thesweetcheat

Pen-y-Fan seen from common below Hay Bluff, 20 miles or so to the east. Cute miniature ponies or what?

Hay Bluff from Offa’s Dyke Path to the north. The cist is at the “prow” end of the summit.

Reprise of earlier Gladman picture, posted mainly to show that persons unknown have carted a pub beer garden table up to 2,000+ feet. It’s difficult to know whether to despair or applaud.

The view westwards from the barrow, with Twmpa on the left and Bannau Brycheiniog beyond.

Looking NW down on the Wye Valley. The edges of the cist slab are just visible in the foreground.

Approaching the almost-gone barrow from the south. Even on a cloudy day the views are stunning.

Be-cairned Pen y Gadair Fawr is the most prominent peak (left of shot), but Waun Fach (centre) is higher. Deceptive, huh? The viewpoint is the Pen-y-Beacon/Hay Bluff trig point to the NE.

General westwards view towards Pen-y-Fan and the central Brecon Beacons. The Black Mountains escarpment fills the left of the picture, Y Mynydd Du fade to blue on the far right. The interloper stone from the parking area is right of centre in the foreground.

The imposing bulk of Hay Bluff/Pen-y-Beacon, seen from common land to the north, on Offa’s Dyke Path.

Part of the arc.

Looking east.

From the SW. The largest stone in the ring (centre) is in the SW arc, which may well have been the same in the original configuration. This grading is found is nearby cairns/circles at Torbreck, Culdethel and Raigmore.

Small collection of cobbles adjacent to the ring. From the original cairn, perhaps?

The “circle” from the east. The two prostrate stones in front are gateposts.

Approaching from the SE.

General view of Drumashie Moor, looking towards Loch Ashie. The cairns and hut circles are located in a muddy, waterlogged and overgrown landscape. Choose a dry day and take some wellies!

Hut circle, Drumashie Moor.

The Merchant’s Stone next to the road.

Small cairn at NH 6306 3593 (centre), looking towards Loch Ashie in worsening, sleety weather.

The fort from the south, showing the two lines of stone ramparts.

Loch Duntelchaig from the outer rampart. The snow-covered Monadhliath mountains rise on the skyline beyond.

Entrance gap in the inner southern rampart.

Looking north along the western rampart. The approaching storm front brought a soaking of sleet and snow.

The western rampart, looking towards the Great Glen and Loch Ness.

A small walker cairn marks the highest point of the rocky fort interior. Looking NE towards Loch an Eoin Ruadha and Loch Duntelchaig.

Looking SE along the inner southern rampart towards Loch Duntelchaig.

The inner rampart from the outer.

Looking NW along the outer rampart.

The outer southern rampart.

Impressive surviving stonework of the outer southern rampart.

Approaching the fort from the SW.

The remaining upright, briefly bathed in sunshine.

The western flanker, sadly broken in two.

Cupmarks on the recumbent.

The slipped recumbent.

Enormous fallen stone next to the broken west flanker. This one would probably be big enough to be a flanker itself in another circle.

Another large fallen stone in the NW quadrant. Mither Tap can be seen on the right skyline.

Large fallen stone in the northern arc, looking across the circle towards the recumbent.

The leaning recumbent (left) and fallen east flanker (right). The stones of this circle are very large. Looking NW.

The surviving but displaced circle stones.

The two displaced circle stones. The broken Pictish stone is at the top left.

The Avenue stone.

The Pictish interloper is on the left.

Visible stones in the henge bank. But who is that tall, dark-clad mysterious figure?

The interior of the excellent little henge.

Approaching.

Possible evidence of a kerb near the remaining upright.