Pen Cerrig-calch from here, glower darkly. I wonder whether the geographical and geological divide between the limestone plateau of this hill and the sandstone ridges of the mountains across the river were reflected in tribal divisions when these monuments and the comparable cairns of Pen Cerrig-calch were constructed?

The other big cairn of the group is right on the summit, next to the trig pillar that itself surmounts a further, smaller, cairn. The summit cairn is a match for the southeastern neighbour. The be-trigged smaller cairn rejoices in the name of “Hen Dy-aderyn” (Old House of the Birds), which Coflein suggests might be linked to use as a shooting hide. The group certainly make for a great – if windy – spot for a cup of tea and contemplation. The clouds to the west briefly part to reveal the sawn-off tops of Corn Du and Pen y Fan, 15 miles or so distant.

These four cairns are the only apparent cairns here, so I can only conclude that the Coflein records include a degree of duplication.

T’was a clear night last night (27th October)... the light reflected by the – for once – unobscured moon appearing unusually bright from within the sanctuary of my frozen tent at Fferm y ‘Rynys, a little below the great tomb at Capel Garmon. Conditions not conducive to sleep although, to be fair, the shrill cry of an unidentified bird of prey (apparently) perched in the tree just above my head, may have had an impact, too. Dawn resolves Madame de la Luna’s little conundrum.... a great tear rent in the fabric of my tent roof. Cause unknown.... but nevertheless, I entertain suspicions of ‘fowl’ play (sorry!). The tent’s a ‘write-off’ so, resigned to spending the next night in the car, I decide to break for the border and head for Y Berwyn, following the course of the great Afon Dyfrdwy (River Dee) as it winds its way toward Llangollen. Yeah, reckon I might try and find the small stone circle – according to Postie – to be found at Bwlch y Fedw below Moel Pearce.

A little way north of Llandrillo the B4401 crosses the Afon Llynor, by way of a bridge you’ll be glad to hear, a caravan park located upon the bank of the Dee opposite. Looking the other way, to the (approx) east, a ‘dead end’ road ascends into the foothills of Y Berwyn. It is – in theory – possible to park beyond the field gate at its terminus. Note, however, that there are numerous additional gates to potentially block in the close vicinity, the farms hereabouts possessing some pretty hefty tractors.... I’ll leave you to do the maths. As for myself, I park lower down where a bridleway veers left beyond Ty’n-y-parc, settling for an unwelcome uphill slog to start the day. Beyond the tarmac the minor road morphs into a green public bridleway – contrary to the rather disgraceful barbed wire ‘garlanding’ the upper bar of the gate – heading for the distant high peaks of Y Berwyn. Nearer to hand a short, albeit rather steep, scramble up to the crest of the high ground to the left affords an audience with arguably one of the finest stone circles these Isles have to offer.... Moel ty Uchaf. Now I’ve had the pleasure before, but nevertheless, the diversion is too much to resist.

Respects duly paid, wonder re-affirmed, I head further along the track toward Bwlch y Fedw. However it transpires I’ve left my notes in the car... was the circle east or west of the track? Uphill or downhill? I come to a snap decision. Yeah, I’ll have a proper look.... on the way back from Cadair Bronwen. What! How did that happen? In retrospect, I guess it was probably the (apparent) alignment of Moel ty Uchaf’s ‘entrance’ upon the peak that did it. Whatever, here we go again.... the call is unspoken, never unheard. Tell me about it. As I gain height, a pair of ‘fell runners’ in short order leaving me (thankfully) in their odd wake, the conditions underfoot begin to progressively solidify, a sort of ‘permafrost’ aiding motion across what would otherwise be notorious Berwyn bog. I traverse Moel Pearce, an apparent ‘prehistoric’ standing stone found upon its north-west flank (not sure about this myself), hence Trawsnant, capped by a cairn (again I’m not absolutely convinced by the ancient origin – but it would be nice if it was ‘kosher’) before the final struggle to the 2,572ft summit of Cadair Bronwen.

Standing at the northern apex of the main ridge of Y Berwyn – an approx three mile round walk from its neighbour Cadair Berwyn – Cadair Bronwen is consequently isolated from its peers across Bwlch Maen Gwynedd and thus a magnificent viewpoint Yeah, the vistas to be enjoyed from the summit of the mountain are of truly epic proportions.... that to the approx west possibly the finest, most expansive view of Snowdonia extant. Therefore it is not really a great surprise to discover that our Bronze Age forebears chose this location to – presumably – intern one of their VIPs. There are arguably few places more worthy in all Wales. What is a surpise to these eyes is the sheer size of the round cairn – a ‘platform cairn’ if you will – they erected. Much more substantial than I appreciated back in 1994, the last time I stood here. In my defence appearances are deceptive up here, a significant, unusually well-built modern ‘effort’ drawing this freaking out walker’s attention away from what lies beneath. Postie’s post, appropriately enough, gives the dimensions of this very large circular, well, disc, its grassy mantle acting as natural camouflage, monument merging with mountain top. Step away, however, walk around and perceive the cairn from different angles... and the deception is revealed for what it is.

There is apparently some doubt as to whether the epithet ‘Bwrdd Arthur’ – ‘Arthur’s Table’ (yeah, him again) – relates to the cairn or to a large erratic boulder resting nearby? For what it’s worth I reckon it has to be the platform cairn.... a gigantic, flat, not to mention circular...hey, round... table. Despite the bitter, bitter cold I try it out for size, and ‘do’ lunch. Yeah, reckon a dozen mythical warriors could hang out here, no problem. Despite its isolation the summit is far from deserted today; however there is, thankfully, no storm shelter... so people keep their distance as I lose myself in the melodrama, sheltering from the wind behind rocky outcrops. At least I think that’s the reason? Conversely, I have no choice, no option but to sit/lie transfixed by the ever-changing light, my kit just about sufficient to take the onslaught. It is worth it just to look at those colours! ‘Epic’ doesn’t even come close to being a suitable adjective, the sky at times Wagnerian as opposed to Arthurian. If there is such a thing as the latter.

The hours fly, as usual... and of course, I still want to try and locate that fabled stone circle at Bwlch y Fedw....