The bank of the western enclosure, picked out by the snow.
Images
The smaller western enclosure, with Allt Llwyd rising over the trees.
Looking northeast along the bank of the eastern enclosure towards Talybont reservoir and Tor y Foel. The wooded hill on the far left is the location of the Tump Wood Camp sites.
The bank of the eastern enclosure heads off into the trees. Unfortunately the majority of the site is now hidden under densely planted conifer forest that doesn’t invite exploration.
The low bank of the eastern enclosure, with the ground dropping sharply away to the cwm below.
Approaching the eastern enclosure, the bank of which is visible above the tumbled drystone, with the spiky vegetation on it. Waun Rydd rises almost invisible through the hill fog beyond.
The bank of the western enclosure (foreground) with the Black Mountains beyond.
The bank of the western enclosure, looking towards Allt Lwyd.
Looking along the low bank of the eastern enclosure.
Standing on the low bank of the eastern enclosure (left foreground), looking WNW to Waun Rydd/Carn Pica.
The view from the eastern enclosure, looking ENE, towards the Black Mountains (left), Talybont Reservoir and Tor y Foel (right).
View from Allt Lwyd.
Articles
Visited 28 August 2010. A week after the misty trek across the Radnor Forest peaks, a day trip in the eastern Brecon Beacons was a much sunnier and hotter affair.
The walk up here from Talybont-on-Usk proves to be a tiring one, with the sun beating down on the back of my neck as I take the broad and grassy bridleway leading up from the blue waters of the Talybont Reservoir. It’s a steep and steady climb up to the first of the two forts, slightly below the 400m OD mark. It’s worth pausing occasionally to look at the view back across the reservoir, to see the slopes of Tor-y-Foel rising beyond. As height is gained, the Black Mountains appear over to the ENE, from Mynydd Troed at the north to Pen Cerrig-Calch further south. Ahead, the bulk of Waun Rydd fills the head of the Nant Tarthwynni valley.
The eastern fort is the larger and better preserved of the two. Unfortunately, the majority of the site is now covered by the forest to the south, and the thick vegetation of August does not encourage further investigation. In truth, I am very hot and out of breath by the time I get here and grateful for the shade of the tree line. The northern curve of the low rampart is readily visible, but not particularly impressive of itself. But the positioning, with the marvellous views, makes a visit a worthwhile experience.
The western fort is even less impressive, but the additional height (now just above the 400m contour) adds to the views further, particularly up to Waun Rydd.
From here I continue on up the hill, intent on a visit to the three Talybont peaks: Allt Lwyd, Waun Rydd and Bwlch y Ddwyallt. Carn Pica will be a bonus site on the return journey.
There are two denuded Iron Age hillforts perched within woodland upon the eastern flank of Allt Lwyd. According to Coflein:
NANT TARTHWYNI [WEST ENCLOSURE] – SO08941944:
‘The subrectangular hillslope enclosure at Nant Tarthwyni west measures about 63m by 55m. It is defined by vestiges of a bank and ditch, with an entry facing downslope (to the east). A second enclosure lies 60m to the east.‘
NANT TARTHWYNI [EAST ENCLOSURE] – SO09111951:
‘An oval hillslope enclosure, about 75m in diameter, defined by the vestiges of a bank and ditch with an east-facing, downslope entrance, having a roughly concentric bank and ditch about its southern perimeter’.
Perhaps not worth a specific visit for archaeology alone, but the landscape, my friends, the landscape! Combine with a visit to Carn Pica and enjoy some serious mountain views, too.
Sites within 20km of Nant Tarthwynni
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Carn Pica
photo 13 forum 2 description 2 -
Tump Wood Camp
photo 14 description 1 -
Nant-y-Wern
description 1 -
Carreg Wen Fawr Y Rugos
photo 14 description 4 -
Pant Llwyd
photo 14 description 3 -
Garn Caws
photo 14 description 3 -
Gilestone
description 3 -
Garn Fawr (Llangynidr)
photo 16 description 2 -
Fan y Big
photo 11 description 2 link 1 -
Garn Felen
photo 4 description 2 -
Tor Glas
photo 5 description 1 -
Cefn yr Ystrad
photo 24 description 5 -
Allt yr Esgair
photo 18 description 1 -
Lower Neuadd
photo 8 description 4 -
Upper Neuadd cairns
photo 21 description 1 -
Bwlch Standing Stone
photo 9 description 2 -
Twyn Ceiliog
photo 10 description 2 link 1 -
Llangynidr Stone
photo 7 description 2 -
Ty Illtyd
photo 12 description 8 link 1 -
Cribyn
photo 15 description 1 -
Bwlch Cairn
photo 8 description 3 -
Cwalca Cairnfield
photo 7 description 3 -
Llanhamlach
photo 2 description 3 -
Odyn-fach
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Twynau Gwynion
photo 12 link 1 -
Carreg Waun Llech
photo 14 description 3 -
Ffynnon Las I
photo 2 description 1 -
Pen-yr-Heol Las
photo 6 description 1 -
Plas-y-Gaer, Allt Ddu
photo 2 description 1 -
Abercriban
photo 12 description 2 -
Pen y Fan
photo 52 description 9 link 1 -
Cefn Moel
photo 3 description 1 -
Corn Du
photo 34 description 5 -
Twyn Bryn March
description 1 -
Pontsticill ring cairn
photo 9 description 1 -
Blaen-y-Cwm Uchaf
photo 3 description 1 -
Carn-Ddu
photo 16 description 2 link 1 -
Cwm Shelkin
photo 8 description 1 -
The Fish Stone
photo 13 forum 2 description 6 -
The Tretower Stone
photo 10 description 2 -
Coed y Gaer
photo 9 description 2 link 1 -
Slwch Tump
photo 12 description 3 -
Cefn Crew and Cwm Crew
photo 9 description 1 -
Twyn-Llechfaen
photo 1 description 1 -
Cwm Moel
photo 13 description 1 -
Pen Tir
photo 5 description 1 -
Garn Ddu
photo 18 description 1 -
Mynydd Llangorse
photo 8 description 1 -
Llwyn Bedw Settlement, Pen Milan
photo 1 description 1 -
Blaneau-draw
photo 10 description 1 -
Penffawyddog
description 1 -
Coedcae’r Gwarthog Summit cairns
photo 17 description 2 -
Fedw
photo 7 description 1 -
Mynydd Llangatwg
photo 5 forum 1 description 1 -
Mynydd Llangorse promontory fort
photo 20 description 2 -
Coed Pentwyn
description 1 -
Caeau Enclosure, Cockit Hill
photo 3 description 1 -
Cefn Cil-Sanws
photo 16 description 2 -
Twyn Garreg-Wen
photo 11 description 1 -
Llwyncelyn-Fawr
photo 1 description 1 -
Eglwys Faen
photo 6 description 3 -
Morlais Castle Hillfort
photo 4 description 2 -
Mynydd Troed
photo 16 description 4 -
Cilsanws Mountain
photo 16 description 2 -
Mynydd Troed cairn
photo 14 description 2 -
Mynydd Pen-cyrn
photo 10 description 5 -
Pen Gloch-y-pibwr
photo 12 description 1 -
Drostre Bank
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Blaen Glyn
photo 23 description 1 -
Cefn-yr-Henriw recumbent stone
photo 7 description 2 -
Gwernvale
photo 29 forum 1 description 9 link 1 -
Ogof Darren Cilau cave
description 1 -
Garn Goch (Llangatwg)
photo 14 description 5 -
Twr Pen-cyrn Circle
photo 4 description 2 -
Darren (Crickhowell)
photo 6 description 1 -
Twr Pen-cyrn cairns
photo 23 description 5 -
Pen y Crug
photo 26 description 4 -
Pen Allt-Mawr
photo 29 description 1 -
Coed Fenni-fach
photo 1 description 2 -
Craig Cerrig-gleisiad
photo 9 description 1 -
Waun Cryn
description 1 -
Pen Cerrig-Calch
photo 34 description 1 -
Cefn Esgair Carnau
photo 21 description 2 -
Standard Street
photo 7 description 2 -
Ty Isaf
photo 7 forum 1 description 3 link 1 -
Twyn Bryn Glas
photo 7 description 2 -
Twyn-y-Gaer (Mynydd Illtyd)
photo 10 description 2 -
Fan Frynych
photo 31 description 2 -
Pen-yr-Allt
description 1 -
Penyrwrlodd
photo 19 description 3 link 1 -
Fennifach
description 3 -
Hillis Camp, Llanfilo
description 2 -
Mynydd Illtyd
photo 3 description 4 -
Cadair Fawr
photo 12 description 3 link 1 -
Crug Hywel Camp
photo 41 description 3 -
Bedd Gwyl Illtyd
photo 6 description 3 -
Cefn Sychbant
photo 50 description 4 -
Pant Sychbant
photo 7 -
Cadair Fawr (South)
photo 8 description 1 -
Pen Twyn Glas, Black Mountains
photo 6 description 2 -
Llangenny Camp
photo 7 description 2 -
Castell Dinas
photo 33 description 3 -
Nant Mawr, Fforest Fawr
photo 32 description 1 -
Cefn Sychbant
photo 28 description 3 -
Mynydd Llysiau, Black Mountains
photo 3 description 1 -
Battle
photo 6 description 2 -
Mynydd Carn-y-cefn
photo 9 description 2 -
Crug-y-Gaer
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Ffos-y-frân
photo 1 description 1 -
Daudreath Illtyd
photo 4 description 4 -
Pen Trumau, Black Mountains
photo 20 -
Blaen-Hepste hengiform earthwork
photo 1 -
The Growing Stone
photo 18 forum 1 description 7 -
Y Domen Fawr
photo 7 description 2 -
Bwlch Bach a’r Grib
photo 20 description 2 -
Twyn Yr Hyddod
description 1 -
Coed Ynys Faen
photo 7 description 3 -
Talgarth Camp
photo 1 -
Fochriw
photo 10 forum 1 description 3 -
Finger Post
description 1 -
Nant Maden
photo 6 description 2 -
Llangenny
photo 4 description 4 -
Tre Durn Wood
description 1 -
Merthyr Common
photo 10 description 2 -
Fan Llia
photo 34 description 3 -
Nant Melyn
photo 2 -
Maen Llwyd (Twyn Du)
photo 25 description 4 -
Mynydd-y-glog
photo 29 description 2 -
Carn y Bugail
photo 11 description 2 -
Mynydd Aberdare
photo 13 description 3 -
Cefn Man Moel
description 1 -
Gelligaer Common Ring Cairn 2
description 1 -
Mynydd Cilfach-yr-Encil
photo 10 description 1 -
Gelligaer Stone
photo 10 description 5 link 1 -
Tywn-Y-Gaer (near Llaneglwys)
description 1 -
Gelligaer Common Cairns
photo 5 description 1 -
Gelligaer Common Ring Cairn 1
description 2 -
Twyn-y-Gaer (Trallong)
description 2 -
Tyle Bychan
photo 4 description 2 -
Rhyd Uchaf
photo 13 description 3 -
Mynydd Bychan
photo 19 description 3 -
Twyn-y-glog
photo 3 -
Twyn Blaenant
photo 6 description 2 -
Pen y Gadair Fawr
photo 25 description 3 -
Cefn y Brithdir
photo 12 description 1 -
Bedd y Gwr Hir
description 2 -
Maen Llia
photo 99 forum 7 description 22 link 1 -
Carn-Yr-Arian
photo 7 description 6 -
Nant yr Ychen
photo 1 description 2 -
Carreg Maen Taro
photo 9 description 5 -
Mynydd Pen-y-Fal
photo 37 description 3 -
Gwersyll
photo 7 description 1 -
Llech Lia
photo 12 description 1 -
Garn Las (Troed y Rhiw)
photo 8 description 1 -
Cwm Nant
description 1 -
Wern Frank Wood
photo 12 description 1 -
Y Das
photo 12 description 3 -
Fan Nedd (north east)
photo 11 description 2 -
Graig y Gilfach
photo 1 description 1 -
Disgwylfa
photo 8 description 2 -
Carn Castellymeibion
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Ffostyll
photo 33 forum 1 description 4 -
Carnau Gwynion
photo 5 forum 1 description 1 link 1 -
Maen Madoc
photo 14 description 7 -
Fan Nedd (Northern summit)
photo 34 description 2 -
Ysgubor-Wen
photo 7 forum 1 description 1 link 1 -
Y Gaer (Defynnog)
photo 1 description 1 -
Plas-y-gors
photo 5 link 1 -
Gelli-Nedd
photo 10 description 2 link 1 -
Bryn y Groes
photo 1 description 1 -
Defynnog Church
description 1 -
Ffynnon Ishow
photo 1 description 2 -
Pen-rhiw-wen
photo 9 description 2 -
Pen y Waun Dwr Stone
photo 5 description 1 -
Pipton
photo 6 description 3 -
Blaen-Nedd Isaf
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Pen y Waun Dwr
photo 4 -
Carn Blorenge
photo 33 description 3 -
Maen Richard
description 1 -
Mynydd y Capel stone
photo 4 description 1 -
Nant Bwch
photo 2 forum 1 description 1 -
Spread Eagle
photo 1 description 1 -
Mynydd y Capel cairns
photo 10 description 1 -
Garn Wen (Crucorney)
photo 27 description 2 -
Cwm Bwchel, Black Mountains
photo 22 description 3