Castell y Garn (Ring Cairn) — The Modern Antiquarian

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Miscellaneous (1)

Images

Image of Castell y Garn (Ring Cairn) by GLADMAN

Ironically enough, this is the only section of the monument shown upon the map. At least my map...

Image credit: Robert Gladstone

GLADMAN Nov 6, 2024

Image of Castell y Garn (Ring Cairn) by GLADMAN

Image credit: Robert Gladstone

GLADMAN Nov 6, 2024

Image of Castell y Garn (Ring Cairn) by GLADMAN

Don’t fence me in! There is a field gate some distance to the southwest (behind me taking this picture) allowing access. I felt pretty sure the landowner would not object.

Image credit: Robert Gladstone

GLADMAN Nov 6, 2024

Image of Castell y Garn (Ring Cairn) by GLADMAN

Image credit: Robert Gladstone

GLADMAN Nov 6, 2024

Image of Castell y Garn (Ring Cairn) by GLADMAN

The circular bank can be seen curving away to the left...

Image credit: Robert Gladstone

GLADMAN Nov 6, 2024

Image of Castell y Garn (Ring Cairn) by GLADMAN

Looking approx southwest(ish). Clearly, this was a pretty substantial monument back in the day.

Image credit: Robert Gladstone

GLADMAN Nov 6, 2024

Image of Castell y Garn (Ring Cairn) by GLADMAN

Looking approx west along a quite substantial arc of the surviving ring cairn.

Image credit: Robert Gladstone

GLADMAN Nov 6, 2024

Image of Castell y Garn (Ring Cairn) by GLADMAN

Image credit: Robert Gladstone

GLADMAN Nov 6, 2024

Image of Castell y Garn (Ring Cairn) by GLADMAN

First impressions upon arriving at the c1,620ft summit can probably be summarised as ‘but there’s hardly anything here!’ However, take a peek over the fence and allow the eyes to adjust... this has a deceptively substantial footprint.

Image credit: Robert Gladstone

GLADMAN Nov 6, 2024

Articles

Never heard of it? Neither had I...

GLADMAN Dec 24, 2024

Castell y Garn

Ring Cairn

GLADMAN Nov 6, 2024

Now there’s always something a little more exciting – should one happen to be excited by this kind of thing – when a monument is accorded a personalised name upon OS mapping. However, that’s not to say the remains will always live up to the heightened expectations...

On balance, I reckon Castell y Garn, the remains of a ring cairn upon a c1,620ft summit between St. Harmon and Bwlch-y-Sarnau, manages to not disappoint. Reached by a stony track from the latter hamlet (including a short, sharp deviation uphill), the setting is airy and rather spectacular, with panoramic views to the Wye Valley and Cwmdeuddwr Hills to the west. The monument itself, however, is initially rather conspicuous by its apparent absence, with just a mutilated residue standing before a fence junction. Gaze beyond said fence, however, and a rather large diameter (apparent) ring cairn will be discerned.

There is no doubting the prehistoric provenance since CPAT notes:

“Williams [1858] records it as ‘a most perfect cairn accompanied with a stone chest, human bones, black earth and other corresponding appendages.’”

Sure, the cairn has clearly suffered much trauma since then, but thankfully still survives. CPAT adds:

“Site seems to be a ring cairn with a low bank 1.2m wide and 0.25m high visible most clearly in SE quadrant. Elsewhere, there is a low bank forming the outer edge, but no inner edge to the ring bank. Two fence lines cross the site and join in the middle. Although eroded in the past the threat is not so serious now as 10 years ago (CPAT, 3/8/00).”

Sites within 20km of Castell y Garn

The Mount / Bedd Garmon

Round Barrow(s) • 2.05km NW

1
Domen

Round Barrow(s) • 2.38km WNW

1

3
Beili Hwlyn Barrows

Round Barrow(s) • 2.88km W

1

2
Crugyn

Round Barrow(s) • 3.2km WNW

1
Domen-ddu

Cairn(s) • 4.68km NNW

8

1
Creggin

Cairn(s) • 4.76km SW

5

1

1
Llyn Dwr

Standing Stone / Menhir • 4.92km ESE

3

1
Ty Lettice

Round Barrow(s) • 5.68km SSW

12

2
Fowler’s Arm Chair Cairn

Round Cairn • 5.94km NNE

13

1

3
Crugyn-Llwyd

Round Cairn • 6.03km N

8

2
Fowler’s Arm Chair Stone Circle

Stone Circle • 6.07km NNE

14

1

3
Cefn Ceidio

Round Barrow(s) • 6.16km SW

5

4
Marteg Valley

Kerbed Cairn • 6.21km WSW

31

2
Tan-y-Coed

Round Barrow(s) • 6.71km WNW

2

2
Henriw Standing Stone

Standing Stone / Menhir • 6.77km WNW

7

3
Pegwn Bach

Cairn(s) • 6.97km NNW

1
Cwm-y-Saeson

Standing Stone / Menhir • 7.56km W

6

3

1
Pegwyn Mawr II

Ring Cairn • 7.62km N

1
Pegwyn Mawr I

Round Cairn • 7.62km N

1
Carn Wen (Gwastedyn)

Cairn(s) • 8.15km SSW

8

2
Maen Serth

Standing Stone / Menhir • 8.4km WSW

13

4

1
Cefn Llyn

Standing Stone / Menhir • 8.52km SSE

4

2
Llyn Gwyn

Enclosure • 8.6km S

1
Clap yr Arian

Cairn(s) • 9.03km WSW

4

2
Briddel Felen Standing Stone

Standing Stone / Menhir • 9.48km WSW

1

1
Banc Trehesglog, Cwmdeuddwr

Cist • 9.81km WSW

6

1
Maengwyngweddw

Standing Stone / Menhir • 9.84km WSW

3

2

1
Banc Trehesglog, Cwmdeuddwr

Stone Row / Alignment • 9.88km WSW

6

1
Y Gaer, Llanddewi Ystradenni

Hillfort • 10.24km E

9
Dernol

Round Barrow(s) • 10.43km W

2

1
Llanwrthwl Churchyard Stone

Standing Stone / Menhir • 10.79km SSW

8

3
Cefn-y-Gaer

Hillfort • 10.84km E

10
Crugyn Gwyddel

Cairn(s) • 10.99km WSW

9

1

2
Rhiw Afon, Cwmdeuddwr

Round Cairn • 11.13km W

9

1
Carn Wen, Cwmdeuddwr

Round Cairn • 11.56km W

7

1
Carn Nant-y-Ffald

Cist • 11.79km W

11

1
Carn Gafallt

Cairn(s) • 11.95km SW

11

2
Cryn Fryn

Round Cairn • 12.05km SSW

10

1

1
Esgair y Llwyn, Cwmdeuddwr

Cairn(s) • 12.21km WSW

5

1

1
Beddau Folau

Chambered Cairn • 12.27km SW

15

2
Carreg Bica

Round Cairn • 12.36km SW

6

1
Rhiw Porthnant

Barrow / Cairn Cemetery • 12.53km NE

20

2
Banc Cynnydd, Cwmdeuddwr

Cairn(s) • 12.69km WSW

8

2
Banc Ystrad-Wen

Barrow / Cairn Cemetery • 12.72km SSW

13

1
Esgair-y-graig

Round Cairn • 12.78km W

4
Waen Hir, Llandinam

Cairn(s) • 13.02km N
Windy Hall

Round Barrow(s) • 13.2km NE

1
Graig Ddu (Y Gamriw North-East Ridge)

Cairn(s) • 13.54km SSW

11

1
Craig Cnwch

Standing Stones • 13.57km SW

4

2
Ty’n Y Graig, Craig Cnwch

Cairn(s) • 13.61km SW

20

1
Crugian Bach Cairn(s)

Cairn(s) • 13.64km SW

10

1
Garth (Llanwrthwl)

Cairn(s) • 13.64km S

7

1

1
Carn Wen, Garth (Llanwrthwl)

Round Cairn • 13.7km SSW

9

1

1
Groddwr Bank

Round Barrow(s) • 13.71km NE

1
Domen Giw

Cairn(s) • 13.86km WNW

1

1
Esgair Clochfan

Round Cairn • 13.86km W

4

1
Crugian Bach

Stone Circle • 13.9km SW

25

1

4
Ffynnon Mary

Cairn(s) • 13.91km S

2
Carn-y-Geifr

Round Cairn • 13.97km SSW

10

1
Carn y Groes

Round Cairn • 14.05km W

8

1

1
Little Hill VII

Round Barrow(s) • 14.05km SE

2

2
Llethr Waun-lwyd

Round Cairn • 14.08km SSW

8

1

1
Blaen Clawdd Du, Cwmdeuddwr

Round Cairn • 14.14km W

5

1
Blaen Ganolwyn Fach

Barrow / Cairn Cemetery • 14.17km SSW

2

1

1
Glog

Round Barrow(s) • 14.19km NE

10
Y Gamriw (North)

Cairn(s) • 14.27km SSW

7

1
The Beacon (Llandrindod)

Cairn(s) • 14.29km SE

4

2
Lan Fraith

Round Barrow(s) • 14.44km WSW

8

1
Carnau Cefn-y-Ffordd

Cairn(s) • 14.45km SSW

18

2
Y Gamriw

Barrow / Cairn Cemetery • 14.46km SSW

13

2
Carnau Cerfn y Ffordd Stone II

Standing Stone / Menhir • 14.49km SSW

3

1
Esgair Crawnllwyn, Cwmdeuddwr

Round Barrow(s) • 14.59km WSW

6

1

1
Banc Crugyn

Barrow / Cairn Cemetery • 14.84km NE

6
Waun Sarn

Cairn(s) • 14.84km SW

10

1

1
Gro Hill

Barrow / Cairn Cemetery • 14.85km SW

12

1
Carn Ricet

Cairn(s) • 14.91km WSW

3

1

1
Little Hill cairn II

Cairn(s) • 14.96km SE

1
Two Tumps

Round Barrow(s) • 14.97km NE

7

1
Carregwiber (stone 1)

Standing Stone / Menhir • 14.98km SE

4

3
Saith Maen

Stone Row / Alignment • 14.98km SSW

5

1

1

1
Broomy Hill

Standing Stone / Menhir • 15km SE

2

1
Hafen stone pair

Stone Row / Alignment • 15.09km SSW

15

1
Little Hill cairn III

Cairn(s) • 15.15km SE

1
Ffrwd Stone

Standing Stone / Menhir • 15.41km SE

4

2
Rhos-y-Gelynnen

Stone Row / Alignment • 15.43km SW

10

2
Lluest Aber Caethon, Cwmdeuddwr

Round Barrow(s) • 15.44km WSW

8

1
Hafen (Drum Ddu)

Cairn(s) • 15.49km SSW

10
Carregwiber

Hillfort • 15.51km SE

7

1
Newbridge on Wye

Standing Stone / Menhir • 15.56km S

11

2
Cistfaen

Cairn(s) • 15.84km W

13

2
Esgair Gwar-y-Cae Settlement

Ancient Village / Settlement / Misc. Earthwork • 15.85km SW

1

1
Shepherd’s Tump

Round Barrow(s) • 15.86km E

1

1
Carn Pantmaenllwyd

Round Cairn • 15.87km SSW

9

1

1
Esgair Beddau, Cwmdeuddwr

Cairn(s) • 15.99km WSW

10

1
Beacon Hill

Barrow / Cairn Cemetery • 16.04km ENE

11

1
Gurnos

Round Cairn • 16.14km SW

8

1

1
Maen Hir, Glan Fedwen

Kerbed Cairn • 16.22km W

15

1

2
Pawl Hir

Ring Cairn • 16.28km SE

4

1
Maen Hir

Standing Stone / Menhir • 16.37km W

4

2
Cefn Carnedd

Hillfort • 16.38km NNW

15

1
Llandegley Rocks

Ancient Village / Settlement / Misc. Earthwork • 16.47km ESE

5

1
Gilwern Hill

Cairn(s) • 16.52km SE

5

2
Pen-y-Clun

Hillfort • 16.7km WNW

1
Talcen Yr Esgair (Esgair Elan)

Cairn(s) • 16.76km W

6

1

1
Ty Mawr

Standing Stone / Menhir • 16.8km S

4

1
Bryn Wern Bridge

Round Cairn • 16.84km S

5

1
Gelli Hill stone

Standing Stone / Menhir • 16.96km SE

5

3
Craig y Lluest, Cwmdeuddwr

Barrow / Cairn Cemetery • 16.98km W

15

2

1
Gelli Hill

Stone Circle • 17.02km SE

15

4
Carnedd Fach

Cairn(s) • 17.06km W

1
Carn Bwlch y Cloddiau

Cairn(s) • 17.21km W

5

1
Gelli Hill Cairn

Cairn(s) • 17.25km SE

7

3
Pen-y-Gaer, Llanidloes

Hillfort • 17.25km WNW

19

4
Larch Grove

Standing Stone / Menhir • 17.41km ESE

1
Gorllwyn

Barrow / Cairn Cemetery • 17.65km SW

21

2

3
Esgair Ceiliog

Ring Cairn • 17.68km SW

8

2
Church Farm, Trefeglwys

Standing Stones • 17.73km NW

1
Pen-y-Gorllwyn Stone

Standing Stone / Menhir • 17.99km SW

5

1

1
Cwm Bwch, Great Rhos

Round Barrow(s) • 18.06km E

28

2
Ffos Gau

Kerbed Cairn • 18.2km W

6

1
Waun, Cwmdeuddwr

Round Cairn • 18.28km SW

9

1
Gurnos

Ring Cairn • 18.38km SSW

8

2

1
Waun Lydan

Standing Stone / Menhir • 18.41km SW

7

2
Kerry Hill

Stone Circle • 18.61km NE

6

1
Castle Bank

Hillfort • 18.71km SE

21

1

2
Shentons Tump

Round Barrow(s) • 18.79km NE

1

1
Graig Camp

Hillfort • 18.85km ESE

10

1
Carneddau North (Builth Wells)

Cairn(s) • 18.94km SE

12

2
Old Stone (Pant-y-Caregl)

Standing Stone / Menhir • 18.95km ENE

3
Shepherd’s Well cross dyke

Dyke • 18.96km E

4

2
Dol y Felin

Standing Stone / Menhir • 19.01km S

4

2
Dinas (Trefeglwys)

Cliff Fort • 19.05km WNW

11
Capel Rhos

Standing Stone / Menhir • 19.06km SSW

3

1
Graig Gethin

Cairn(s) • 19.12km WNW

5

1
Cwm Stone

Standing Stone / Menhir • 19.15km SE

3

1
Cwm Maerdy

Standing Stone / Menhir • 19.22km ESE

6

1
Penycerrig

Cairn(s) • 19.22km WNW

1
Pen Maen Wern

Standing Stone / Menhir • 19.28km SW

9

2
Cwm Berwyn, Carneddau (Builth Wells)

Promontory Fort • 19.51km SE

12

1

1
Fedw Llwyd

Round Barrow(s) • 19.62km ENE

7

2
Bwlch-y-Ddau-Faen

Standing Stones • 19.67km SW

10

2
Fedw

Stone Circle • 19.94km ESE

4

1
Black Mixen

Round Barrow(s) • 19.95km E

18

3