Twyn Yr Oerfel

Nearest town:
Caerphilly (5km SSW)
OS reference:
ST18119069
OS sheet:
171
Latitude:
51° 36' 30.81 N
Longitude:
3° 10' 57.72 W
Added to TMA by

Images

Image of Twyn Yr Oerfel (Round Barrow(s)) by thesweetcheat

Looking WNW from the eastern cairn. The western cairn is visible over the top of the monument, centre. The hill is Mynydd y Grug, artificially heightened by mining spoil.

Image credit: A. Brookes (30.1.2022)
thesweetcheat
thesweetcheat Jan 15, 2023
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Articles

Twyn Yr Oerfel

thesweetcheat
thesweetcheat Jan 15, 2023
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When Carl visited Twyn yr Oerfel (which appears to translate as “Hillock of Chill” or “Cold Hillock”) he expressed concerns about the barrows being damaged by motorbikes. From my elevated vantage on Mynydd y Grug I can see that the nearer western monument has now been encircled by a double ring of stone blocks, presumably to discourage vehicles from encroaching.

After making my somewhat slip-sliding descent from the spoil, reaching the western cairn reveals an excellent monument. Although there are ruts from wheels cutting its side, they appear to be mostly old and are being slowly grassed over. The mound stands to a good height and doesn’t have the usual signs of antiquarian digging in its top. Best of all though is the view. Perched right on the edge of steep slopes of Cwm Sirhwyi, the cairn enjoys a brilliant vista to the north and east. It’s a shame it’s been badly treated, but don’t let that put you off, it’s a cracking site.

The eastern cairn is similarly poised above the drop. As I approach a number of motorbikes zip along the ridge path towards me, thankfully ignoring the mound which stands next to the track. Like the cairn I visited on Y Domen Fawr last weekend, this one has had the ignominy of a wooden bench being inserted into its top. Fair enough, the view is superb, but surely the Powers That Be didn’t need to actually stick the bench right on top of the cairn? The feeling persists that there is a lack of care or concern about the preservation of the heritage these monuments represent.

Whatever, this is a great pair of monuments; in terms of placement these are the best-situated cairns on this ridge. I stop here for a while and have a late lunch (yes, I am sitting on the bench).

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Twyn Yr Oerfel

C
CARL Aug 28, 2012
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Directions:
See directions for Twyn Cae-Hugh Barrow.
These two Barrows are a lot closer to the cattle grid and only require a short walk.

Twyn-Yr-Oerfel (A)
This is the first of the two Barrows you come to.
This is a great spot for a Barrow and the views are excellent.
The Barrow is grass covered with a small amount of gorse and ferns.
Several stones stick out of the grass within the central depression.

COFLEIN states:
’11m in diameter and 1.5m high. At the centre is an excavation hollow 3m across and 0.5m deep’.

Twyn-Yr-Oerfel (B)
A little further along the track from Barrow (A)
This Barrow is in a sorry state.
There are clear tyre tracks right over the Barrow and a great deal of damage is being caused.
Already a large depression has been made and many of the stones constructing the Barrow have been revealed and dislodged.
This area is clearly used by ‘off road’ bikes etc and I am afraid to say this Barrow is bearing the brunt if it.
I will be looking to see who I can report this destruction to and hopefully prevent further damage? It is sad that a prehistoric monument is being treated this way.

COFLEIN states:
‘Constructed on a small rocky outcrop, cairn 16m in diameter and 2m high. Central disturbance indicates its slab construction’.

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