At the foot of the escarpment that Garn Fach and Y Foel Chwern perch above is the lovely Llyn Fach. Coincidence? Seems unlikely. Iron Age votive deposits have been found in its larger companion Llyn Fawr. The backdrop is provided by the much be-cairned mountains of Y Mynydd Du and Fforest Fawr.
Detail of the stones comprising the cairn of Y Foel Chwern. Note inexplicable sawn-off post.
Overgrown Y Foel Chwern from the west.
Y Foel Chwern, the most northerly of the four cairns on Craig y Llyn. The mountains of Y Mynydd Du can just be seen peeking through the trees.
One sizable slab on the half-buried mound of Craig-y-Pant cairn.
A battle through the brush gives some limited access to Craig-y-Pant cairn, but the details remain largely hidden.
The heavily overgrown Craig-y-Pant cairn, approached from the SW.
Carn Foesen enjoys extensive views to the south, as far as Werfa (centre). The post in the foreground is the cast iron boundary marker mentioned in the Misc. post.
Carn Foesen has a decent spread of cairn material, suggesting that this was a fairly substantial cairn.
The low mound of Carn Foesen, with Willy Llewellyn memorial in the the foreground (see Misc. post).
Carn Foesen from the west.
Carn Foesen, approaching along forestry tracks from the north.
The wonderful, unobstructed view north from Garn Fach. The cairn stands on the highest hill in South Wales outside of the Brecon Beacons National Park and enjoys views of the ranges of Y Mynydd Du, Fforest Fawr and the Beacons themselves.
General view of Garn Fach, from the east.
Garn Fach, partially disappeared under forestry. The general shape of the cairn can still be seen under its “modern stone pile”.
Visited 8.8.13
Karen was out for the evening with her mother and the children had a sleep-over so I had the evening to myself (a rare event). It was cloudy but warm and dry so I wanted to make the most of my ‘opportunity’.
I decided to head up the Rhigos – that mountain road which is sure to close at the first sign of any wintry weather – although that was something I didn’t need to worry about today. I had my map and boots in the car so straight from work I headed west.
Although the distance from Newport isn’t that great you do have to contend with not only the ‘rush hour’ but also the narrow, twisting roads of the former mining villages you have to drive through. Tonyrefail, Penygraig, Tonypandy, Trelaw, Treorchy and Treherbert – names to conjure with but not greatest of places to drive through.
The road climbs higher and higher but eventually I arrive safe and well at the Craig y Llyn car park – complete with burger van, picnic tables and an information board which includes details of the Lyn Fawr Hoard. I also notice at least 15 crosses to (presumably) local people who again (presumably) have had their ashes scattered upon this view point. I read the inscriptions one by one and felt a little sad. The views from this vantage point are tremendous and you can see why people may want their ashes to be here. This leads me on to the whole point of my visit; to have a look at very much older final resting places of locals.
See, some things never change – what’s a good spot now was a good spot then.
I walked back along the edge of the surprisingly busy road (A4061) and the headed west along the ‘footpath’ towards the forestry plantation. The path skirts the edge of a long drop down towards Llyn Fawr – affording great views of both the lake and the countryside. The trees on the eastern edge of the forestry (as shown on my O/S map) have now been cut down and they only start shortly before I reach my first target of the evening – Garn Fach.
Garn Fach
I searched and searched for this Cairn but to no avail – despite it being right next to the track. ‘Topped by a modern stone pile 1.7m high’ – not even I could fail to spot that, despite the trees. The pile of stones are no longer there and as for the location of the Cairn? – your guess is as good as mine. I simply couldn’t find any trace of it and I know I was in the right place. Perhaps a tree is now growing on top of it?
I continued west along the rough path to reach target number 2 – Y Foel Chwern
This path by the way is called cylchoedd-a-dolenni (loops and links)
Y Foel Chwern
This Cairn was a lot easier to spot; mainly because of the painted sawn-off telegraph pole which now more of a yellow colour. The Cairn is covered in heather and a young fir tree is growing out of the top. There are many large stones sticking out of the surface. There would no doubt be good views if it weren’t for the trees all around.
A little further west brought me to my third target – Craig-Y-Pant
Craig-Y-Pant
This is no more than a low grass covered mound surrounded by trees. If you didn’t know it was there you would walk straight past none the wiser. Little else to report.
Finally it was time to head for my fourth (and final) target – Carn Foesen
Carn Foesen
I walked back to the spot where Garn Fach Cairn is supposed to be and then south along the track. You first pass an ornate metal sign/post (National Cycle Network) and you then soon come to the small cast iron boundary post and the adjacent Cairn.
The Cairn (for a change) was easy to spot and consisted of a low mound of grey stones with the centre hollowed out. What this does do is show the clear outline of where the cist is/was although it is now full of stones and I was unable to identify any edging stones of the cist itself.
I then turned my attention to the memorial to little Willy Llewellyn. I realised I had been here before, several years ago, before Dafydd was born. The memorial was covered in ‘gifts’ – teddies, toys, coins etc. I added a sweet for what it was worth (although it felt right to leave something). I am not a particularly emotional person (ask Karen!) but I was deeply moved when reading the epitaph. I can’t even begin to imagine how a small child of Willy’s age could have got out here? The terror he must have gone through and I didn’t even want to think about how things ended for him. Willy was only 5, the same age as Dafydd, perhaps that’s why it affected me so much. It may sound strange but I couldn’t bear to stay here very long.
I continued south along the track before heading east, back to the car park, via a road used by the forestry lorries. The first time I came here I actually drove up this road to park a lot closer to the Cairn/Memorial – although I doubt I was supposed to! In reality (at this time of day) there would be nothing to stop you driving up the forestry road as it does not have a barrier preventing access and the road is well made.
All in all there isn’t a lot to recommend in visiting these Cairns. It is a fair old walk from the car park, along rough paths, and the Cairns aren’t much to shout about.
I would suggest it would be better to stop at the car park, have a cuppa and a burger, and enjoy the great views out towards the Brecon Beacons and below over Llyn Fawr.
I had intended to also visit the nearby Craig-Y-Bwlch Cairns but once again time got the better of me. One for next time……………….
There are four cairns in a rough quadrilateral near the summit of Craig y Llyn, which at 600m OD is the highest point in South Wales outside of the Brecon Beacons National Park.
The cairns are all currently in or on the edge of forestry, which has caused much structural damage. However, over the next few years the forestry to the south is to be extensively reduced to make way for a wind farm.
Coflein details for the four cairns (north-south):
Y Foel Chwern (SN89840388)
A cairn, c.8.0m in diameter and 0.4m high, that when excavated following forestry related damage, produced no finds. The monument is damaged but has an orange painted, sawn-off telegraph pole protruding from it.
Craig-y-Pant (SN89560367)
A damaged cairn, 13m by 8.5m and 0.9m high, mutilated by a ploughed fire-break to the SW. Traces of kerbing have been reported.
Garn Fach (SN90740327)
A cairn, 10.1m in diameter and 0.6m high, topped by a modern stone pile, 1,7m high.
NB: current OS 1/25000 mapping is misleading, as the cairn is immediately adjacent to the south side of the track, rather than to the north.
Carn Foesen (SN90780288)
A mutilated cairn, 9.1m in diameter and 0.6m high, on the W a cast iron boundary post marks the meeting of three parishes.
Immediately adjacent to this cairn is a modern memorial:
“This plaque marks the spot where the body of Willy Llewellyn, aged 5, was found. He was lost at Aberaman on the afternoon of April 11th 1902. Work ceased at local pits and after a search by the whole community his remains were discovered on April 26th. He is buried at Cefn Cemetery.”
