thesweetcheat

Retrospective view of Moel Sych, top right, on the re-ascent of Cadair Berwyn. Llyn Lluncaws mirrors the sky.

Although not very upstanding, there’s a good circular mound of partially turfed, consolidated stone beneath the marker cairn. I can’t help but think that this was always quite a low monument compared to the more prominent mounds on Cadair Berwyn and Cadair Bronwen.

Apparent remains of a kerb. With Cadair Bronwen and Cadair Berwyn (North) visible on the left.

Looking southeast into the blue forever of Mid-Wales.

The small outcroppy stone in the foreground is on the edge of the cairn’s diameter.

Approaching the cairn from the direction of Cadair Berwyn. It doesn’t have a huge profile above the ground surface, other than the modern marker pile on top of it. The backdrop stretches from Pumlumon to Y Moelwynion, taking in Cadair Idris, Aranau, Y Rhinogydd and Arenig in between.

Looking down on Llyn Lluncaws.

The cairn from the summit, with the northern cairn in shadow beyond.

Towards a distant Yr Wyddfa, centre skyline. Below the gentler western slopes of Cadair Berwyn are the Pennant cairns.

Looking eastish.

A sizeable footprint survives beneath the shelter. The cairn on the northern summit can be seen behind on the left.

The badly mutilated cairn, with the craggy summit of the mountain on the left.

The cairn from the north. Moel Sych behind on the right.

From the southern summit.

Westwards towards mountains upon mountains; Aranau, Y Rhinogydd, Arenig, Moelwynion, Yr Wyddfa (obscured by clouds), Glyderau and Carneddau (mostly out of shot far right) are all laid out from here.

With becairned Cadair Bronwen (Bwrdd Arthur) far left, the distant Clwydian Hills beyond on the skyline. It’s difficult to know how much the insertion of the trig damaged the top of the cairn, but presumably the visible stonework is original even if displaced.

Looking east along Cwm Maen Gwynedd.

With the slightly higher southern summit rising in shadow behind.

The fine cairn. Moel Sych with further cairn is far left. The distant skyline ranges are Aranau, Y Rhinogydd and Arenig.

The twin summits of Cadair Berwyn from the north.

Nice autumn light on Tomle, left of centre. Seen from Craig Berwyn. The ridge continues onwards to Foel Wen (with a “mound”) and Mynydd Tarw (with a cairn).

The cairn (centre) from the ridge path ascending Cadair Berwyn.

Looking ENE towards the distant Clwydian Hills.

Retrospective view back towards Tomle.

Looking across the excavation hole in the centre of the cairn towards the crags of Cadair Berwyn’s eastern face.

The impressive cairn. Some small pieces of stone around the base hint at the stone composition of the mound.

Approaching the cairn from the ridge linking Cadair Berwyn with Tomle. The cairn is half way up the ridge on the left of the image. Cadair Berwyn glowers in the centre.

Cadair Berwyn in shadow to the left of centre. The Bwlch Maen Gwynedd cairn is on the ridge ascending over on the right. Seen from the ridge linking the highest Berywn peaks to Tomle.

The Clywdian Hills and Llantysilio Mountain crown the distant skyline.

Looking southwest towards Cadair Berwyn, the highest peak in the range, currently lost in cloud.

Sunshine on Tomle. Looking towards Cadair Bronwen. The large Bwrdd Arthur cairn can be seen on top of that summit.

Looking northeast across the mound.

The mound near the summit of Tomle. Looking east-ish. The summit of Foel Wen is far right; it also has a “mound” according to the OS map.

Tomle is the summit centre skyline. The mound is near to the summit. Bwlch Maen Gwynedd cairn can be seen as prominent bump on the ridge, towards the right of shot. Seen from Bwlch Maen Gwynedd, the col between Cadair Bronwen and Cadair Berwyn.

Five visible stones emerge, after flattening the grasses a bit.

Looking southwest. The outcrop proved to be a good landmark to orientate from when looking for the stones.

The smallest of the five visible stones.

Even the taller stones are lost in the reedy grass.

Looking south.

Temperature inversion fills the Dee valley beyond. The stones struggle to be seen above the reedy grass.

Towards Cadair Bronwen and Moel Pearce. Cerrig Bwlch y Fedw stone circle is roughly in the centre, but not intervisible.

Loking towards Aranau (centre skyline) and Arenig Fawr.Temperature inversion fills the Dee valley on the right.

Big stones in the kerb.

The kerbed cairn, with Braich Ddu/Craig-cwm-lwyd rising on the right.

The excellent kerbed cairn, more overgrown than when Postie came a dozen years earlier. Into the pouring rain, splodges on the lens.