thesweetcheat

One of the larger Cwm Moel cairns, at the northern (uphill) part of the site. Looking SW towards Cefn Cil-Sanws.

Morlais Castle rises prominently (centre), with a backdrop of the be-cairned Merthyr Common. Seen from Carn-Ddu cairn to the north.

Looking SW towards be-cairned Cefn Cil-Sanws.

Looking WNW. Fan Gyhirych and Fan Nedd are just visible on the right.

The disturbed centre of the cairn, looking SSE.

Looking westwards to Garn Ddu.

Small circular structure immediately adjacent to the cairn. Possibly a sheep shelter(?) built from robbed material from the cairn.

The cairn enjoys a great view of the highest bronze age cemetery in Southern Britain. L-R: Corn Du, Pen y Fan and Cribyn.

Looking north, showing further cairn material hidden in the reedy grasses off the mound itself.

Looking eastwards towards Cefn Yr Ystrad across the wide spread of cairn material.

The top of Cwm Moel cairn, looking west along the shallow valley between Coetgae’r Gwartheg and Garn Ddu.

Cwm Moel Cairn, looking NW uphill to Garn Ddu.

Cwm Moel cairn, the southeastern outpost of the Garn Ddu cairnfield.

Garn Ddu Round Cairn, looking west with the slopes of Garn Ddu itself on the right.

Garn Ddu Round Cairn, looking NE. Cefn Yr Ystrad provides the skyline on the right.

Garn Ddu Round Cairn (SO03121211), looking SE towards Morlais Castle and Merthyr Tudful.

Long zoom on Carn y Bugail from Garn Ddu to the WSW.

Fan Fawr from Garn Ddu to the southeast. The approximate position of the recumbent is indicated.

Seen from Garn-Ddu to the north.

Cairn X, looking NW.

There are some substantial blocks used in this cairn.

Disturbed top of Cairn X.

Garn Ddu Cairn X, looking south.

Zoom on the summit cairns from Garn Ddu cairnfield to the north.

Representative example of one of the smaller clearance cairns.

Garn Ddu Cairn XXVIII, looking south towards Cefn Cil-Sanws.

Garn Ddu Cairn XXVIII, showing visible stonework.

Garn Ddu Cairn XXVIII. Looking WNW.

Detail of Garn Ddu cairn at SO02581190. Looking SW towards Coetgae’r Gwartheg, yet another neighbouring hill boasting cairns.

Garn Ddu cairn at SO02581190, looking SSW towards Cefn Cil-Sanws, another be-cairned hill.

Garn Ddu cairn, looking east towards the Cefn Yr Ystrad ridge, where there are very substantial cairns (including Garn Felen and Carn y Bugail).

Coetgae’r Gwartheg from the Garn ddu cairnfield to the northeast. The bigger barrows are prominent on the skyline.

On the way to the cairn-field from the west, I crossed a ford marked by this boulder. At first I took the circular depression at the bottom for a possible cupmark, but then realised it’s actually a mouth!

Coedcae’r Gwartheg from the northwest, showing the steep scarp face of the hill.

The little stone directly up the hill has what looks like a cupmark – natural?

Directly up the hill from the stone is this smaller stone. If you’re approaching from the bridleway above and find this, you’re going in the right direction.

The top of the stone, showing V-shaped notch.

Posted to show that this is the only stone in the immediate vicinity.

Looking SW. The drystone wall is a good aid to locating the stone.

Looking SE towards be-cairned Coetgae’r Gwartheg.

The top of the stone peaks from the surrounding grasses. Looking north.

Cefn Cil-Sanws, sloping steeply down to the Taf valley. Seen from Fedw, near the Fedw stone.

Cadair Fawr seen across the Llwyn-on Reservoir from Fedw. In the far right of the picture you can just see the be-cairned summits of Fan Gyhirych and Fan Nedd.

Looking SW-ish.

I like the irony that someone from the Ministry hammered a big stake into the side of the mound to remind everyone of its protected status.

White Hag cairn, looking ENE-ish.

Looking west, up the slope.

Looking south-ish.

Easily missed in tufty grass, luckily Postie had his stone-radar fully attuned. Looking NE towards the Pennines.

The turfed-over cairn, looking WNW.