thesweetcheat

Unimpressive and overgrown remains of the northern of the two round barrows.

The “experimental earthwork”, Overton Down. Showing the exposed chalk in the ditch.

The Mother’s Jam, from the northwest.

Fyfield 2 from the northwest, seen across the gallops. The edge of the sarsen drift can be seen in the right foreground.

Fyfield 2 barrow, seen from the west. The upright stones are markers for the gallops.

Amazing spread of sarsen drift, towards the southern end of Fyfield Down (approx SU144703).

Under a wide Wessex sky.

The surface of the paddock around the Den is littered with broken chalk and flint fragments.

Devil’s Den in late Spring, looking southeast.

In late Spring green, centre of image, seen from the downs to the north.

Long Tom stands prominent on the skyline. Seen from the east.

More of the Totterdown Wood sarsens, presenting a very different view of Fyfield Down.

Not all of the sarsens on Fyfield Down are out in the open. Some are rather better hidden, in the mossy seclusion of Totterdown Wood.

Defences along the southern side of the fort.

The southeastern corner of the ramparts.

Looking west along the northern rampart, towards the Ridgeway.

The low remains of the round barrow on the slope to the northwest of the fort, northeast of the disc barrow.

Detail of the arc of the disc barrow from above, looking northwest.

The fort seen from the byway from Uffcott.

Bryn Mawr, seen across the Montgomery Canal.

The wooded hillside conceals the defensive earthwork of Bryn Mawr. Seen from the Vrynwy aqueduct.

It’s a hillforty world. The view southwards from Llanymynech Hill takes in a number of hillforts. On the left, the Breiddin Hills boast two forts, Long Mountain behind (centre of pic) is topped with Beacon Ring, the conical Gaer Fawr is to the right and the wooded hill to the far right is Bryn Mawr.

Llanymynech Hill from the south, across the Montgomery Canal.

Asterley Rocks, the cliffs forming the southern end of the fort.

Section of the wooded northwestern rampart.

The north-western rampart of the fort also doubles as a section of Offa’s Dyke.

The interior of the fort. The landscape shows plenty of evidence of former quarrying, but is now another victim of golf course culture.

Looking north along the interior of the fort, showing the ground dropping sharply to the east (right). There are traces of a bank and ditch, but the trees made it almost impossible to get a decent picture.

The access to the fort at its southern end. I wasn’t sure if this represented an original entrance. The fort itself is on the right, the earthwork on the left is either Offa’s Dyke or the northern end of Llanymynech hillfort.

The densely wooded site from the northwest. The fort is in the centre of the picture, marked by the taller trees.

The northernmost (and least overgrown/wet) of the pits within the western rampart.

The southern rampart, with the Breiddin Hills dark on the far left skyline.

The northwestern ramparts, looking out towards the north Shropshire plain. Wat’s Dyke recommences its route northwards, marked by the hedge with the trees in it running from the centre of the picture towards the top left.

The northwestern rampart. Looking west. Offa’s Dyke follows the wooded ridge on the skyline.

Inner ramparts, approaching the northwestern corner of the fort.

General overview of the western defences, from the fort interior. Oswestry can be seen beyond.

Looking westwards down the sloping path to the entrance.

The outer western ramparts, looking north from the entrance track.

The southern rampart, seen from the road. The picture shows the low remains of Wat’s Dyke running from the bottom right corner to end where it meets the rampart (behind the telegraph pole).

The phases of construction, from info board.

Natural(?) upright stone to the northwest of the barrow (which can be seen in the centre of the picture).

The Black Mountains provide the impressive backdrop. Pen-y-Beacon/Hay Bluff left and Twmpa right.

Some further stonework visible on the top of the barrow.

The road has cut into the west side of the barrow and erosion is continuing, as the tyre tracks attest.

Despite the excavation damage to the top, it’s a very decent barrow.

Showing visible cairn material through the turf.

The barrow from the south, near the two little stones.