thesweetcheat

The SW cairn. The bare area in the foreground is part of the mound, giving an idea of the size even in its ruined condition.

The top of the SW cairn, in a sorry state complete with rusty cans. No idea if anything remains of the central cist.

The wide mound of the SW cairn.

Panoramic landscape context. The cairn is in the centre of shot, the Rhondda Fawr drops behind, with the Mynydd Maerdy/Cefn y Rhondda ridge beyond separating the Rhondda Fawr from Rhondda Fach. The central peaks of the Brecon Beacons rise far left.

The ruinous remains of the cairn. Maindy Camp is visible as a brighter green area on the ridge in the middle distance behind.

The remains of the cairn in its upland location, looking east down the Rhondda Fawr. The odd conical bump on the skyline is Tylorstown Tip.

A few bits of rubble construction poke through the grass, but there’s not a lot to see.

Looking along the inner enclosure bank.

The western side of the outer bank, looking north.

The northern part of the outer bank, looking east.

The inner enclosure bank, looking SE towards Mynydd y Gelli.

Approaching from the east along the bridleway from Pentre.

The circle relates to Legis Tor in a way reminiscent of other circles and rocky outcrops (Boskednan/Carn Galva, Tregeseal/Carn Kenidjack, Nine Stones Close/Robin Hood’s Stride, to name but three).

Just outside the ring, especially on the eastern side, I noticed a number of quartz-veined pebbles, seemingly in a sort of minilithic outer ring(?). Here’s an example.

The northern arc in front.

Looking SE, rain comin’ downwards at 45 degrees...

Even a downpour can’t detract from this magnificent circle.

Looking east across the cairn circle towards Legis Tor.

Approaching along the row from the north in heavy rain.

The pre-molar like stone on the west of the cairn circle.

The diminuitive terminal stone at the north end of the row.

The lovely 3m terminal stone at the SW end of row 1, with the row stretching away to the left.

The terminal cairn (cairn 2) at the NE end of row 2.

The enormous terminal stone at the SW end of row 2.

Row 2, running from SW terminal stone in the centre of the shot to NE cairn over on the right.

Cairn 1, the terminal cairn at the NE end of row 1.

The large fallen slab at the NE end of row 1, next to the terminal cairn.

Row 1’s finely tapering SW terminal stone.

Looking NE along the double section of row 1.

The Giant’s Basin. In the foreground are the remains of cist 6.

Looking NE along row 3.

The 2.4m tall terminal stone at the SW end of row 3 (the NW row).

You ain’t seen me, right?

You want animals? We got animals! Row 2’s terminal stone and the Giant’s Basin cairn (note strategically placed sheep), more frequented by four-legged than two-legged visitors.

Terminal cairn circle 3. The stone on the left is the end of the stone row.

The central terminal cairn (Cairn 3), at the NE end of the NW row (Row 3). This is a proper cairn circle, with an outer ring of uprights around the base of the cairn.

Cairn 4. This complex cairn is constructed of at least two rows of small concentric slabs. The outermost ring is set a way outside the mound (see stones on left of picture).

Cairns 2, 3 and 4 (l-r). Cairns 2 and 3 are the NE terminals of stone rows, whereas Cairn 4 doesn’t have a row (although some theories suggest it was intended to).

General view of the Giant’s Basin cairn and Drizzlecombe rows, seen from Cairn 18 (to the NE).

The ravaged top of Cairn 18.

The impressive 20 metre diameter Cairn 18.

Cairn 18 (SX59376717), the second biggest cairn in the complex.

Remains of hut circle. Behind are the low walls of Settlement A, the northernmost of a row of three settlement enclosures situated to the NE of the stone rows.

Another view of cairn 15, showing the upright slabs in the ruined centre.

Drizzlecombe cairn 15 (SX59256721), to the NE of the stone rows.

Extensive views from the NW cairn.

The Eylesbarrow itself (the SE cairn).

The NW cairn.

Eylesbarrow cairns (SE left, NW right).

The disturbed centre of the cairn.