Looking – somewhat wonkily – from Cairn V to prominent Cairn IV and the site of Cairn I (where the mast is now).
Image credit: A. Brookes (17.4.2016)
thesweetcheat
The very spread out Cairn V, hardly recognisable as a cairn.
Image credit: A. Brookes (17.4.2016)
Cairn IV profiled against beautiful April skies.
Image credit: A. Brookes (17.4.2016)
Looking down on the weirdly spread Cairn V from Cairn IV. The prominent hill is Carn Fadrun, which dominates the whole of the immediate area. Beyond that rise the peaks of Yr Eifl.
Image credit: A. Brookes (17.4.2016)
Looking from Cairn IV towards Cairn III (middle distance) and Cairn II (on the high point).
Image credit: A. Brookes (17.4.2016)
The impressive Cairn IV. Yr Wyddfa, Moel Hebog and the Moelwyns can be seen faintly on the right skyline.
Image credit: A. Brookes (17.4.2016)
Low Cairn III, with Cairn II on its prominent knoll to the south. The arc of stones on the right may be the remainder of a kerb.
Image credit: A. Brookes (17.4.2016)
The low spread of Cairn III in the foreground, with Cairn IV, the best in the group beyond. Carn Fadrun is the prominent hill on the distant right.
Image credit: A. Brookes (17.4.2016)
The more intact side of Cairn II.
Image credit: A. Brookes (17.4.2016)
Looking across the trashed top of Cairn II towards the site of Cairn I, destroyed by the building of the radio transmitter.
Image credit: A. Brookes (17.4.2016)
Cairn II, at the southern end of the linear group.
Image credit: A. Brookes (17.4.2016)
There are four cairns in a linear group towards the northern end of the summit ridge of Mynydd Rhiw. A further cairn was destroyed by the erection of the radio transmitter to the west of this group.
Coflein details, south to north:
Cairn I (destroyed) (SH2297229496)
No trace of this cairn survives; it was removed during the construction of a radio station and mast. In 1939 it was described as being 18m in diameter.
Cairn II (SH2325029497)
Cairn situated on a prominent SW to NE aligned ridge of volcanic rock crossing the summit of Mynydd Rhiw.
An impressively sited cairn, comprising a max 17m diameter spread of stone that falls away down the hillslope. Within this spread there is a 6m diameter core some 1.5m high, within which a modern structure/shelter has been constructed.
Cairn III (SH2327429600)
The cairn is situated just 9m south of and below a more prominent cairn (Cairn IV). It comprises a low spread of stone 14m in diameter and 0.5m high into which a recent structure has been constructed. Around the north-west edge of the cairn, a series of stones may represent the original kerb.
This cairn appears to have been used as a sighting point on the line of the Parish Boundary. The boundary runs up and changes direction at the cairn and there is some suggestion that parts of the parish boundary may have earlier antecedents.
Cairn IV (SH2327829625)
The cairn sits on a high point of the ridge and is one of the largest, comprising a wide spread of stone 23m in diameter that is partly mixed with natural scree. Within this spread a 10m diameter pile stands up to 3m high and has a number of modern structures/shelters constructed in it.
Cairn V (SH2330429679)
The cairn comprises a spread of stone 12m in diameter, of which some material has fallen down the slope. The cairn stands up to 0.7m in height and is comprised sub-angular stones 0.2m to 0.4m in size. A small modern cairn has been constructed onto this cairn.
Landscape context from Mynydd Rhiw to the ENE. Bardsey/Ynys Enlli can be seen in the distant centre. The pointed hill on the far left is Clip y Gylfinhir, where the Tylwyth Teg hang out.
Image credit: A. Brookes (17.4.2016)
The fairy hillock of Clip y Gylfinhir (see folklore) at the southern end of Mynydd Rhiw.
Image credit: A. Brookes (17.4.2016)
Creigiau Gwineu hillfort occupies the rocky summit of Mynydd y Graig on the left. The headland of Mynydd Penarfynydd is over to the right. From the southern slopes of Mynydd Rhiw to the northwest.
Image credit: A. Brookes (17.4.2016)
At the southwestern end of Mynydd Rhiw there is a very prominent conical outcrop called Clip y Gylfinhir:
Mrs Williams, of Pwll Defaid, told me that the rock opposite, called Clip y Gylfinhir, on Bodwydog Mountain, a part of Mynydd y Rhiw, was the resort of the Tylwyth Teg, and that they revelled there when it was covered in mist; she added that a neighbouring farm called Bodermud Isa’, was well known at one time as the place the fairies came to do their baking.
From Celtic Folkore – John Rhys (1901)
The name translates at Crag of the Curlew (literally “long beak”).
Just a sprinkling of snow on the summit cairn. Seen through the train window from the south.
Image credit: A. Brookes (16.4.2016)
According to the GAT sites record, there are two stones, one fallen/recumbent at SH22602770 to the NW of the standing one.
The record states:
The stones are known locally as Lladron Maelrhys – two thieves stole from the church and were turned into stone as they crossed the parish boundary.
Hazy Brent Knoll, from the hillside above Cheddar Gorge.
Image credit: A. Brookes (2.4.2016)
The road is a long way down there.
Image credit: A. Brookes (2.4.2016)
The amazing stratified cliffs of the south side of the gorge, with sheep bum.
Image credit: A. Brookes (2.4.2016)
The wooded upper reaches of the gorge.
Image credit: A. Brookes (2.4.2016)
Looking along the gorge from the ENE in hazy Spring sunshine.
Image credit: A. Brookes (2.4.2016)
From the tree-line the ground drops away steeply into a narrow valley.
Image credit: A. Brookes (2.4.2016)
The west side of the mound of Blagdon 1, on the edge of open moorland. On the other side the fence the mound is lower, as the field is ploughed.
Image credit: A. Brookes (2.4.2016)
Blagdon 1, at the far eastern extreme of the cemetery, right on the edge of the open access land and formerly crossed by a parish boundary.
Image credit: A. Brookes (2.4.2016)
Burrington 22, a low and overgrown mound to the southeast of the summit.
Image credit: A. Brookes (2.4.2016)
Burrington 20 in the foreground, lying a little way to the southeast of the summit group which can be seen beyond.
Image credit: A. Brookes (2.4.2016)
Burrington 14, 15 and 16 from the southeast. I like the little wooden signs asking visitors to keep off the monument, not too intrusive but clear.
Image credit: A. Brookes (2.4.2016)
The fine Burrington 19, the other one of the pair to the south of the summit group.
Image credit: A. Brookes (2.4.2016)
The low mound of Burrington 18, one of a pair of barrows on boggy ground to the south of the summit.
Image credit: A. Brookes (2.4.2016)
The main summit group Burrington 13-16, seen from the south.
Image credit: A. Brookes (2.4.2016)
Burrington 16, at the eastern end of the closely-spaced summit group.
Image credit: A. Brookes (2.4.2016)
Burrington 15, a very fine barrow.
Image credit: A. Brookes (2.4.2016)
Burrington 14 and 15, just to the east of the summit cairn.
Image credit: A. Brookes (2.4.2016)
Burrington 13, looking east.
Image credit: A. Brookes (2.4.2016)
Burrington 13, the restored summit cairn on the highest point of the Mendip Hills.
Image credit: A. Brookes (2.4.2016)
Burrington 11, looking northwest to Weston and the Bristol Channel.
Image credit: A. Brookes (2.4.2016)
Burrington 11, the most westerly in the group, looking towards the summit cairn.
Image credit: A. Brookes (2.4.2016)
The northern pair from the southern.
Image credit: A. Brookes (2.4.2016)
The southern cairn, overgrown but protected from the erosion affecting the northern pair.
Image credit: A. Brookes (2.4.2016)
Sparkly slab in the northwestern cairn.
Image credit: A. Brookes (2.4.2016)
The northwestern cairn. The northeastern cairn can be seen far left, the southern cairn is darker feature silhouetted against the skyline on the right.
Image credit: A. Brookes (2.4.2016)
Detail of the northeast cairn.
Image credit: A. Brookes (2.4.2016)
Exposed stones on the top of the NE cairn.
Image credit: A. Brookes (2.4.2016)
The badly damaged north-eastern cairn, suffering from the main ridge path crossing right over the top of it.
Image credit: A. Brookes (2.4.2016)