thesweetcheat

Impressive cliffs form the sides of the fort. The striking island of Ynys Deullyn can be seen directly above the natural arch.

At the seaward tip of the fort, looking SW towards Carn Llidi and St David’s Head.

The northern end of the rock-cut ditch.

Showing the rock-cut ditch. The drystone wall above it is modern.

Double rampart and rock-cut ditch.

The fort occupies the long headland centre-left. Garn Fawr hillfort can be seen on the skyline.

Carnllundain from the west, out beyond Ramsey Island.

Carn Llidi at dusk, from Ramsey Sound.

Within the eastern enclosure.

The eastern enclosure.

Looking from the main fort to the eastern enclosure, almost but not quite joined together.

The inner ditches are quite overgrown in summer, but mainly with bracken. The rocky hill in the distance is Penberry.

Looking west along the outer rampart.

In terms of defences and preservation, this is the finest of the many forts on the North Pembrokeshire coastline.

Looking inward from the western outer rampart. The layout is complicated as the series of banks (up to four in places) are not properly concentric.

The western defences.

The complex fort occupies the headland immediately opposite (right). The little beach resort of Abereiddy can be seen across the bay.

Coastal context from the NE, showing the jagged tips of the headland.

In retrospect, an easier route into the fort is offered from the NE. Previously unsuspected fellow visitor provides scale for the earthworks.

Looking WSW, the view from the ramparts is dominated by the twin peaks of Penberry and Carn Llidi, with St David’s Head beyond.

The ditch is completely choked, or at least it is in August.

Access to the ramparts is much hindered by waist high grass concealing a knee-deep tangle of brambles and other unpleasantness.

The southern side of the fort drops to sheer, crumbling cliffs. Ramparts are the darker green area on the right.

Approaching from the WSW, the headland is very prominent. The top of Garn Fawr, a much larger hillfort above Strumble Head, can just be seen over the top of the cliff fort.

SSW towards Ramsey Island. The opening of the chamber points resolutely away from the sea.

The earthfast end of the tomb, surrounded by some glorious August heather.

Large hut circle.

Looking across Whitesands Bay towards Ramsey Island.

There are some excellent hut circles inside the fort.

The massive stone-built rampart.

The entrance passage into the fort is faced with stone.

The massive stone-built rampart is behind a ditch and much lower outer line of defence.

Approaching the ramparts from the east.

Revisit to the tombs in morning light, looking south towards Ramsey Sound.

Distant Garn Fawr (top left) seen from Carn Llidi about 15 miles away. There are several cliff forts along the intervening coastline. The pointy hill in the nearer distance is Penberry.

Ramsey Island seen across Whitesands Bay from the slopes of Carn Llidi.

As I was leaving, one of the horse acolytes produced an enormous and protracted fart, which kind of killed the mood somewhat.

As Gladman notes, the capstone’s profile appears to mirror the obvious landscape draw of Carn Llidi.

In its landscape, looking east towards Carn Llidi. The chamber is surrounded by a roughly circular area of small stones, perhaps the remains of a mound.

Looking south across Whitesands Bay. The rocky outcrop on the extreme right of shot is Clegyr Boia, occupied during the Neolithic and perhaps even contemporary with this tomb.

Approached from below, the classic “propped” profile is the one you see first.

Looking north.

Looking south. The position is so elevated above the surrounding countryside that St Bride’s Bay is visible, far right.

The ‘rear’ chamber, hard against the rock outcrop.