This stone stands just across the track to the south of the barrow. There’s nothing on the HER to suggest it’s old, but the edges have been smoothed over time in a way that suggests it’s been exposed for a long time, one way or another.
Seen from the enclosure (probably medieval or later) lying across the track to the west.
The vegetation on the flanks of the barrow looks to have been strimmed.
The barrow from the southeast.
The dug-into top of the barrow. Looking northwest towards Mynydd Bach (Maesycymmer), with the higher ridges above Rhondda, Cynon and Taf beyond in the distance.
The excellent barrow from the northwest.
Heading southeast, the main ridge path starts to climb gently up towards an area of forestry on my left. And rising rather majestically from the forest’s margins is the biggest barrow so far by some distance, Twyn Hugh-Cae (“Hillock of Hugh’s Enclosure/Close”). When Carl visited it was covered in summer vegetation, but today it has been close-cropped, probably by someone with a strimmer. The fence at its foot has been broken and there are worrying signs of bikes tracks cutting into its edges. Nevertheless, this is a big, impressive monument, regular sides sloping up to a flat top. On further investigation, the summit of the mound has been dug deeply into, a wide crater exposing earth and roots but no sign of any central chamber or cist this high up in the barrow. The construction appears to be more earth than stone. Views to the south are truncated, but the barrow has decent views north across Mynydd Bach (Maesycymmer) and beyond.
Across the main track to the west is an area of open ground, which hides the low banks of a square-cornered earthwork. The shape suggests it’s medieval or later, but it’s curious how close it is to the massive barrow and I wonder if it’s related to the site’s name. Immediately south of the barrow is a pointed standing stone. None of the HER records mention it, and it’s far too obvious to have been overlooked so I assume it has been taken to be modern. However, it’s a nice slab of sandstone and all its sharp edges have been worn smooth in a way that suggests it has been exposed for a long time. Hmm.
Visited 24.8.12
Directions:
Travelling east along the A468, as you go down the hill into Machen, take the first turning on the left. You then go under two railway arches and up a VERY steep hill. Keep on this narrow road (hoping that nothing is coming the other way) until you go over a cattle grid and onto Mynydd Y Grug common – park here. You pass Penlan farm on the right shortly before the cattle grid.
First impression I am afraid are not good as there is plenty of rubbish strewn around near the cattle grid. All the usual suspects can be found – take away cartons, cans of alcohol etc.
Why do people make the effort to come to this fairly remote place only to despoil it?
I can probably half answer my question as the views over Cwmfelinfach to the north are splendid. Would someone able to appreciate the location be the same type of person to drop litter?
Don’t let this first impression put you off and follow the track north west to the fine Twyn Cae-Hugh Barrow. The walk from the cattle grid takes about 25 minutes and you pass the two Twyn-Yr-Oerfel Barrows along the way as a bonus.
The Barrow is easy to spot on the right of the path just after you come out of the other side of the trees. It is fenced off but a gate gives easy access. Judging by the amount of scrambler motorbike tyre tracks around it is just as well it is protected by the fence.
The Barrow itself is large and covered in brambles, ferns and foxgloves.
The top of the Barrow has been dug into.
The views are not too good – particularly when compared with the smaller nearby Twyn-Yr-Oerfel Barrows.
Well worth a visit.
COLEIN states:
‘A large round cairn on the edge of a forestry plantation measures 25m in diameter and 2.5m high. A central depression measures 4m across and 1.3m deep. There is now no trace of the surrounding ditch’.
