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suave harv’s TMA Blog

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A Welsh prelude

"You're going to Ireland for five days. . on your own???" people asked incredulously. . "what on earth for?"
"to look at stone circles" I said.
silence.
". . and drink guiness and look at the sea, and enjoy listening to music in me van"
(puzzled looks. .)
"erm . . we went to Benidorm for our holidays, it's lovely there. . "
--
On me way to Ireland I decided to stop over a night in Newport , (the one by Fishguard, which is were I was to catch the Ferry mid-day Monday). I had a look at Pentre Ifan on the way. It's signposted from the main road so pip-rah! I found it easily (it says it's hard to find in TMA book. Oh well. .)
As you approach the monument, you are walking down a leafy lane. There, before you, you see the top of Pentre Ifan, through the trees, like a magical place beyond the gate, I felt like Sgt Howie in the Wicker man as he passes the stone circle on the way to Lord Summerisle's House.
It's a very dramatic site, and on this day, a late sunny Sunday afternoon, I had it all to myself. What a wonderful start to my five day megalithic road trip! I drew a sketch, made some notes and sat in the sun, looking at the sea.
After a while I found a pub with b&b, and as if by magic, it was right next to the road where Carreg Coetan Arthur lives! I checked this site out twice, (before beers & after). It's a Dolmen in a little cul-de-sac of new houses. It seems quite happy there, and well looked after, if you know what I mean!
Bats flew, and late at night I could hear the roar of the sea as I sat under it. A little hip-flask of whiskey kept me warm, and I felt quite cozy and excited.
Solstice morning.
Gors Fawr stone circle seemed a good bet, as I had read there were two outliers that were aligned to the Summer sunrise. I got there about ten am, and there were a couple of girls there dishevelled from a night in the stones. They told me a few people had been there that morning to see the sunrise. (I found out later one was Kammer!).
The rocky out-crop on the hill could have been, I was told, where they took the bluestones for stonehenge from. I noticed the stones in the circle decrease in size as they point towards the outliers. . which are directly in line with the rocky out-crop.
The scenery is wonderful, you are right amongst the Preseli mountains. There is a signpost adjacent to the circle by the road-side. The circle is then a very short walk.
Another trip to Pentre Ifan on the way back (it was packed with school-kids, artists, hippies and dog walkers, not a problem though, it was sunny and everyone was happy and friendly).
These three sites were a wonderful taster for the megalithic delights of Ireland. . and as I stood on the ferry, watching the UK shrink, making sure me hat wasn't blown off into the foam, I felt excited, empowered and joyous. My mood however, was to change a little after I spent my first night in Ireland.
TO BE CONTINUED> > >