thesweetcheat

Looking north, down to a distant looking Dolgellau where warmth and tea await. Y Garn, Foel Offrwm and Rhobell Fawr are the dimly seen backdrop hills.

The enclosure slopes steeply to the east. Looking towards the Dyfi Hills, in a reverse of Gladman’s image.

Enclosure wall, with the cairn to the right. I think the cairn is modern, although it’s not on the true summit of the hill. It surmounts a natural outcrop enclosed by the wall.

Contemplating the ascent on the north-east ridge, as 40-50 mph winds lash the rain at me. Who says you have to be mad to do this?

One of the large hut circles in the settlement close to the cairn.

This is a super cairn circle (or ring cairn).

Showing remains of an inner kerb.

Orthostats, like flower petals or sun rays.

Looking north-ish.

Looking south-ish in worsening weather. The lower slopes of Mynydd Egryn peak out from the below the cloud base on the right.

Looking in through the entrance.

The excavated round house, showing cobble floor.

The top of the central chamber in the southern cairn.

Central chamber in the southern cairn.

Looking along the magnificent southern cairn towards the coast. No nice views of the Lleyn today, but Pen y Dinas hillfort is prominent on the skyline, right.

Collapsed portal dolmen at the end of the northern cairn.

Orthostats of the collapsed portal dolmen at the end of the southern cairn.

Massive capstone on the collapsed chamber in the northern cairn.

Ruined chamber in the northern cairn.

Ruined chambers in the northern cairn, looking towards the southern cairn.

The steep drop to Ceunant Egryn. The superb Carneddau Hengwm chambered long cairns are on the hillside to the right, with Hengwm ring cairn further up.

Some large blocks in the rampart.

The northern rampart, looking east. The stone circles at Llecheiddior and Ffridd Newydd are up there somewhere.

The northeastern arc of the rampart. G/F admires the “view” of Ardudwy.

Looking down on Ceunant Egryn along the eastern rampart.

Looking north along the western rampart. Moelfre would be the hill on the far right, but only its base is visible below the hillfog.

Stonework of the western rampart.

Outer ditch on the WSW side of the fort.

From the northeast, looking over the coastal plain of Ardudwy to a very grey Bae Ceredigion.

From the road to the northwest, showing the well-preserved outer bank of the settlement, juvenile bullock for scale.

Looking towards Craig y Castell and Tyrrau Mawr.

Detail of the excellent kerb.

Looking towards Pared y Cefn hir. The cairn is looking a bit more overrun with bracken than in previous photos.

Small cairn to the north of the main monument, which can just be seen over the top of the reedy grass.

Looking south to the rocky hill of Craig y Castell. This prominent hill blocks the views of Cader Idris from the cairn.

Looking towards Tyrrau Mawr (left) and Pared y Cefn hir (right).

Looking northwest.

What appears to be a further small cairn just to the SE of the big monument, which can be seen beyond.

The grassed-over eastern part of the cairn is largely free of gorse and bracken. Looking southeast up towards the summit of Craig y Castell.

It’s not clear whether the big stone in the foreground came from the cairn or is clearance.

Looking west.

The very large but low cairn. Carnedd Lwyd, Tyrrau Mawr on the left, Pared y Cefn hir on the right.

The rocky ridge of the fort, centre skyline, seen from Craig y Castell to the east.

Seen from the summit of Craig y Castell to the south. The two main cairns “upon a woodland saddle” are also indicated.

Autumn afternoon landscape context from the south; Craig-y-Waun/Craig y Castell North is the rocky hill in the middle ground. Diffwys, the southern summit of the main Rhinogydd ridge, crowned with a Bronze Age cairn, rises behind.