Cnwch Mawr (Llanddewi Brefi) (Round Cairn) — The Modern Antiquarian

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Images

Image of Cnwch Mawr (Llanddewi Brefi) (Round Cairn) by GLADMAN

If you didn’t know it was here.........

Image credit: Robert Gladstone

GLADMAN Dec 4, 2023

Image of Cnwch Mawr (Llanddewi Brefi) (Round Cairn) by GLADMAN

Looking across to Bryn Rhudd and Banc-y-Gwyngoed...

Image credit: Robert Gladstone

GLADMAN Dec 4, 2023

Image of Cnwch Mawr (Llanddewi Brefi) (Round Cairn) by GLADMAN

Image credit: Robert Gladstone

GLADMAN Dec 4, 2023

Image of Cnwch Mawr (Llanddewi Brefi) (Round Cairn) by GLADMAN

Towards Llanddewi Brefi. It’s well worth taking a trundle over to the right for some pretty decent views down into the cwm. Just saying...

Image credit: Robert Gladstone

GLADMAN Dec 4, 2023

Image of Cnwch Mawr (Llanddewi Brefi) (Round Cairn) by GLADMAN

Image credit: Robert Gladstone

GLADMAN Dec 4, 2023

Image of Cnwch Mawr (Llanddewi Brefi) (Round Cairn) by GLADMAN

Image credit: Robert Gladstone

GLADMAN Dec 4, 2023

Image of Cnwch Mawr (Llanddewi Brefi) (Round Cairn) by GLADMAN

Looking east(ish) towards upper Cwm Brefi.. Blaendoethie and the wondrous Bryn y Gorlan stone circle are that-a-way.

Image credit: Robert Gladstone

GLADMAN Dec 4, 2023

Image of Cnwch Mawr (Llanddewi Brefi) (Round Cairn) by GLADMAN

The great Cnwch Mawr...

Image credit: Robert Gladstone

GLADMAN Dec 4, 2023

Articles

One for the connoisseurs…

GLADMAN Nov 4, 2023

Cnwch Mawr (Llanddewi Brefi)

Round Cairn

GLADMAN Nov 4, 2023

This is an obscure, yet wondrous Bronze Age cairn – some 52ft across – located upon Cnwch Mawr, not far from Llanddewi Brefi in deepest Ceredigion. Unlike many other ancient sites in the locale, this is not annotated upon current OS mapping, meaning a perfect vibe was more-or-less guaranteed.

The monument is substantial and, although I made the usual ‘pig’s ear’ of the approach, access is not too taxing from the southwest via Waun Maenllwyd... suffice to say (in retrospect), ensure you don’t take the direct route across the felled forestry wasteland upon reaching the fence line, but rather circle around to the left. Much easier!!

OK, sure, the weather closed in later on giving me a veritable kicking – and then some. However, hill fog was mercifully absent, ensuring sublime views into Cwm Brefi rewarded a subsequent walkabout. Note that the standing stone ‘Carreg Samson’ is nearby should that also interest... plus, of course, the great cairns upon Crug, Garn, Carn Fawr, Pen y Corn, Craig Twrch etc, etc, etc. Wondrous area, this.

Coflein reckons:

“This is a large Bronze Age summit cairn, which has been shown on Ordnance Survey maps since the Original Surveyors drawing were made in the early 19th century. It has suffered some disturbance over the centuries, but still survives as a substantial stone cairn, 16 metres in diameter and up to 1.25 metres high. A small shelter has been built on its eastern side” [R.P.Sambrook, Trysor, 26 March 2013]

Sites within 20km of Cnwch Mawr (Llanddewi Brefi)

Carreg Samson

Standing Stone / Menhir • 0.88km W

1
Garn, Banciau Duon

Round Cairn • 1.09km ESE

9

1
Crug

Round Cairn • 1.63km WSW

10

1

1
Bryn Rhudd

Cairn(s) • 1.68km NNE

1
Graig-wen (Llanddewi Brefi)

Cairn(s) • 2.27km SSE

4

1

1
Banc-y-Gwyngoed

Round Cairn • 2.33km NNW

8

1

1
Bryn Rhudd

Barrow / Cairn Cemetery • 2.42km NNE

20

1

1
Pen y Corn

Cairn(s) • 2.44km SE

8

1

1
Garn Felen (Llanddewi Brefi)

Cairn(s) • 3.68km NNE
Carn Fawr (Cynwyl Gaeo)

Round Cairn • 3.73km SSW

10

1

1
Bryn Mawr

Cairn(s) • 4.2km SSW

7

1
Garn Fawr (Tregaron)

Cairn(s) • 4.22km NE

8

1

1
Craig Twrch (Cynwyl Gaeo)

Barrow / Cairn Cemetery • 4.84km SSW

8

1

1
Bryn Gwyddel

Round Barrow(s) • 5.01km E

6

1

1
Banc Ty-hen

Cist • 5.09km SSW

8

1
Pen y Garfan

Round Barrow(s) • 5.21km E

7

1

1
Crug Siarls

Stone Circle • 5.62km SE

8

1

1
Carn Penrhiwllwydog

Cairn(s) • 5.68km E

8
Castell Tregaron. Sunnyhill wood camp

Hillfort • 6.48km N

11

2
Esgair Fraith (Cynwyl Gaeo)

Cairn(s) • 6.49km SSW

9

1

1
Bryn y Gorlan

Stone Circle • 6.62km ENE

17

1

1
Carn Wen (Cynwyl Gaeo)

Round Cairn • 6.69km SSE

9

1

1
Pen Banc

Cairn(s) • 6.82km SW
Cefn Gwernffrwd

Cairn(s) • 6.89km ESE

1

1
Cefn Gwenffrwd

Round Barrow(s) • 6.89km ESE

4

1
Cefn Gwernffrwd Complex

Stone Circle • 6.89km ESE

11

2
Cefn Gwernffrwd

Stone Row / Alignment • 6.89km ESE

3

2
Carreg y Bwci

Round Barrow(s) • 6.92km SSW

15

1

1

7
Groes Fawr

Cist • 7.52km NE

5

1
Castell Rhyfel

Hillfort • 7.81km NE

12

1
Ffynnon-Wen (Llangybi)

Sacred Well • 7.87km WSW

1
Moelau

Round Cairn • 8.06km NE

6

1

1
Cnwch Eithinog

Standing Stone / Menhir • 8.24km E

8

1
Blaen Nant-y-rhiw Standing Stone

Standing Stone / Menhir • 8.36km E

3

1
Blaen Nant-y-rhiw

Round Cairn • 8.36km E

5

1

1
Cnwch Eithinog

Cairn(s) • 8.37km E

10
Bryn Cosyn

Cairn(s) • 8.39km NE

3

1
Caer Maurice

Hillfort • 8.39km SW

10

1

1
Y Garn (Garn Gron)

Round Cairn • 8.47km NE

10

1
Esgair Perfedd

Round Cairn • 8.47km NE

5

1

1
Nant-y-Ffrwd

Standing Stone / Menhir • 8.49km ENE

2

2
Blaen Camddwr

Round Cairn • 8.52km NE

4

1
Carn Saith-Wraig

Cairn(s) • 8.83km E

20

1

1

2
Bryn Goleu

Round Cairn • 8.89km SW

4

2
Crugiau Merched

Cairn(s) • 9.04km SE

20

2
Nant-y-Maen

Standing Stone / Menhir • 9.05km ENE

5

2
Garn Gron

Barrow / Cairn Cemetery • 9.22km NE

15

2
Hirfaen Gwyddog

Standing Stone / Menhir • 9.42km SW

11

1

4
Cefn Cerrig

Cairn(s) • 9.5km ENE

14
Pen-y-Gurnos

Round Barrow(s) • 9.58km E

8

2
Cefn Gwenffrwd

Standing Stone / Menhir • 9.63km ESE

2

1
Maen Bach

Standing Stone / Menhir • 9.84km SE

3

1
Castell Flemish

Hillfort • 9.93km NW

10

3
Poppy Stone

Standing Stone / Menhir • 10.06km ESE

2

1

1
Bryngwyn Bach

Barrow / Cairn Cemetery • 10.13km NNE

19

1
Maen Hir

Standing Stone / Menhir • 10.35km SE

2

1
Carn Fflur

Barrow / Cairn Cemetery • 10.65km NE

23

1
Banc Maes-yr-haidd

Cairn(s) • 10.88km SSE

8

1

1
Bryn-y-Crofftau

Ring Cairn • 11.34km NNE

10

1

1
Gelli

Burial Chamber • 11.75km ESE

7

1
Ty Newydd Stone Row

Stone Row / Alignment • 11.91km ESE

3

1
Ty Newydd

Standing Stone / Menhir • 11.99km ESE

3

1
Esgair Gerwyn

Cairn(s) • 12.39km ENE

2

1

1
Carn Blaen Glasffrwd

Barrow / Cairn Cemetery • 12.75km NE

16
Fan (Nantcwnlle)

Round Cairn • 12.87km W

7

1

1

1
Penmaen-Gwyn

Standing Stone / Menhir • 13.26km NNE

3

2
Carreg Pumsaint

Standing Stone / Menhir • 13.44km S

1

4
Dolaucothi Gold Mines

Ancient Mine / Quarry • 13.54km S

2

2
Pen-y-Bwlch (West)

Round Cairn • 13.62km NE

12

1
Cerrig Cewri

Round Cairn • 13.75km E

8

1
Pen-y-Bwlch (Ystrad Fflur)

Cairn(s) • 13.89km NE

6

1

1
Carn Twrch

Round Cairn • 14.03km E

6

1
Carn Wen (Llanfair-ar-y-bryn)

Cairn(s) • 14.19km ESE

1

1
Pen-y-Bannau

Hillfort • 14.39km NNE

24

1
Bryn-Poeth-Uchaf North

Ring Cairn • 14.84km ESE

15

2
Tan-yr-Esgair, Mynydd Bach (South)

Barrow / Cairn Cemetery • 14.99km NW

5

1

1
Craig Ysradmeurig

Round Barrow(s) • 15.09km N

7

1
Ffynnon Drewi (Mynydd Bach)

Round Cairn • 15.13km NW

1

1
Esgair Garn, Llanddewi Abergwesyn

Round Cairn • 15.15km E

8

1
Cerrig Cynant

Stone Circle • 15.2km ESE

20

1

3
Nant Gwyn (Llanfair-ar-y-Bryn)

Round Cairn • 15.25km ESE

6

1

1
Bryn Poeth Uchaf South

Ring Cairn • 15.26km ESE

18

1

2
Carreg Garn Fawr

Standing Stone / Menhir • 15.26km ESE

16

1

1
Pen-y-Ffrwyd Llwyd Camp

Hillfort • 15.27km N

13

1
Garn Wen, Mynydd Bach (North)

Cairn(s) • 15.36km NW

11

1

1
Trichrug

Sacred Hill • 15.38km W

7

1

3
Drum Nant y Gorlan

Standing Stone / Menhir • 16.11km ENE

1
Esgair Irfon

Cist • 16.23km ENE

10

1
Carreg Wen Fawr (Llanwrthwl)

Standing Stones • 16.24km NE

1
Berrisbrook

Standing Stones • 16.41km SSE

2

1
Banc Blaenegnant

Round Cairn • 16.44km NE

2

1
Banc-y-Geufron

Kerbed Cairn • 16.92km N

6

2
Bwlch Graig-Fawr, Teifi Pools

Cist • 16.94km NNE

10

1
Llethr Brith

Round Cairn • 17.59km NNE

9

1
Carreg Samson (Llethr)

Standing Stone / Menhir • 17.62km NNE

3
Nant Cwm Dwfn

Standing Stone / Menhir • 17.83km E

1

1
Llech Bron

Standing Stone / Menhir • 17.87km WNW

2

3
Drygarn Fawr

Cairn(s) • 18.44km ENE

20

2
Gaer Fawr, Trawsgoed

Hillfort • 18.49km NNW

10

1
Mynydd Pen-y-Fal (Sugar Loaf)

Hillfort • 18.59km ESE

10

1

1
Pen-Y-Ddinas

Hillfort • 18.77km SSW

1

1
Pen-y-gaer

Hillfort • 18.96km SW

7

1
Crug-y-Bwdran

Round Cairn • 18.99km SW

5

1

1
Castle Grogwynion

Hillfort • 19.12km N

10

2
Banc Paderau

Round Cairn • 19.17km E

6

1

1
Trawsallt

Cairn(s) • 19.17km NNE

10

1

1
Llan Ddu Fawr

Round Cairn • 19.28km NNE

10

1

1
Garn Dwad

Cairn(s) • 19.51km E

12

1

1
Cefn Pal Hillfort, Cynghordy

Hillfort • 19.61km ESE

8

1

1
Pen Maen Wern

Standing Stone / Menhir • 19.78km ENE

9

2
Carn-y-Rhyrddod

Round Cairn • 19.81km NNE

10

1
Castell Disgwylfa

Hillfort • 19.95km NNW

9
Castell Moeddyn

Hillfort • 19.98km WSW

1