The Modern Antiquarian. Stone Circles, Ancient Sites, Neolithic Monuments, Ancient Monuments, Prehistoric Sites, Megalithic MysteriesThe Modern Antiquarian

Gau Graig, Cadair Idris

Enclosure

<b>Gau Graig, Cadair Idris</b>Posted by thesweetcheat
< More
<b>Gau Graig, Cadair Idris</b>Posted by thesweetcheat
More >
Gau Graig, Cadair Idris (Enclosure) by thesweetcheat Enclosure wall, with the cairn to the right. I think the cairn is modern, although it's not on the true summit of the hill. It surmounts a natural outcrop enclosed by the wall.
thesweetcheat Image Credit: A. Brookes (11.11.2022)
Posted by thesweetcheat
3rd November 2023ce
NB: Unless otherwise stated, this image is protected under the copyright of the original poster and may not be re-used without permission.

Comments (5)

Ahh.... nice one. You would say much too small - and, furthermore, lacking a 'less difficult' practical approach for the inhabitants - to be a hillfort... and way too exposed for animal husbandry. So what is it? GLADMAN Posted by GLADMAN
4th November 2023ce
It's a really odd site. The corners are right angles, which usually suggests medieval rather than prehistoric. But it's of little use as a sheepfold (there is a definite sheepfold on a little level shelf further down the NE ridge which I passed on the way up). Its location is much more suggestive of either something strategic (lookout over the pass?) or we have to fall back on "ritual". It's a terrific spot, but not that day. I couldn't stand up in the winds, luckily the rain had eased after lashing at me most of the way up. It took me the best part of two hours to climb a couple of hundred metres as I had to keep sheltering behind various outcrops when the weather got particularly bad. Much nicer in May sunshine on the way down from Cader this Spring! thesweetcheat Posted by thesweetcheat
4th November 2023ce
Very similar wind on Mynydd Egryn last month. But I wasn't going to postpone a second time. Literally blowing me over as the video will show.

Liking the fact you're logging images of stuff I wish in retrospect I'd have captured back in the day. But, to be fair, you wouldn't focus upon a 'sheepfold', right? Assuming you've got pictures of the Mynydd Moel cairn, right?

Incidentally, I tried to find the cairn cited by GAT below and west of Twll Yr Ogof, too. Couldn't believe I'd missed it last time... but nothing obvious there
GLADMAN Posted by GLADMAN
4th November 2023ce
Glad you got to Egryn, even if less than lovely conditions.

Thank you - Mynydd Moel eventually followed in May, too. As you can see I'm ridiculously far behind with posting stuff, but might catch up over the winter as I had Covid not long after this trip, which kept me off the hills for ages. Between us we're getting there!
thesweetcheat Posted by thesweetcheat
4th November 2023ce
Funnily enough, I really enjoyed the wind. Had full winter kit to hand, so still able to hang out GLADMAN Posted by GLADMAN
4th November 2023ce
You must be logged in to add a comment