Cadair Berwyn cairn II

Also known as:
Cadair Berwyn (South) and Craig Berwyn
Nearest town:
Llanfyllin (14km SE)
OS reference:
SJ07173245
OS sheet:
125
Latitude:
52° 52' 51.93 N
Longitude:
3° 22' 46.65 W
Added to TMA by

Images

Image of Cadair Berwyn cairn II (Cairn(s)) by thesweetcheat

The cairn from the summit, with the northern cairn in shadow beyond.

Image credit: A. Brookes (13.9.2023)
thesweetcheat
thesweetcheat Dec 19, 2024
Image of Cadair Berwyn cairn II (Cairn(s)) by thesweetcheat

Towards a distant Yr Wyddfa, centre skyline. Below the gentler western slopes of Cadair Berwyn are the Pennant cairns.

Image credit: A. Brookes (13.9.2023)
thesweetcheat
thesweetcheat Dec 19, 2024
Image of Cadair Berwyn cairn II (Cairn(s)) by thesweetcheat

A sizeable footprint survives beneath the shelter. The cairn on the northern summit can be seen behind on the left.

Image credit: A. Brookes (13.9.2023)
thesweetcheat
thesweetcheat Dec 19, 2024
Image of Cadair Berwyn cairn II (Cairn(s)) by thesweetcheat

The badly mutilated cairn, with the craggy summit of the mountain on the left.

Image credit: A. Brookes (13.9.2023)
thesweetcheat
thesweetcheat Dec 19, 2024
Image of Cadair Berwyn cairn II (Cairn(s)) by GLADMAN

That is one large footprint, the topography arguably not sufficient to have caused serious slippage over the millennia?

Image credit: Robert Gladstone
GLADMAN
GLADMAN Jul 4, 2020
Image of Cadair Berwyn cairn II (Cairn(s)) by GLADMAN

The OS trig surmounting Cadair Berwyn (i.e the northern summit) can be seen rising beyond.

Image credit: Robert Gladstone
GLADMAN
GLADMAN Jul 4, 2020
Image of Cadair Berwyn cairn II (Cairn(s)) by GLADMAN

The truly monumental footprint, looking toward the northern summit cairn.

Image credit: Robert Gladstone
GLADMAN
GLADMAN Jul 4, 2020
Image of Cadair Berwyn cairn II (Cairn(s)) by GLADMAN

The monument quite literally sits upon the edge of the precipice, the cliff line falling to Cwm Maen Gwynedd far below. The ridge to the left, home to several enigmatic ‘mounds’, terminates at Mynydd Tarw

Image credit: Robert Gladstone
GLADMAN
GLADMAN Jul 4, 2020
Image of Cadair Berwyn cairn II (Cairn(s)) by GLADMAN

And the reverse view, looking toward the summit crags of Craig Berwyn.

Image credit: Robert Gladstone
GLADMAN
GLADMAN Jul 4, 2020
Image of Cadair Berwyn cairn II (Cairn(s)) by GLADMAN

Sunburst approaching from Craig Berwyn (or the southern summit of Cadair Berwyn for those happy for a mountain to have two summits! – although I’ve tended to refer to it as Craig Uchaf). The northern summit (Cadair Berwyn (North) can be seen immediately beyond, with Cadair Bronwen deep in shadow far background.

Image credit: Robert Gladstone
GLADMAN
GLADMAN Jul 4, 2020
Image of Cadair Berwyn cairn II (Cairn(s)) by GLADMAN

The highest point of Cadair Berwyn – at 2,723ft – rises just above and to the south of the massive cairn; it would appear topography dictated monument placement in this instance, although, as seen here, the rock formations are pretty enigmatic. Speaking of which the reed-covered Llyn Lluncaws can be seen below, cradled by Moel Sych, its southern ridge (beyond) descending toward the fabulous Pistyll Rhaeadr.

Image credit: Robert Gladstone
GLADMAN
GLADMAN Nov 16, 2015
Image of Cadair Berwyn cairn II (Cairn(s)) by GLADMAN

Again... ignore the vandalism and focus upon the footprint...

Image credit: Robert Gladstone
GLADMAN
GLADMAN Oct 29, 2015
Image of Cadair Berwyn cairn II (Cairn(s)) by GLADMAN

The muppet shelter is fit for, well, muppets... the footprint for the sole of a god.

Image credit: Robert Gladstone
GLADMAN
GLADMAN Oct 29, 2015
Image of Cadair Berwyn cairn II (Cairn(s)) by GLADMAN

The high Bronze Age cemetery of the main ridge of Y Berwyn seen from Foel Wen, north-west of another large cairn at Mynydd Tarw. There is another very substantial monument crowning Cadair Bronwen just out of shot top right.

Image credit: Robert Gladstone
GLADMAN
GLADMAN Apr 7, 2015
Image of Cadair Berwyn cairn II (Cairn(s)) by GLADMAN

Cadair Berwyn looking from the shore of Llyn Lluncaws on an unfeasibly hot 28/6/93

Image credit: Robert Gladstone
GLADMAN
GLADMAN Jan 19, 2013
Image of Cadair Berwyn cairn II (Cairn(s)) by GLADMAN

Approaching from Bwlch Maen Gwynedd, the position of the higher, southern monument just below the summit crags of Craig Berwyn is hopefully clear.

Now is it me, or does the sheep seem to be saying.... ‘you coming, or what you muppet?’ – 8/10/94

Image credit: Robert Gladstone
GLADMAN
GLADMAN Jan 12, 2013

Articles

Cadair Berwyn cairn II

postman
postman Jun 28, 2009

Hiding from the wind was quite pleasurable in this cairn but it gauls me that someones burial place should be so used, as a wind break.
The cairn is wide spread and would be a good one if it was flattened by a big hand, from above maybe. What would George Noory think ?

Miscellaneous

Cadair Berwyn cairn II
Cairn(s)
GLADMAN
GLADMAN Jan 13, 2013

Coflein quotes the following stats for this dramatically sited round cairn set a little below the precipitous southern summit – at 2,723ft to my mind the ‘true’ summit – of Cadair Berwyn:

‘A round cairn, 24-22m in diameter and 1.5m to the top of a sheep-shelter superimposed upon it. Set on the extreme edge of a precipice that falls away on the E.... [(source Os495card; SJ03SE7) RCAHMW AP955008/66; 965041/44-5 J.Wiles 26.09.02].‘

Note that these details were subsequently confirmed by A.C.K. Roseveare and N.A.R. Vaughan on 29/03/2007. Which is always good to hear. Incidentally CPAT (PRN 101976) cites a possible subsiduary cairn ‘8.0m by 4.0m and 0.3m high’ located ‘About 10m to the NW...‘

Sites within 20km of Cadair Berwyn cairn II

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