In all the excitement of the three massive cairns, this feature is easy to overlook. It’s a semi-circular bank of rubble enclosing an outcrop, looking very like a tor cairn or ring cairn of the sort found on Bodmin Moor.
Detail of the eastern cairn.
Eastern cairn from central, looking towards Frenni Fawr.
Detail of the massive central cairn.
Central cairn from eastern.
The western cairn from the central, looking towards the crags of Carn Menyn/Meini.
The inturned banks flanking the western entrance of the fort.
Northern ramparts.
Looking west towards Foel Cwmcerwyn (left), with Foel Eryr/Cerrig Lladron in sunshine beyond. Mynydd Carningli over to the right. Newport, out of sight and below Carningli, looks a very long way away. Just as well there will be plenty to look at on the way.
Northeastern ramparts. Frennau Fawr is the prominent hill.
On max zoom from Bedd Arthur.
The massive central cairn from the (not much smaller) western. The Mam C has the scale.
Western end... the hill fort incorporates crags as proto-mural towers, you might say? Carn Alw can be seen beyond, centre.
Looking south...
Northern flank, looking approx west... note the bivallate defences.
Foel Drygarn’s impressive defences....
The western cairn from the central.... Foel Cwm-Cerwyn can be seen centre left skyline, with the wondrous Carn Menyn top left.
Eastern cairn from the central...
The last time I was here – in 2006 – was prior to the restoration of the trio of massive cairns upon the summit. Happy to report that, like those upon Dartmoor’s Corndon Tor I’m impressed by the result. Here The Mam C highlights the sheer scale of the central monument.
Approaching from the approx south...
Prominent Foel Drygarn from hills to the west of Carningli.
Central cairn from the eastern cairn
Looking north east up to the cairns
Part of the eastern cairn and the central cairn
Western cairn from the central cairn looking west to Carnmenyn
The eastern whopper seen from on top of the trig point
Three big whoppers from the south east
Central cairn looking north
Moel Drygarn and it’s very prominent cairns seen from near Waun Lwyd standing stones.
The first hint of hill fort coming up the path from the south east.
Hill fort defences looking north
Probable hill fort entrance, south facing.
Angry boy wanna go !!!
Looking northwards...... there are worse places to be.
Strange rock formations make Foel Drygarn an impressive place for bronze age burials
Jagged rocks on this outcrop facing Carn Meini in the misty distance, the three cairns are behind the camera.
Taken 20th June 2004: The Iron Age defences on the south eastern side of the fort, with William and Lou descending.
Taken 20th June 2004: The eastern cairn, as viewed from the trig-point on the middle cairn. In the distance is the outlying Preseli peak of Frenni Fawr (of course cairn topped).
Taken 20th June 2004: The western cairn, as viewed standing on top of the trig-point on the middle cairn. In the distance is the distinctive shape of Carn Meini.
Taken 20th June 2004: The three enormous cairns viewed from the south east.
Taken 15th April 2003: From the south, standing very near to Carn Ferched, you can clearly see two of the three massive cairns on Moel Drygarn (the third is only just visible to the right).
Taken 15th April 2003: On our way back to the car from Bedd Arthur, this shot is taken from the south west.
A video in which we explore the history, archaeology and legends of Foel Drygarn.. We happened to catch it on a beautiful snowy day for this video!
From an article published on the News Wales web site on 24th January 2011:
Army Preparation Course students have helped to repair a Scheduled Ancient Monument in the Pembrokeshire Coast National Park. The group of 14 from Pembrokeshire College joined the National Park Authority’s Archaeologist and Rangers to help reinstate damaged Bronze Age burial cairns on the Preseli Hills
On the summit there are three cairns, probably for Bronze Age burials.The site is nationally important and is designated a Scheduled Ancient Monument. As such, it is a criminal offence to alter it without permission. However, visitors have been moving stones to make shelters within the cairns.
The students have been helping to restore them to their original formations.
Beware ! I will be talking enthusiastically about this place, what we are sometimes privy to is more than just a visit to some stones by someone, sometimes it’s a window onto a love affair, for it sometimes feels more like i’m documenting a love story between myself and these ancient wild high places, if I sometimes sound like a giddy child it’s because I feel like one, it’s just the best feeling in the world.
We parked in the obvious place south east of the small mountain, and rediculously I let Eric talk me into taking the bikes up with us, it wasn’t that hard going, it’s not too steep. On the way up he would look back down the path and tell me how cool it will be to ride back down, pointing out dips and jumps he would go over, we’re not mad, we had no intention to ride down from the top that would be suicide, however his second mountain lesson would be coming soon.
As we neared the top I could see what looked to be the first line of defences for the hill fort, crawling north around the side of the hill and curling west to keep those pesky invaders out.
We pass it by and reach the level ground at the top, lean our bikes against the rocks at the south east, and turn to look at the three ginormous cairns, if a mountain is lucky, no if i’m lucky a mountain will have a cairn on it, if i’m verrry verrry lucky it will have two decent cairns on it, but to get three cairns of such distinction you have to come to the magical playground of the stonehenge builders, the Preseli mountains.
I read with disappointment that Carl wasn’t impressed with the hill fort, saying little to be seen, ?? the defences can be followed all around the north of the hill and even the entrance is deep and obvious on the south side where there are no defences because of the precipitous rocks , Iv’e seen worse, much worse and whats worse is iv’e driven miles to see them, here though it is an absolute delight, a cherry on the top, for the main gatteau is the three huge cairns perched on top, keeping watch over the whole of the eastern mountain range.
The cairns have been recently restored by army preparation students, whoever they are? but they have done a grand job. We could tell by the colouration of the stones where had been restored. But they either left a bit out or someones been at it already as there is a a small scoop in the western end of the western cairn, it’s a comfy place to sit out of the wind and watch the clouds scudding over distant Carnmenyn. Carnmenyn, from here it hides from view the Carnmenyn burial chamber and the stone river, had I been alone I would go over there and introduce myself to the genius loci there. But not this time, they will have to wait till our next rendezvous. From up on top, on top of the trig point, we can see it all , west past Carnmenyn to Foal Feddau and Craig y cwm, Preseli’s highest point. North is the coast, I can see Dinas head, and closer to somewhere before me is Beddyraffanc, east is Frenni Fawr and cairns and south is Carn Ferched and further off is the megalithic complex at Glandy cross.
But the best thing is just sitting up on the central cairn watching the clouds shadows moving across the ground below, the occupants of these cairns must have been important indeed.
But the worse thing is on our way back down, on the bikes, Eric went from lower than me, but no sooner had we got fifty yards he went tumbling head first over the handle bars, and I was unable to do a thing but watch it all happen, thankfully he wasn’t hurt too much, mostly his pride, and with it comes a valueable mountain lesson, even if your thinking I can do that, it always pays to be conservative, no not them...ptui.
Visited 30.6.10.
An easy place to access but a bit of a walk to get to the top – took me 20 minutes from the parking area alongside the road. At the top are 3 huge cairns, the largest of which has been ‘excavated’ by ramblers to make a rather comfortable shelter, with views across to the mountains. Good views all around although there is little to be seen of the hillfort defences.
Visited 20th June 2004: Having come close to visiting Moel Drygarn in April 2003 on our way back from Bedd Arthur (William was far too tired after the 4 mile walk) we finally made it on the eve of Summer Solstice 14 months later.
Ironically, William pegged it up the hill leaving the rest of us a long way behind him. At first we were tickled by his fell running, but then as he got smaller and smaller it got a bit alarming. Lou had to run to catch up with him while I plodded after with Alfie on my back.
Near the top, just beyond the Iron Age defences I found Lou (looking exhausted) and Will looking bored. The three Bronze Age cairns in within the defences of the fort are blinking enormous! We made our way to the trig point (insensitively placed in the centre of the middle cairn) and were rewarded with beautiful panoramic views. To the west Carn Meini dominates the horizon, but you could be equally transfixed looking in any direction.
After a snack in the lea of the trig point and some exploring, we headed back down towards the car. On the way back we met our friends who, by coincidence had been passing, and the run up to the Solstice began early! Bonza!
Moel Drygarn consists of three sizeable cairnes Bronze Age within the defenses of an Iron Age hillfort. According to Mr Barber (in his book More Mysterious Wales), the three cairnes are known as Môn, Maelan and Madog. They are named after the three Welsh kings that are buried underneath them (allegedly).
Details of the excavations that took place at Foel Drygarn … plus lots more info
An excellent aerial photo of Moel Drygarn, clearly showing the Iron Age ramparts, and the three huge Bronze Age cairns that stand within them. For some reason the stone of the ramparts and the cairns looks a bit pink.
