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Swansea & Neath Port Talbot
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Sites in this group:
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Bon-y-Maen
Standing Stone / Menhir
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2 posts
Bryn-chwyth Cairn(s) |
1 post
Bryn Llydan Cairn(s) |
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1 post
Bryn Mawr Cairn(s) |
11 posts
Buarth y Gaer Hillfort |
6 posts
Buarth y Gaer Cairn Cairn(s) |
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8 posts
Caer Blaen-y-Cwm Enclosure |
5 posts
Carn-y-Wiwer (Glyncorrwg) Round Cairn |
13 posts
Carn Caca Cairn(s) |
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1 post
Carn Caca defended settlement Enclosure |
11 posts
Carn Cornel Cairn(s) |
54 posts
Carn Llechart Cairn circle |
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15 posts
Carn Llechart Burial Chamber Chambered Tomb |
2 posts
Carreg Hir Standing Stone / Menhir |
1 post
Cefn Celfi Standing Stones |
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17 posts
Craig y Llyn (Neath) Cairn(s) |
25 posts
Crug yr Afan Cairn(s) |
9 posts
Ergyd Isaf Round Barrow(s) |
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9 posts
Foel Fynyddau Cairn(s) |
11 posts
Gaer Fawr (Briton Ferry) Ancient Village / Settlement / Misc. Earthwork |
9 posts
Gelli-benuchel Cairn(s) |
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2 posts
Gelli-bwch Cairn(s) |
4 posts
54 sites The Gower Peninsular |
11 posts
Graig Fawr Chambered Tomb |
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6 posts
Graig Fawr (West) Enclosure Hillfort |
10 posts
Maen Bredwan Standing Stone / Menhir |
26 posts
Mynydd-y-Castell Hillfort |
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1 post
Mynydd Allt-y-grug Round Cairn |
9 posts
Mynydd Blaengwynfi Cairn(s) |
8 posts
Mynydd Carnllechart Cairn(s) |
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10 posts
Mynydd Gellionen Cairn(s) |
1 post
Mynydd Margam East Round Barrow(s) |
2 posts
Mynydd Margam West Round Barrow(s) |
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2 posts
Nant Moel Kerbed Cairn |
7 posts
Pebyll Ring Cairn |
1 post
Penrhydd-wen Ring Cairn |
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5 posts
Penybegwyn Round Cairn |
14 posts
Samson's Stone Standing Stone / Menhir |
2 posts
Twmpath Diwlith and Bodvoc Stone Round Barrow(s) |
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12 posts
Twyn Disgwylfa Round Barrow(s) |
1 post
Waen Glyn-nyd Barrow / Cairn Cemetery |
7 posts
Warren Hill Enclosure |
Sites of disputed antiquity:
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1 post
Carn Lwyd (Llanguicke) Round Cairn |
1 post
Pen-Y-Castell Ancient Village / Settlement / Misc. Earthwork |
News |
 Add news |
3,000-year-old ring `an important find for Wales'Robin Turner * [email protected], The Western Mail - The National Newspaper Of Wales A 3,000-YEAR-OLD gold ring found by a metal detector enthusiast is an important archaeological find for Wales, a coroner at a Treasure Trove Inquest ruled yesterday... continues... |
Posted by Rhiannon26th March 2003ce Edited 30th March 2006ce |
Latest posts for Swansea & Neath Port Talbot |
Showing 1-10 of 1,167 posts. Most recent first | Next 10 
Foel Fynyddau (Cairn(s)) — Images (click to view fullsize) |
     
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Posted by thesweetcheat24th February 2024ce |
Foel Fynyddau (Cairn(s)) — Fieldnotes |
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Visited 25 February 2023. The last hill and last site on a hilly walk from Port Talbot. After steep but straightforward visits to Twyn Disgwylfa round barrow and the Buarth y Gaer sites, my post-Covid stamina is starting to fail as I get back to the minor road to the west of Foel Fynyddau. The sporadic sunshine that had accompanied me so far is gone, replaced by failing light, grey skies and a chill wind. Foel Fynyddau's summit is open access land, with a track heading off from a bridleway to the southwest of the summit, past a farm. For whatever reason, probably fatigue-induced brain fog, I decide to avoid the farm and the easy track, instead heading directly up the rough ground to the west of the summit. Although the terrain is open and the distance not that much, I regret this decision pretty soon, as the tussocky grass, ankle-sapping heather and various small streams and valleys suddenly seem as exhausting as climbing a mountain. By the time I reach the upper slopes I'm practically falling over with tiredness, resorting to a longer but less steep zig-zag along faint sheep tracks to avoid having to tackle the slopes head on. It's a blessed relief to make it to the masts and the cairn. Despite the inevitable trig pillar and central hollow, the cairn is decent and stands to a good height. The views are excellent, other than the masts and sundry fenced off compounds in close proximity, which sadly detract from the monument's atmosphere. On this grey afternoon, the whole area feels a bit forlorn and unloved. I sit down on a handy bench a little way off the summit, eat my sandwiches and feel a little less weary. Restored, I have another mooch around the barrow and take in the sweeping views from this very prominent hill. Y Mynydd Du, Fforest Fawr and central peaks of Bannau Brycheiniog are all on display to the north, with the Hafren/Severn and far away Somerset to the south. To the east and south the hill drops very steeply to forestry tracks which have been co-opted to form a network of suicidal cycle routes. I don't fancy going back to the west, having decided to catch the bus back to Port Talbot from the village at the foot of the hill, so I tentatively head off to the southeast. This turns out to be a very bad decision, as the very steep descent off the hill this way is perilously slippery, with me clinging to the vegetation to avoid a swift fall. Once past the steepest section, I'm into the cycle tracks, which have been made smooth and slippery by use. Before long I'm on my arse in the mud. Eventually I emerge onto a broad, stony track, but unfortunately it only seems to go back up the hill and so I have to resort to a much smaller track, shown on the OS map but quite badly overgrown. The further I go, the more overgrown the narrowing passage between gorse and brambles gets, and eventually I have to climb underneath a gorse bush to get any further, as there's no way I can face going back now. I emerge with lots of bits of twigs and branches down the back of my neck and under my clothes. Yuck. I slip over again on the muddy tracks before I finally reach a road, battered and exhausted. It's rather taken the shine off what had been a really nice walk! I strongly recommend just following the damn track from the west and returning the same way if you come here. |
Posted by thesweetcheat 24th February 2024ce |
Gaer Fawr (Briton Ferry) (Ancient Village / Settlement / Misc. Earthwork) — Images |
  
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Posted by thesweetcheat 24th February 2024ce |
Showing 1-10 of 1,167 posts. Most recent first | Next 10
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