thesweetcheat

The fort from the south.

The long promontory of Trwyn Porth Dinllaen stretches out on the left, with the triple peaks of Yr Eifl rising beyond. Far right is Garn Boduan hillfort.

Carn Fadrun utterly dominates the surrounding countryside. Seen here rising above the village of Tudweiliog, from the northwest.

Looking out to sea, from the south.

The rampart at the neck of the promontory from the north. The boulders below are a testament to the coastal erosion affecting the site.

The northern side of the promontory falls away to crumbling cliffs, making it hard to know how much has been lost to the waves.

Looking down on Porth Iago from the top of the grassy rampart. The distant hill is Mynydd Anelog that we rounded a couple of hours earlier.

The rampart appears to be the straight feature running diagonally directly down the side of the promontory, with a later wiggly field boundary over the top.

A later, thin earthwork overlays the broader line of the rampart.

From the southeast. Surfer dude provides scale.

The promontory fort forms the north side of the sheltered cove of Porth Iago.

Looking southwest over the site to Pen y Cil and Mynydd y Gwddel. On a clear days the views are astonishing, taking in Cadair Idris (extreme left skyline) and all the way across Bae Ceredigion to the distant Mynydd Preseli in Pembrokeshire (out of shot far right).

Looking towards Ynys Enlli/Bardsey from the small settlement site.

Poorly preserved hut circle, looking east.

The hillside to the east is called Mynydd y Gwddel (“Hill of the Irishman”), which suggests early Christian visits or even earlier trade links.

Although there’s little or nothing to suggest it was put up by people, it’s also a very oddly upright stone for a wholly natural outcrop.

Maen Melyn points the way towards Ynys Enlli (Island of the currents).

Maen Melyn in its clifftop position. Fynnon Fair (St Mary’s Well) is somewhere near the base of the cliffs at the bottom of the photo.

Ynys Enlli (“Island of the currents”), where flint tools and Iron Age settlement long predate the island’s appropriation as a Christian centre and pilgrim destination.

Landscape context from the southwest. Castell Odo is the gently conical hill, left of centre.

Other prominent prehistoric sites are Carn Fadrun hillfort (distant centre), Mynydd Rhiw (axe factory and cairn cemetery, right of centre) and Creigiau Gwineu hillfort (far right).

Yr Wyddfa from the Snowdon Ranger station. The path that climbs the mountain from here involves the third most ascent of the main paths (ta Mr G).

Looking down the Gwyrfar valley from the southeast. Mynydd Mawr is the mountain on the left, with a big cairn on the summit and another on the subsidiary summit Craig Cwmbychan looking over Llyn Cwellyn. On the opposite side of the valley is Moel Eilio, crowned with another big cairn.

Y Garn, with Mynydd Drws y Coed rising behind, seen from the east. The cairns are resolutely invisible from here, meaning that only elevation or distance will bring them into view.

The steep scarp face of Y Garn (left) dominates the little village of Rhyd Ddu. Mynydd Mawr, with further cairns, is over to the right.

Eastern profile of the mountain, from the Wales Highland Railway near Beddgelert.

Ynys Enlli (Bardsey Island) is top left – the prominent hill is the site of a prehistoric settlement and flint tools and workings have been found all over the island. Seen from Mynydd Penarfynydd to the northeast.

Mynydd Rhiw (cairns and Neolithic axe factory) on the left and Mynydd y Graig, crowned with Cregiau Gwineu hillfort on the right. Seen from Mynydd Penarfynydd to the southwest.

Hut circle below the fort.

Hut circle downhill to the south of the fort.

The fort from the slopes to the south.

Traces of stone walled rampart can be seen below the outcrop on the eastern side of the fort. Looking down on Porth Neigwl.

The middle of the fort incorporates a massive rock outcrop.

Looking north. Mynydd Rhiw (cairns, axe factory) rises on the far left. Immediately to the left of the stone and just peeking above the wall, the very top of Carn Fadrun can be seen.

Approaching along the lane from the northwest. Note the large recumbent stone built into the wall, bottom left – it looks like this might be the “other” stone of the pair, although I didn’t even notice it when we were there. Doh.

In its damaged and dilapidated state, it’s very much overshadowed by the neighbours at Tan y Muriau and Cefn Amlwch, but you have to give full marks for the setting above Porth Neigwl, with views to the distant Rhinogydd.

Looking north towards the long ridge of Mynydd Rhiw with its Bronze Age cairns and Neolithic axe factory. I was pleased about the electric fence between me and the herd of over-excitable bullocks.

Sadly this is one of those oh-what-a-shame-why-are-people-so-stupid sites.

Looking south, the prominent hill is Mynydd y Graig, with the Creigiau Gwineu hillfort on its rocky summit.

The view eastwards down to the sweeping bay of Porth Neigwl.

The eastern chamber, note moss-covered earthfast stone in the foreground which presumably was once part of a structural feature of the monument.

The smaller but still excellent eastern chamber, with its (presumably) slipped capstone.

The other side of the mighty western chamber.

The western chamber with its massive capstone.

Looking northwest across the line of the long cairn. The distant mountains include the Nantlle ridge, Yr Wyddfa, Moel Hebog and the Moelwyns, while the hillfort of Garn Saethon forms part of the nearer backdrop.

Looking down on Porth Neigwl/Hell’s Mouth and Mynydd Cilan.