thesweetcheat

Towards Foel Drygarn across the site.

The huge block at the Coflein grid reference, referred to in the “misc” post. Presumably this is the Grey Stone of the Moor which gives the site its name.

From this angle, there appears to be a curving bank of rubble, which the taller uprights fit into. Bottom of the shot is a slab set on edge which is very kerb-like. Although the triangular pointy stone looks as though it may be natural outcrop, that doesn’t preclude something like a ring cairn being built to incorporate it.

Looking northeast towards Foel Drygarn and Frenni Fawr. The pointy stone looks like a natural outcrop, but I couldn’t really make my mind up about the site as a whole.

In all the excitement of the three massive cairns, this feature is easy to overlook. It’s a semi-circular bank of rubble enclosing an outcrop, looking very like a tor cairn or ring cairn of the sort found on Bodmin Moor.

Detail of the eastern cairn.

Eastern cairn from central, looking towards Frenni Fawr.

Detail of the massive central cairn.

Central cairn from eastern.

The western cairn from the central, looking towards the crags of Carn Menyn/Meini.

The inturned banks flanking the western entrance of the fort.

Northern ramparts.

Looking west towards Foel Cwmcerwyn (left), with Foel Eryr/Cerrig Lladron in sunshine beyond. Mynydd Carningli over to the right. Newport, out of sight and below Carningli, looks a very long way away. Just as well there will be plenty to look at on the way.

Northeastern ramparts. Frennau Fawr is the prominent hill.

Frenni Fawr from Crymych to the southwest, at the start of a very long walk. Three cairns can be seen silhouetted on the skyline.

With the wonderful jagged crags of Carn Menyn on the skyline.

With Foel Cwmcerwyn over on the left skyline. The field is less overgrown than in previous photos. The combination of uneven wall, ditch, barbed wire and gorse between me and the stones is out of shot. Access should be easier from the north, but we didn’t have time to investigate further.

Looking northeast towards the slopes of Carn Sian.

Foel Cwmcerwyn, the highest point in Mynydd Preseli (and Pembrokeshire) rises behind.

Looking north-ish.

Looking west-ish.

Looking south-ish.

Eastern outlier, with western beyond.

Western outlier, after the sun had gone.

Looking north towards Foel Feddau and Carn Sian. The Cerrig Meibion Arthur stones are below the hills.

Looking west. The rounded hill in the centre is (I think) Mynydd Bach.

Towards Foel Cwmcerwyn, the highest point in Pembrokeshire.

Just off from the circle is what appears to be small ring of low stones, looking very much like a little kerb- or ring-cairn. Nothing on the SMR that I can see, but it looked quite obvious on the ground.

The southeastern arc, with the jagged Carn Menyn on the left skyline.

Stones in the northwestern arc.

Looking southwest, once the gaze was wrenched away from the Preseli backdrop.

I’ve wanted to come here for almost a quarter of a century, it really didn’t disappoint. Looking towards Mynydd Preseli.

It’s a wreck, but a very pleasing one.

Upright stone in the hedge bank on the southwest side of the field. Yr Allor is over a couple of hedges to the right, but we didn’t try to visit.

One of a couple of semi-buried stones in the field, just outside the arc of the earthwork.

Serious lean on the smaller stone.

Looking northwest towards Mynydd Preseli. Foel Cwmcerwyn, the highest point of the range and one of my objectives for the next day, is just left of centre.

Approaching from the north. The bank curves across the centre of the image.

The riverside position of the possible orthostats. Mikey (forever in our hearts) may be sharing a memorial with long-forgotten Neolithic proto-Mikeys.

The possible orthostats.

The stones that were speculatively orthostats in a chambered tomb capped by Carreg y Fendith. The Afon Teifi is over the fence to the left.

Carreg y Fendith.

Looking south, with the summit of Blorenge rising on the left skyline.

Looking NW, with Pen Cerrig-calch on the left and Waun Fach and Pen-y-Gadair Fawr on the right.

The cist in the western cairn from above – no snow filling it this time.