Pen Cerrig-Calch

Nearest town:
Crickhowell (3km SSE)
OS reference:
SO217224
OS sheet:
161
Latitude:
51° 53' 38.93 N
Longitude:
3° 8' 16.82 W
Added to TMA by

Images

Image of Pen Cerrig-Calch (Cairn(s)) by GLADMAN

Looking from the eastern flank of Pen allt-mawr] to a pleasing linear skyline of South Walian sites... Pen Cerrig-Calch, The Sugar Loaf and Ysgyryd Fawr

Image credit: Robert Gladstone
GLADMAN
GLADMAN Apr 28, 2015
Image of Pen Cerrig-Calch (Cairn(s)) by GLADMAN

Southern cairn looking toward the snow clad summits of The Brecon Beacons

Image credit: Robert Gladstone
GLADMAN
GLADMAN Apr 23, 2015
Image of Pen Cerrig-Calch (Cairn(s)) by GLADMAN

It can be difficult to appreciate the size of some upland cairns owing to the unimaginable vastness of the sky relegating everything else to relative irrelevance in comparison. Hence the sheer scale of the southern cairn is revealing.

Image credit: Robert Gladstone
GLADMAN
GLADMAN Apr 23, 2015
Image of Pen Cerrig-Calch (Cairn(s)) by GLADMAN

Towards the snow-capped Brecon Beacons from from the summit cairn.

Image credit: Robert Gladstone
GLADMAN
GLADMAN Apr 23, 2015
Image of Pen Cerrig-Calch (Cairn(s)) by thesweetcheat

Pen Cerrig-calch brilliantly illuminated, seen from Mynydd Pen-y-Fal.

Image credit: A. Brookes (31.1.2015)
thesweetcheat
thesweetcheat Feb 27, 2015
Image of Pen Cerrig-Calch (Cairn(s)) by thesweetcheat

The NW cairn, looking towards the highest ridge of the Black Mountains, Waun Fach and (also be-cairned) Pen y Gadair Fawr.

Image credit: A. Brookes (15.5.2014)
thesweetcheat
thesweetcheat Jul 9, 2014
Image of Pen Cerrig-Calch (Cairn(s)) by thesweetcheat

Looking across the top of the SE cairn towards Pen-y-Fan and Corn Du.

Image credit: A. Brookes (15.5.2014)
thesweetcheat
thesweetcheat Jul 9, 2014
Image of Pen Cerrig-Calch (Cairn(s)) by thesweetcheat

Despite the sunny day in all directions, the top of Pen Cerrig-calch seemed to have attracted a stubborn cover of cloud. Looking across the Usk valley.

Image credit: A. Brookes (15.5.2014)
thesweetcheat
thesweetcheat Jul 9, 2014
Image of Pen Cerrig-Calch (Cairn(s)) by thesweetcheat

The impressive SE summit cairn, merging into – or out from – the band of scree below.

Image credit: A. Brookes (15.5.2014)
thesweetcheat
thesweetcheat Jul 9, 2014
Image of Pen Cerrig-Calch (Cairn(s)) by thesweetcheat

Pen Cerrig-calch rises in the centre, above the Grwyne Fechan valley. Hillforted Crug Hywel (Table Mountain) is the spur on the left, be-cairned Pen Allt-mawr the dark mass on the right. The viewpoint is Blaen-yr-henbant to the east.

Image credit: A. Brookes (8.3.2014)
thesweetcheat
thesweetcheat May 5, 2014
Image of Pen Cerrig-Calch (Cairn(s)) by GLADMAN

Some nice light upon the summit monument... Pen y Gadair Fawr possesses a large cairn of its own, Pen Twyn Glas is the approx site of several prehistoric artefact finds. Notice – sadly – how trashed the interior of this cairn is.

Image credit: Robert Gladstone
GLADMAN
GLADMAN Feb 5, 2012
Image of Pen Cerrig-Calch (Cairn(s)) by GLADMAN

The great southern cairn, to these eyes a counterpart to the similarly placed example upon Pen Allt-mawr.

Image credit: Robert Gladstone
GLADMAN
GLADMAN Feb 3, 2012
Image of Pen Cerrig-Calch (Cairn(s)) by GLADMAN

The deceptively substantial southern cairn...

Image credit: Robert Gladstone
GLADMAN
GLADMAN Feb 3, 2012
Image of Pen Cerrig-Calch (Cairn(s)) by GLADMAN

Abergavenny lies in the ‘gateway’ between Mynydd Pen-y-Fal (left) and Blorenge.... both peaks also feature Bronze Age cairns. The viewpoint is across the southern cairn.

Image credit: Robert Gladstone
GLADMAN
GLADMAN Feb 3, 2012
Image of Pen Cerrig-Calch (Cairn(s)) by GLADMAN

Like its neighbour upon Pen Allt-mawr, the southern cairn utilises the slope of the mountain to great effect. Substantial.

Image credit: Robert Gladstone
GLADMAN
GLADMAN Feb 3, 2012
Image of Pen Cerrig-Calch (Cairn(s)) by GLADMAN

The southern cairn is, in my opinion, far superior to the summit monument, and, being off the main ridge track, a much better hang. However I must admit I’m not convinced by the OS placement upon the 1:25K map... but perhaps that’s just me.

Image credit: Robert Gladstone
GLADMAN
GLADMAN Feb 3, 2012
Image of Pen Cerrig-Calch (Cairn(s)) by GLADMAN

Summit cairn bathed in beautiful evening light.

Image credit: Robert Gladstone
GLADMAN
GLADMAN Feb 3, 2012
Image of Pen Cerrig-Calch (Cairn(s)) by GLADMAN

The summit cairn, approaching from the summit OS trig pillar...

Image credit: Robert Gladstone
GLADMAN
GLADMAN Feb 3, 2012
Image of Pen Cerrig-Calch (Cairn(s)) by GLADMAN

Looking from Pen Allt-mawr’s massive southern cairn....... the suggestion of ‘linear procession’ along these upland ridges is almost overpowering.

Image credit: Robert Gladstone
GLADMAN
GLADMAN Sep 29, 2011
Image of Pen Cerrig-Calch (Cairn(s)) by thesweetcheat

Pen Cerrig-calch seen from Pen-y-Fal. Pen y Fan and the central peaks of Bannau Brycheiniog (Brecon Beacons) can be seen to the left, Pen Allt-mawr directly behind Pen Cerrig-calch to the right. In the middle distance, the ridge of Mynydd Pen-y-Fal stretches away westwards. Every one has its share of Bronze Age cairns.

Image credit: A. Brookes (3.1.2011)
thesweetcheat
thesweetcheat Jan 4, 2011
Image of Pen Cerrig-Calch (Cairn(s)) by thesweetcheat

Pen Cerrig-calch dominates the town of Crickhowell. Crug Hwyel hillfort is on the right. Seen from Alisby’s Castle across the roofs of the town.

Image credit: A. Brookes (24.12.10)
thesweetcheat
thesweetcheat Dec 28, 2010
Image of Pen Cerrig-Calch (Cairn(s)) by thesweetcheat

Pen Cerrig-calch, seen from Crug Hywel, the rampart in the foreground.

Image credit: A. Brookes (24.12.2010)
thesweetcheat
thesweetcheat Dec 28, 2010
Image of Pen Cerrig-Calch (Cairn(s)) by GLADMAN

Looking towards the ‘Sugar Loaf’ from a well built cairn of indeterminate age. Ysgyryd Fawr is visible, skyline left

Image credit: Robert Gladstone
GLADMAN
GLADMAN Apr 18, 2010
Image of Pen Cerrig-Calch (Cairn(s)) by thesweetcheat

Pen Cerrig-calch (on the right) seen from Pen Allt-mawr. The NW cairn is the blob on the top of Pen Cerrig-calch.

Image credit: A. Brookes (27.3.2010)
thesweetcheat
thesweetcheat Apr 11, 2010
Image of Pen Cerrig-Calch (Cairn(s)) by thesweetcheat

The NW cairn, with Waun Fach and Pen y Gadair Fawr, the highest points of the Black Mountains, on the skyline to the left.

Image credit: A. Brookes (27.3.2010)
thesweetcheat
thesweetcheat Apr 11, 2010
Image of Pen Cerrig-Calch (Cairn(s)) by thesweetcheat

The NW cairn, with the dark bulk of Pen Allt-mawr behind it.

Image credit: A. Brookes (27.3.2010)
thesweetcheat
thesweetcheat Apr 11, 2010

Articles

Pen Cerrig-Calch

thesweetcheat
thesweetcheat Apr 11, 2010

Visited 27.3.2010 after a trip to the excellent Crug Hywel camp. Getting up here from the fort is a long climb up to a height of 701 metres. It’s a well worn path, but pretty boggy in places – the peat doesn’t drain very well. There are also numerous springs and a couple of small streams to pass, so in wet weather this is probably very wet indeed. Turning around, there is a great view of the flat top of the fort, now dropping away below.

My visit coincided with that of a group of lunatics running up here as part of a three peaks challenge, so the summit itself was also home to a couple of tents and some friendly marshalls. There are two large summit cairns, both have been robbed but both are still impressive, and the northern one is a visible landmark from the neighbouring Pen Allt-mawr, as well as from Mynydd Llangorse to the north-west.

Not somewhere to come in poor visibility, this is an area of open moorland so make sure you’re properly dressed for changeable weather. That said, on a nice day the views are tremendous and the walk further north to Pen Allt-mawr is an easy one, over a flat, grassy plateau.

Sites within 20km of Pen Cerrig-Calch

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