thesweetcheat

The northernmost of the four cairns I found, looking north off the moor. The big slab in its centre must have been part of the cist.

The huge cairn on the summit of the hill. Although the mound is badly robbed, the cist is one of the megalithic highlights of Bodmin Moor.

The second cairn from the south, close to the big cairn. Looking south towards Leskernick Hill with Hendra Downs (The Beacon) rising behind, and the south-eastern tors above Altarnun over to the left.

The southernmost cairn, looking west towards Brown Willy and Roughtor. There appears to be a hint of kerb around the edge.

The southernmost cairn I found, looking NE towards Bray Down (the cairns on its summit are prominent from here).

Looking east towards the pale blue hills of Dartmoor.

The remains of a fine kerb of big slabs around the edge of the large cairn.

The centre of the large cairn, looking towards Brown Willy, with Roughtor peeking over the ridge to the right.

The large cairn, looking north with Buttern Hill on the left and Bray Down on the right, both with their own fine cairns.

Smaller cairn to the south of the main cairn, which can be seen beyond.

The remaining upright on the southern arc.

The remaining upright on the northern arc.

The longstone in the centre of the circle. If this was ever standing, it would be have dwarfed the other stones.

From the northeast, looking towards the Fowey valley. Tolborough Tor on the right.

The circle from the south.

Southern arc, looking towards Brown Willy.

Looking northwest to Leskernick Hill.

Looking north towards Bray Down.

Western arc.

The circle from the northwest, with The Beacon rising behind.

Looking west from the eastern end. From here Tolborough Tor has dropped below the skyline, but Brown Willy remains very prominent.

The one remaining upright in the row. Looking east.

Looking east along the row, with one of the half-buried fallen stones in the foreground.

Three stone “arrangement” at the western end of the row. The cairn is silhouetted on the left skyline, Tolborough Tor straight ahead.

Cairn to the SW of the western end of the row. Leskernick Hill beyond, Bray Down over on the far right.

The two large slabs set on edge on the foreground hint at kerbs from a long gone cairn over the cist, perhaps?

Towards Brown Willy.

The dismounted capstone on the left, chamber on the right.

Looking southwest across the Fowey valley towards Tolborough Tor and Codda Tor.

With the dismounted capstone in the foreground, settlement boundary beyond. Looking towards The Beacon, Hendra Downs.

Fine hut circle on the southern slopes of the hill, above the northern stone circle.

Looking down the upper Fowey valley. Tolborough Tor is the hill right of centre.

Fine double-walled hut circle in the southwestern part of the settlement.

Settlement boundary wall on the southwestern edge of the site. Looking towards Brown Willy.

What appear to be clearance cairns at the northern end of the settlement. Tolborough Tor just peeps over the skyline, centre.

Some of the hut circles are very denuded.

Larger hut circle.

Looking towards Leskernick Hill. The two Leskernick stone circles and stone row are on the saddle to the right.

Small hut circle. Looking towards The Beacon, Hendra Downs.

How much of this is naturally placed rocks and how much is human activity is unclear, but it’s a really cool site either way.

The upright slab forming the edge of the chamber can be seen on the left.

Brown Willy behind to the left.

Looking southwest.

Looking southeast towards the distant tors above Altarnun. Tolborough Tor on the right.

Looking into the “chamber”. The west side (on the right) is formed of upright slabs, which look as though they might have been placed there by human intervention.

The chamber is the area below and to the left of the huge blocks. Bray Down is the hill on the left skyline.