Images (13)
Miscellaneous (1)

Images

Image of Banc Ystrad-Wen (Barrow / Cairn Cemetery) by GLADMAN

Eastern cairn, with an undetermined (two?) number of smaller central cairns beyond.

Image credit: Robert Gladstone

GLADMAN Sep 13, 2016

Eastern cairn... as opposed to a walkers’ shelter, I reckon this parasitical rearrangement is probably for the benefit of sheep. Then again, arguably same difference.

Image credit: Robert Gladstone

GLADMAN Sep 13, 2016

Unlike the well preserved western cairn, the eastern has been fair knocked about a bit; nevertheless still substantial.

Image credit: Robert Gladstone

GLADMAN Sep 13, 2016

One of what I took to be the two additional smaller cairns. The much more substantial eastern cairn can be seen in the background.

Image credit: Robert Gladstone

GLADMAN Sep 13, 2016

Image credit: Robert Gladstone

GLADMAN Sep 13, 2016

One of the much smaller central cairns... with appropriate intervention by the inclemental Welsh climate.

Image credit: Robert Gladstone

GLADMAN Sep 13, 2016

Image credit: Robert Gladstone

GLADMAN Sep 13, 2016

Looking approx south-west toward Drum Ddu and the Carn-y-Geifr

Image credit: Robert Gladstone

GLADMAN Sep 13, 2016

Western cairn. Well defined peripheral grassy footprint, too.

Image credit: Robert Gladstone

GLADMAN Sep 13, 2016

Looking east across the western cairn toward the summit of Trembyd.

Image credit: Robert Gladstone

GLADMAN Sep 13, 2016

Western cairn... Y Gamriw rises unseen across the cwm.

Image credit: Robert Gladstone

GLADMAN Sep 13, 2016

The western cairn is a very substantial monument... much more so than I had supposed.

Image credit: Robert Gladstone

GLADMAN Sep 13, 2016

The western-most cairn viewed across natural outcropping. Y Gamriw is subsumed within the cloud base, top right, with the Carnau Cefn-y-Fford cemetery upon the cwm headwall, centre background.

Image credit: Robert Gladstone

GLADMAN Sep 13, 2016

Articles

Banc Ystrad-Wen

Barrow / Cairn Cemetery

GLADMAN Jan 20, 2018

There are four cairns collectively forming a cemetery upon Banc Ystrad-Wen, the finest of which (in my opinion) is the western-most at SN97956147. According to Coflein it represents the remains of a “Cairn, 13.1m in diameter and 0.75m high, at which a kerbing of boulders about the W and SW sides have been observed.” J.Wiles 23.04.02. So, although not that upstanding in profile, this is nevertheless a significant stone pile mirroring similar monuments upon the north-eastern ridge of Y Gamriw across the cwm.

The next in stature, located at SN98236156, has been vandalised by an internal ‘shelter’ which (as with Carn-y-Geifr crowning Drum Ddu to the approx north-west) I reckon may be for sheep.. at least those of Ovis aries, as opposed to the human variety. Again, J Wiles reckons it is a “Mutilated cairn, 10.4m in diameter and 0.6m high, having had a shelter constructed in, and of it, to the NW of centre.”

The remaining two monuments of the group are much smaller, located at SN98136150 “4.9m in diameter and 0.3m high” and SN98156153 “A partly scattered cairn, 4.3m in diameter and 0.45m high”.

Although – needless to say – I didn’t heed my own advice (approaching, via Carn Wen, having made a ludicrously tiring, vertical ascent of Trembyd from the north) I would suggest the best way to reach these cairns is via the Rhiw Llanwrthl, accessed at the terminus of the minor road heading south from the village following the Wye.