Images

Image of Nant Gwyn (Llanfair-ar-y-Bryn) (Round Cairn) by GLADMAN

Garn Fawr rises beyond the little Carreg Garn Fawr... with Y Mynydd Du above all...

Image credit: Robert Gladstone
Image of Nant Gwyn (Llanfair-ar-y-Bryn) (Round Cairn) by GLADMAN

Looking south towards the Great Old Red Sandstone Escarpment of South Wales.. Pen-y-Fan and Corn Du are far top left, leading the eye across Fforest Fawr to Y Mynydd Du... upland cairns literally as far as the eye can see.

Image credit: Robert Gladstone
Image of Nant Gwyn (Llanfair-ar-y-Bryn) (Round Cairn) by GLADMAN

Looking across the plundered centre of the cairn to the distant Bryn-poeth Uchaf ring cairns and stone circle of Cerrig Cynnant. Note the associated little quartzite standing stone Carreg Garn Fawr centre left of image. Crowning the horizon will be the wondrous Cerrig Cewri and Carn Twrch.

Image credit: Robert Gladstone
Image of Nant Gwyn (Llanfair-ar-y-Bryn) (Round Cairn) by GLADMAN

Looking approx north-west towards the hills surrounding Llyn Brianne

Image credit: Robert Gladstone
Image of Nant Gwyn (Llanfair-ar-y-Bryn) (Round Cairn) by GLADMAN

While scheduled by CADW as Nant Gwyn, one can see why this great cairn is also referred to as Garn Fawr. Well, tell it like it is, right?

Image credit: Robert Gladstone

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Miscellaneous

Nant Gwyn (Llanfair-ar-y-Bryn)
Round Cairn

CADW scheduling (CM343) reckons:

“The monument comprises the remains of a burial cairn and an associated standing stone, both probably dating to the Bronze Age (c.2300 BC – 800 BC) and situated on the S-facing leading edge of a local summit on the SW-facing slopes of Mynydd Trawsnant. The grass-covered cairn, which probably utilises an outcropping bedrock knoll, is circular on plan and measures about 16m in diameter and up to 1.6m in height. An impressive quartz standing stone is situated about 45m to the NNW. It is a large block of stone, measuring 0.9m in height by 0.6m in width and 0.6m in thickness. Packing stones are clearly visible around its base.”

The salient feature for me – as always – however, is the magnificent vista towards the South Walian mountains, more than liberally crowned with Bronze Age cairns of their own. Oh and the wondrous vibe. This, truly, is a spot to just sit and watch for a few hours.... it would be a crime to rush, hence I deferred from a quick visit the previous late afternoon, kipped overnight above Llyn Brianne.. and spent the entire morning before a massive storm front none too subtly suggested I, ahem, move on.

Note the nearby quartzite stone which would appear to be associated with the great cairn. As CADW note, the obvious packing stones strongly suggest authenticity.

Sites within 20km of Nant Gwyn (Llanfair-ar-y-Bryn)