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Presaddfed (Dolmen / Quoit / Cromlech) — Fieldnotes

A nice warm day, and it really was easy to spend some time here.
I'm glad to say that the silly wooden truss has been removed.
It all looks as stable as any great big rock resting on top of a thin pointy one.

Presaddfed (Dolmen / Quoit / Cromlech) — Images (click to view fullsize)

<b>Presaddfed</b>Posted by blossom

Fonlief Hir Stone D (Standing Stone / Menhir) — Images

<b>Fonlief Hir Stone D</b>Posted by blossom<b>Fonlief Hir Stone D</b>Posted by blossom<b>Fonlief Hir Stone D</b>Posted by blossom

Fonlief Hir Stone C (Standing Stone / Menhir) — Images

<b>Fonlief Hir Stone C</b>Posted by blossom<b>Fonlief Hir Stone C</b>Posted by blossom<b>Fonlief Hir Stone C</b>Posted by blossom

Fonlief Hir Stone C (Standing Stone / Menhir) — Fieldnotes

Following along the same road as Carreg and Moel y sensigi pass through a gate. Just before the road forks on a wide grass verge next to the road on the left is this small very thin standing stone.
Tiny compared to the other stones in the area.

Moel-y-Sensigl (Standing Stone / Menhir) — Fieldnotes

Following along on the same road as Cerrig cross over a cattle grid. The stone is just after this on the left hand side of the road. You can see the top of the stone over the field wall
There is a farm gate which wasn't locked, so easy access.
Lovely big thin stone. I liked it.

Moel-y-Sensigl (Standing Stone / Menhir) — Images

<b>Moel-y-Sensigl</b>Posted by blossom<b>Moel-y-Sensigl</b>Posted by blossom<b>Moel-y-Sensigl</b>Posted by blossom<b>Moel-y-Sensigl</b>Posted by blossom

Carreg (Llanfair) (Standing Stone / Menhir) — Fieldnotes

After following the steep windy road that leads up from Harlech castle you will come to a cross roads with a phone box and post box.
Turn left here. The standing Stone is on the right hand side not far along the road. It is in the field next to the road and can be clearly seen.

Carreg (Llanfair) (Standing Stone / Menhir) — Images

<b>Carreg (Llanfair)</b>Posted by blossom<b>Carreg (Llanfair)</b>Posted by blossom<b>Carreg (Llanfair)</b>Posted by blossom

Harlech Circle (Cairn circle) — Images

<b>Harlech Circle</b>Posted by blossom

Harlech Circle (Cairn circle) — Fieldnotes

Taking the first left after the castle and driving up the very very steep windy road. I was delighted and surprised to find that my camper van was able to climb it. You will come to a crossroads with a phone box and post box.
Turn left here. Follow the road along you will see a standing stone on the right hand side.
Just after this is a small layby / bin store.
Take the next right. You have to go through two lots of farm track gates. Luckily I had my son with me, because there are lots of these around here.
A little while after the 2nd lot of gates you will see a public footpath signposted on both sides of the track. There is a stream that has been culverted under the track. Lots of room to park here.
Taking the path on the left, follow it around the side of the little hill and keep going left. I passed another circular structure that looked to me like a cairn. (I've added a pic) Pass through the gap in the old stone wall and then follow the track up hill.
When the ground levels the circle is on your right.

Harlech Circle (Cairn circle) — Images

<b>Harlech Circle</b>Posted by blossom<b>Harlech Circle</b>Posted by blossom<b>Harlech Circle</b>Posted by blossom<b>Harlech Circle</b>Posted by blossom<b>Harlech Circle</b>Posted by blossom

Twll Pant-hiriol (Ancient Village / Settlement / Misc. Earthwork) — Images

<b>Twll Pant-hiriol</b>Posted by blossom<b>Twll Pant-hiriol</b>Posted by blossom<b>Twll Pant-hiriol</b>Posted by blossom<b>Twll Pant-hiriol</b>Posted by blossom<b>Twll Pant-hiriol</b>Posted by blossom<b>Twll Pant-hiriol</b>Posted by blossom<b>Twll Pant-hiriol</b>Posted by blossom<b>Twll Pant-hiriol</b>Posted by blossom<b>Twll Pant-hiriol</b>Posted by blossom<b>Twll Pant-hiriol</b>Posted by blossom<b>Twll Pant-hiriol</b>Posted by blossom<b>Twll Pant-hiriol</b>Posted by blossom

Twll Pant-hiriol (Ancient Village / Settlement / Misc. Earthwork) — Fieldnotes

On the west side of Moel Llefn is a natural hollow. I have been meaning to go up there to investigate for a very long time. I am very glad that I did.
After quite a hard climb up the side of the hill passing a couple of stoney areas that look suspiciously like small cairns I arrived at the flat area just in front of the hollow. What a surprise.

There, nestled into bottom of the hollow, sheltered on 3 sides by the natural banks is a solitary hut circle. Brilliantly preserved.

It was a very still bright day, and while I was investigating the hut circle two crows flew over head. And because of the bowl shape of the hollow every movement of their wings was amplified. It was quite eerie. But very atmospheric.
It was so sheltered up there. I can understand why they would have settled there. Views down across the valley, and all the way across to Moelfra on Ynys Mon.
Just inside the entrance on the east of the circle is a feature that I found interesting. It is a raised area with a large flat stone to the rear. The front of the semi circular raised area is faced with stones.
In the centre of the hut circle is a sunken area that could possibly have been a hearth.

Just a note on the photos. I was fiddling around with the camera pressing lots of different buttons and ended up with photos that look as though they are post apocalyptic. However they do show the contrast between the stones and grass very well.

Twll Pant-hiriol (Ancient Village / Settlement / Misc. Earthwork) — Links

Coflein


Moel Gwynus (Standing Stone / Menhir) — Links

Archwilio


Llwyndyrys (Standing Stone / Menhir) — Links

Archwilio


Sling (Burial Chamber) — Links

Archwilio


Ogof Pant-y-Wennol (Cave / Rock Shelter) — Links

Archwilio


Caer Pencraig (Ty'n y Caeau) (Hillfort) — Links

Archwilio


great description of site.

Hendre Waelod (Dolmen / Quoit / Cromlech) — Miscellaneous

I've looked really closely at Kammer's old photographs below and in the 2nd photo it looks very much as though there was another tall stone flanking the Northern Portal stone. There is a stone probably cut down on the southern side.

Frances Lynch says of this site.

"This is he only one of the Conwy Valley portal dolmens with the traditional high portal stones- in this case, originally 3m high and probably covered by a separate lintel, now lost. The chamber behind is large but rather low, covered by an enormous capstone which has slipped to the North. Access from the portal to the chamber is blocked by a low slab which can be seen by crawling under the capstone.
The tomb stands on a sloping site and the soil has engulfed the bottom of the portal stones and filled the forecourt area. One stone of a possible facade flanking the entrance is visible on the south. The remains of a long cairn can be traced by the line of stones in the footing of the fence."

Michael Senior in his book Cromlechs and Cairns of northern Wales says that the capstone is estimated to weigh some 22 tons.

Cwm Ffrydlas, Carneddau (Ancient Village / Settlement / Misc. Earthwork) — Links

Archwilio


Cwm Ffrydlas, Carneddau (Ancient Village / Settlement / Misc. Earthwork) — Fieldnotes

Following the path next to Moel Faban that passes the arrow stone, settlement and burnt mound, pass the huge glacial feature that separates Moel Faban and Moel Lefn on the left. The path skirts around the eastern base of Lefn. Looking to the right there is a narrow path or sheep track leading to a small upright stone with a quartz lump sat on top of it.
Walk towards the sheepfold keeping the mine on the other side of the valley in line with it.

An early bronze age settlement that is really difficult to figure out when you are there amongst the stones. But it is worth coming because the view down the valley is wonderful.

I wandered around trying to work out what was what and found circular features, rectangular features and higglety piggelty features. Then I sat and lost myself in the view.

Lynch says that these are "one of the most characteristic and accessible of Griffith's Class II settlements'- groups of very small huts set within irregular, non-terraced fields. Such settlements are believed to be early Bronze age in date"

There are 6 small poorly built huts most on the line of the field walls.
The fields are of irregular, rounded shape and variable size.
It maybe that the stones were never structural walls but a stone skin piled up against a wooden wall.

Cwm Ffrydlas, Carneddau (Ancient Village / Settlement / Misc. Earthwork) — Images

<b>Cwm Ffrydlas, Carneddau</b>Posted by blossom<b>Cwm Ffrydlas, Carneddau</b>Posted by blossom<b>Cwm Ffrydlas, Carneddau</b>Posted by blossom
Previous 50 | Showing 51-100 of 225 posts. Most recent first | Next 50
Lucky to live at the base of Moel Faban in the lovely Gwynedd countryside.

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