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Fieldnotes
| 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. |
Posted by postman7th January 2013ce Edited 7th January 2013ce
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Comments (3) |
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| Money can't buy that kind of thing. You lucky lucky bastard (etc) |
Posted by thesweetcheat7th January 2013ce |
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Petrol tank wouldn't agree, but I know what you mean. Yes, I promise. |
Posted by postman 7th January 2013ce |
| :o) |
Posted by thesweetcheat 7th January 2013ce |
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