Latest Fieldnotes

One more place to go on the way back to the car, I follow the fence line all the way across the valley crossing the Afon Dulyn in the process, I saw three other people on the way a one and a two. High up on the other hillside I come to the track that TSC and myself walked along to Carnedd Llewelyn back in May and start walking carwards, that is east. First I refind the single standing stone that is situated by a dip in the hill top perhaps pointing towards Pen Llithrig y Wrach, then from there the other stones can be seen. One good tall stone has holes in two sides one all the way through, the fallen stone is perhaps smaller, with another hole in it. The last stone is the smallest and the most northern. It has no holes in it. These three could be a stone row, but the other stone up hill is out of line. It’s all very confusing, they were at one time part of a fence line, but the ancients breath has been down my neck all morning, its just as strong here as it was at sunrise. What a beautiful place, I must find a reason to come back, thought of one already, because I can.

23/09/2012 – 650 miles might seem a long way to travel to look for a stone shaped like an arse but when I saw the photos on here early this year, I knew I had to see it for myself. It’s brilliant.

It took a bit of finding on these twisty roads round here.
It’s at SX 0474658699, small passing place at SX 0468858809 is a good spot to view it from.

Location on Google Maps

Don’t you find it interesting when something that strikes you about a site isn’t mentioned at all in other people’s fieldnotes. For me, one of the things here is the Dorset coast stretching out into the distance. Maybe that’s because I’ve spent 95% of my life a long way from the sea, so I enjoy it more when I see it. But for me it gave the massive view a bit of a focus and more of a sense of distance. We’d been down on the weird Chesil Beach earlier (with its curiously sorted pebbles, pea size at West Bay, potato size at Portland, said the notice) and bits were still dropping out of my pockets when we got up here on the hill. I wondered what the prehistoric inhabitants would have thought. You couldn’t live this near the sea and not eat fish now and again. The view completely distracted me from the slope below (I didn’t realise its suicidal steepness until we were driving back down and I saw it from afar). It’s got a rather similar feel to Westbury with its dry chalk undulations.

The other thing that really grabbed me was something you can only see from the northwest point of the fort. It’s a line of rocks sticking out from the hillside ahead. It’s a curious looking thing, I mean obviously it’s some strata of harder rocks, but it’s strange, a ledge jutting out from the smooth slope. I felt certain it should have a name, and looking on the map afterwards I see it does: Bell Stone. oh how there must be / must have been a story to go with it. John Curtis has a photo as I saw it from the hill on Panoramio; also a close up here.

Also I was interested to notice a bronze age barrow (cut in quarters like a currant bun by some treasure hunter no doubt) – it was interesting to think it was preserved by the later builders of the fort. And speaking of barrows, there’s what I took to be a massive disc barrow next to the road – obvious enough to draw the eye.

Practicalities: the turnings off the A35 are tiny and easy to miss but we came off at Askerswell and parked at the top of the hill in a sort of decently offroad council-approved spot at SY549948. Then you can walk in a level straight line across a couple of fields (hopping the stiles) to end up at the original entrance to the fort. You do have to climb up a bit to get in though – as if the almost encircling slopes weren’t enough defence. And there are some lovely brownish sheep up there at the moment, with curly horns, I suppose they are looking after the chalk grassland for the National Trust.

Autumn equinox, 2012, just before dawn.

It was most definitely getting light now, I donned my waterproof lower half, it was not going to rain but dew is a soaker and there’s that river to cross as well, then I was off down the hill towards one of my most favorite of places Hafodygors wen. A northern four poster with a ring cairn around it. I’ve already removed one small Gorse bush, and almost all of another, it was time to finish the job and catch the place in its best light, sun rise.
The brown patch where I removed the first bush has now almost completely grassed over, but the fingers of the bigger bush have started to regrow, bloody Gorse. I unpack my secret weapon, a flick saw, like a flick knife but a saw, ten minutes in and the sun comes up.
I know from copious map staring and Google earthing that the hill known as Waen Bryn-Gwenith themodernantiquarian.com/site/12542/waen_bryngwenith_stone_ii.html is directly east of Hafodygors wen, therefore in line with an equinox sunrise, the big stone right on it’s summit is very visible from almost everywhere round here, and if that wasn’t enough, fifty yards down hill from it is a probable collapsed dolmen themodernantiquarian.com/site/12543/waen_bryngwenith_stone_i.html , A good place for the sun to rise on such an auspicious morning, and the perfect place to see it from.

The sun shone full and bright as it came up over the hill, if it was a more flatter place it would have been a big orange ball, but from here the sun has more chance to accrue it’s brilliance. And it was brilliant. The sun seemed to be coming up over the dolmen rather than the big stone, cant be a coincidence surely, two other hill tops near here have big stones on there summits dissuading me of a solar alignment. Behind me the sun light slowly moved down off the mountains and creeped down the hill side to my little stone circle, and bathed us in light. I tried to capture the moment on camera but it never sees the same as me. I renewed my attack on the Gorse remnants till it was all but gone, a small hard knot of root was clutching strongly to some cairn material so I cut it back some but ended up having to leave it as I don’t want to damage the stones in any way, hopefully, I killed it, horrendous, I know and I feel badly for it, but each thing has it’s place, and seeing as only two people have ever been here, Ive decided that I am the one who decides what goes where. This time next year it will all be grassed over and all will be well for this strange little beauty, if only it was a bit easier to get to, it might get more visitors.

But, that’s not all folks. First I head over to the other very nearby cairn, it is just a bump now, but I decide to take a closer look any way. Nothing much to see at all really, but interestingly the big stack of rocks is half way between cairn 1 and 2. I return to the four poster and make ready to walk about. I remember Coflein saying something about a hut circle round here somewhere, I follow the river, with a vague memory that its near to it. I didn’t find it first time I came here, but I did this time. A large ring of small stones, on a slightly higher than the ground platform, two small wind shelters/sheep pens ??? have been formed from the stones. Not a particularly inspiring ancient monument, but it’s position is in a gorgeous setting, rushing river below, more recent ruined building across the river and every where trees, ferns and mosses, with mountains never far from view.

I’m not wholly sure what I found was this hut circle, half remembered from when Coflein still worked on my computer. I know it’s by the river on it’s northern bank, I never found it last time I had a look so seeing as I was passing I had a look. Right where I remembered it I found a stony circular ring that was much more denuded and over grown than the other later ruins across the river, and it had smaller presumably later wind breaks/sheep pens inserted into it and made from it. It looked like a hut circle and smelled like a hut circle, but there’s so much going on in these Snowdonian valleys you never really know who did what and when.

Visited 11.9.12

The ivy has now all been removed so spotting the stone in the wall is very easy.
This is a big old stone – approx 3 metres tall x 1 metre across.

WE parked on the verge opposite the stone and I was surprised when Karen said ‘Shall I go and have a look?’ – this is something she very rarely does!
‘Of course, I will stay with Sophie’ I replied
‘Give it a hug!’ I shouted out of the window.
‘No, but I will give it pat’ replied Karen (well, it’s a start!)

This is such an easy stone to see it would be a shame to miss it when visiting Anglesey.

Visited 11.9.12

It was a bright and warm late summer’s evening, with white fluffy clouds – ideal weather for a spot of ‘old stoning’.

We parked in a passing place on the minor road off the B5112 – a very quiet road.

You can’t see the stone from the road and I had to find a suitable gap in the hedge.
This I did and then needed to navigate my way over a barbed wire fence.

The field was full of sheep and cows and it didn’t take long to spot the stone.
The stone is approximately 5ft tall x 2ft wide.
It is quite colourful with white, green and yellow lichen on its surface.
The stone has clearly been used as a rubbing post for many years and has been worn smooth.
It is a gnarled old thing and reminded me a lot of the Rollright stones.

Good views of Snowdonia in the distance.
Well worth seeking out.

Visited 10.9.12

The stone stands in a field next to the very busy A5025 just south of Llanfaethlu.

We parked near the pub and I walked down the road to the stone.

Due to the barbed wire I settled for a view over the wall.

The standing stone is approximately 3 metres tall and is covered in green ‘hairy’ lichen.

Well worth a look when in the area.

Visited 11.9.12

For a minor road it sure is busy!

We just about managed to squeeze in where the road was slightly wider for a quick visit.

To get to the stone you have to climb over a wall and 2 barbed wire fences!

The standing stone is approximately 2 metres tall and is quite slender.
There are great views over to Snowdonia.

Worth a visit but parking is very difficult.

Visited 12.9.12

As Postie says there is no public access to this stone and I didn’t have the time or inclination to go looking for permission.
I therefore settled for a view from the road; over the hedgerow.
The stone appears to be approximately 1.5 metres tall and is easily seen.

Visited 12.9.12

We squeezed in at the field gate and I quickly hopped over and headed up the hill.

The stone is not visible from the road.

As soon as you reach the top of the hill the stone is easy to spot.
It is about 1 metre high x 0.5 metre wide – light grey in colour. There are several stones packed in around its base.

As long as you can park an easy stone to visit and worth the effort.

Visited 10.9.12

The rain had started to come down but I was determined to visit this site after seeing photos of the stones on TMA.

We parked on the verge to the north of the stones (next to a house) and I started to make my way south west to my target. I didn’t get very far when I found the public footpath had had barbed wire draped across it. ‘I’m not going to let that stop me’ thought I, so I jumped through a gap in the hedge and circumnavigated the aforementioned obstruction (that’s a lot of big words!). I then walked through two fields of sheep before getting to the stones via a stone stile on the left.

Note – when visiting the stones from this direction you are pretty much on top of them before you see them.

This really is a cracking site. The stones are all about 2 metres tall and are covered in green, yellow and ‘hairy’ lichen. I can’t comment on the view as the rain was getting heavier and the mist was coming down. On a nice day this would be a good place to spend some time – but not on a day like today.

Visited 10.9.12

An easy stone to access.
When you drive into Llanfechell look for number 15a Gorwel Deg.
To the left of the house is a stone stile – this allows you into the field where the standing stone resides.

The stone is approximately 7ft tall x 4ft wide. The stone is pretty thin.
It is clearly a popular perching place for birds judging by the amount of crap on it!
This is a good looking stone with veins of white quartz running through it.

While I was stood next to the stone it was a bit disconcerting to hear the fizz and buzz of the overhead cables cracking overhead.
I wonder what the ancients would have thought of it all?

Visited 10.9.12

This standing stone is also easy to spot but unlike its southern counterpart it would be tricky to visit without having to first ask permission from the land owner. I therefore settled for a view from the roadside.

The standing stone is approximately 3 metres tall and is set on a raised mound.

Visited 10.9.12

This stone is very easy to visit as it is right next to the road.
Access to the field is via a handy gate although it was very muddy.

The standing stone is approximately 2 metres tall and has that ‘hairy’ green lichen on it.

Visited 10.9.12

Another CADW site – Anglesey certainly has its fair share of them!

We parked near the field gate and soon discovered that the field in which the stones reside was a sea of activity.

The weather was dry and the last of the crop was being harvested.
There were two of those clever machines in operation which wraps bails of hay in plastic – very interesting if you ever get to see one in action.
It looked like the whole family were out – grandparents, wives, children etc.
Of course they all stopped and stared as I smiled and waved and marched straight to the standing stones!
I saw one of the farmers whispering in a small boy’s ear.
Probably went something like this– ‘that’s one of those strange folk I told you about’!!

The stones occupy a commanding spot which gives good views.
Both stones are about 8ft high and are covered in green lichen.

These stones are easy to access and are well worth a visit.

Visited 10.9.12

This stone was easy to find (despite the new road system) as it is visible from the road. A generic information board is provided.

This stone has a lot of character and is covered in yellow and ‘hairy’ lichen.

Between the standing stone and the road there is a line of large stones.
These are in the field in which the stone resides and the field next door.
Presumably these are modern and something to do with the road changes?

Visited 10.9.12

CADW site.

This site was a lot harder to find than it should have been.
The problem is there is a new road lay out and my map showed the old lay out.
Suffice to say we wasted a lot of time driving up and down looking for a road which doesn’t exist any more!!

However, we did eventually find the Tomb and well worth the persistence it was.
The only thing which let the place down was the amount of litter.
Despite being a reasonable distance out of Holyhead (my least favourite place on Anglesey) it seems this is a popular meeting place judging by the amount of empty beer cans and take away containers strewn about the site.
I picked up the litter directly inside/outside the Tomb but I would have been there a few hours if I tried to bag it all up. Looking at some of the items I think it is possible a homeless person either is or was sleeping inside the Tomb?

Anyway, ignoring the litter (and the difficulty in finding the right road!) the site itself is very good and well worth a visit. There is an info board which helps to explain the development of the site. It reminded me a lot of Dyffryn Ardudwy.
If you happen to be up this way make the effort to visit – just bring a rubbish bag with you!

Visited 10.9.12

Of all the CADW sites I have visited, this is without doubt the hardest to get to.
Don’t expect any sign posts or information boards here!
Looking at the O/S map there was nowhere obvious to start from and in the end I decided to approach from the eastern side of Holyhead Mountain.

We drove up a very steep and very narrow road past some houses and parked next to a post box. There is room to park a couple of cars here.

Directions:
To the left of the post box is a footpath. Take this path and head straight up the mountain until you come to a ‘crossroads’ of paths.
Turn left and keep on this path until you come to another path which does a ‘dog leg’ to the right, heading up hill – take this narrow, rough ‘path’.
Stay on this ‘path’ until you near the summit of the mountain.
Look up to your left and you will see the remains of drystone walls – this is it!

The walk from the post box to the Hillfort takes about 30 minutes but it is only suitable for those who are reasonably fit and mobile.

I have been to a few ‘stone wall’ type Hillforts and this is as good as I have seen.
The walls at this point are still approximately 2 metres high x 2 metres wide.
As is usually the case the builders have made use of the naturally occurring boulders to form part of the defences.

The views from the top are fab – you can see for miles all over Anglesey.
At least you would if the weather hadn’t been closing in!)
I did however have great views over Holyhead and along the coast.

It was blowing a gale and starting to rain so my visit was a lot shorted than I would have liked – to be fair Karen and Sophie were waiting for me back in the car.
You could easily spend hours up here on a nice day.

As I said; not easy to get to but well worth the effort for those able to do so.

Visited 10.9.12

Another day – another CADW site.

This is a cracking place to visit.
Much better than I expected and one I would heartily recommend.
Visiting couldn’t be easier either – just across the road from a large free car park!

This site reminded me of the round houses in Cornwall – these are easily as good.
Although the houses are not visible from the car park (due to the bracken) they soon come into view as you make your way along the ‘path’.

They are all nestled together in the hillside and it is easy to imagine how cosy it must have been all those years ago.

If you ever visit Anglesey it would be a shame to not visit this site. Good one.

Visited 9.9.12

Directions:
Take the B5109 east out of Bodedern and then the second left along a minor road.
(The first left takes you to the Presaddfed Dolmen)
The Barrow is well hidden in woodland on you left – good luck!

In short I couldn’t see a thing.
We pulled up alongside where the Barrow is but was met with a wall with barbed wire on top, behind this a barbed wire fence and behind that impenetrable, overgrown woodland.

You would have no chance of accessing this site unless you came armed with a machete and possibly a flame thrower!

COFLEIN state:
‘A much mutilated circular mound 20m in diameter and 1.2m high’.

Visited 9.9.12

This is not the easiest of stones to find.
As a CADW site I would expect things to be better sign posted.

Park at the top of the drive leading to Tregwelydd Farm and walk towards the farm buildings. When you get near the farm there is a sign/map showing you the way through the fields to get to the stone. It may be me but I didn’t find this map easy to follow and sure enough it wasn’t too long before I was roaming around the wrong field!

Eventually I spotted the stone and headed for the correct field.
Unfortunately harvesting was taking place and two combined harvesters (where are the Wurzels when you need them?) were doing their thing around the stone.
This made access to the stone unsafe so I settled for a view (which was easy enough) from the edge of the field,

On my way back down the farm drive to the car I noticed that the stone is actually visible across the fields from the drive – to the right if walking away from the farm. If I had noticed this on my way to the site I would have found the stone a lot easier to find.

At least there is no need for sneak visits anymore!

Visited 9.9.12

Another CADW site.
The Tombs are sign posted and there is a small parking bay.

Walk up the drive, past the lodge on your left and then the cricket pitch on your right.
The Tombs are in the field on your left and access is via a kissing gate

The field was full of sheep and it was amusing to see several of them sheltering out of the wind and rain inside the Tomb still standing – although they soon left when I arrived!

The capstone of the standing Tomb is large – about 2m square and .05m thick. It is held up by 4 standing stones. There was a fair bit of ‘hairy’ lichen on the stones.

Pity the second Tomb has collapsed – perhaps someone will put it back together one day?
This is an easy site to access and well worth a visit.

Visited 9.9.12

Directions:
From Benllech take the B5108 west. Then take the first left along a minor road (just after a phone box)
You will shortly come to two public footpath signs on your left.
Take the SECOND footpath (not Pant-y-Saer Farm sign) – this will eventually lead you to the Burial Chamber.

It is fairly easy to work out where to cross the fields (it must be if I found the way!) although expect things to be rather muddy. I visited as it was starting to get dark and I have never seen so many rabbits running about. The rain had now stopped but it was still windy – although not cold.

This site is well worth the small amount of effort it takes to visit.
A large capstone held aloft by two very large uprights.
Visit if you can – it’s a good one.

Visited 9.9.12

We were based in Benllech for the week so I obviously just had to visit this site!

Directions:
Just as you enter Benllech from the south there is a minor road heading North West.
Take this road, through some trees, until you see a bridleway sign on your left.
There is room to park near the sign and the Burial Chamber can be seen in the field on your left as you squelch up the very muddy track.

The Chamber is now no more than a very low stony patch in the field close to the track. It is about 15m long x 0.3m high. There is little to see to be honest.
Access to the field is quite tricky as you have to get through a hedge, over a stone wall and over a barbed wire fence! Possible – but tricky.

In the field are two small copses of trees. In each copse is a pile of large stones piled up. It doesn’t take much imagination to think that these once formed part of the Burial Chamber?

One for the dedicated only – bring your wellies.
Better off visiting the nearby Pant-y-Saer Burial Chamber.