Banc y Celyn

Nearest town:
Builth Wells (5km NW)
OS reference:
SO05174634
OS sheet:
147
Latitude:
52° 6' 24.39 N
Longitude:
3° 23' 5.3 W
Added to TMA by

Images

Image of Banc y Celyn (Stone Circle) by thesweetcheat

General view east across the circle. The Afon Gwy/Wye is out of sight below.

Image credit: A. Brookes (8.4.2023)
thesweetcheat
thesweetcheat Apr 8, 2024
Image of Banc y Celyn (Stone Circle) by thesweetcheat

Shattered slab in the southern arc, looking towards the top of the hill. The slab isn’t set radially in an alignment with the arc, as might have been expected. There’s also a couple of half-buried flat slabs close by, which may be displaced and fallen circle stones.

Image credit: A. Brookes (8.4.2023)
thesweetcheat
thesweetcheat Apr 8, 2024
Image of Banc y Celyn (Stone Circle) by thesweetcheat

Looking south to the great escarpment of Bannau Brycheiniog/Fforest Fawr/Y Mynydd Ddu. The upright in the foreground has been shattered down to ground level, presumably by millenia of frost and water.

Image credit: A. Brookes (8.4.2023)
thesweetcheat
thesweetcheat Apr 8, 2024
Image of Banc y Celyn (Stone Circle) by thesweetcheat

The best-preserved upright in the circle, looking southeast towards the Black Mountains.

Image credit: A. Brookes (8.4.2023)
thesweetcheat
thesweetcheat Apr 8, 2024
Image of Banc y Celyn (Stone Circle) by thesweetcheat

General view northeast across the circle. The distant mountains in the centre are Radnor Forest, there’s a ton of remote archaeology on the hills in between.

Image credit: A. Brookes (8.4.2023)
thesweetcheat
thesweetcheat Apr 8, 2024
Image of Banc y Celyn (Stone Circle) by thesweetcheat

The peculiar slab-in-bank arrangement to the west of the circle, noted by previous visitors. I came across this on my way to the circle from the summit of the hill.

Image credit: A. Brookes (8.4.2023)
thesweetcheat
thesweetcheat Apr 8, 2024
Image of Banc y Celyn (Stone Circle) by GLADMAN

An intriguing nearby feature also noted by Cerrig...

Image credit: Robert Gladstone
GLADMAN
GLADMAN Sep 12, 2016
Image of Banc y Celyn (Stone Circle) by GLADMAN

A further shattered stone can be seen left foreground; my rucksack indicates the position of another, beyond.

Image credit: Robert Gladstone
GLADMAN
GLADMAN Sep 12, 2016
Image of Banc y Celyn (Stone Circle) by GLADMAN

Rummaging around I found a few more stones more-or-less subsumed within the hillside on a projected arc...

Image credit: Robert Gladstone
GLADMAN
GLADMAN Sep 12, 2016
Image of Banc y Celyn (Stone Circle) by GLADMAN

Another of the three uprights noted by Cerrig can be seen foreground.

Image credit: Robert Gladstone
GLADMAN
GLADMAN Sep 12, 2016
Image of Banc y Celyn (Stone Circle) by GLADMAN

The one sizeable ‘upright’... a rather recumbent upright, it has to be said.

Image credit: Robert Glastone
GLADMAN
GLADMAN Sep 12, 2016
Image of Banc y Celyn (Stone Circle) by GLADMAN

Aside from one reasonably substantial slab, the stones comprising this ring are diminutive... in true Welsh upland style. Consequently the site took some finding, the ‘circle just visible approx mid-way along the mid-ground spur, the latter seeming to pay homage to the elegant sweep of The Black Mountains beyond. It is a haunting, if hostile location for a stone circle.

Image credit: Robert Gladstone
GLADMAN
GLADMAN Sep 12, 2016
Image of Banc y Celyn (Stone Circle) by cerrig

This stone lies outside the circle.It has a surrounding ditch with a low embankment,approx. 12 feet diameter.

Image credit: cerrig
C
cerrig Feb 3, 2010
Image of Banc y Celyn (Stone Circle) by cerrig

This is the largest of the 3 remaining uprights.The others suffering extensive frost damage.

Image credit: cerrig
C
cerrig Feb 3, 2010
Image of Banc y Celyn (Stone Circle) by cerrig

This is looking South East, down a mist filled Wye valley, towards the Black Mountains. The only surviving uprights shown here.
Sunrise on a frosty January morning.

Image credit: cerrig
C
cerrig Feb 3, 2010

Articles

Banc y Celyn

C
cerrig Feb 3, 2010

The circle can be reached by taking the West bound lane off the A470 Builth Wells road,opposite the bridge that goes to Erwood and Painscastle. This lane will take you up to the top of the hill where you take a right turn onto the moors,through a farmyard ,and on for another mile or so,where there are plenty of parking spots as you will be very much alone here. A GPS would be useful as the circle is a small one with few stones left,and not too obvious until you’re right on top of it. The going is very gentle,only a 20 minute walk from the road over grassy moorland.
One of the stones has shattered with the frost,as has most of the others. This has left small pieces of stone scattered around. I held one for a while and it made me sick, only eased by replacing it.The cure was instant. These souvenirs bite,they don’t want a new home.
Great views from here though, the whole of the Brecon Beacons can be seen to the South. So take some photo’s,they’re ok, but anything else will cost you.I’ve never had a headache like it,and i wouldn’t wish it on anyone else. You have been warned.

Sites within 20km of Banc y Celyn

Like all websites everywhere, we use cookies.