Looking southeast to the forbidding terrain of the northern Rhinogydd.
Image credit: A. Brookes (10.11.2021)
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Moel y Gest (centre) dominating the Afon Dwyryd estuary. Seen from the southeast, on the path to Llyn Eiddew Bach from Eisingrug.
Image credit: A. Brookes (10.11.2021)
This extremely prominent quartz boulder is located above Nant Cadair, close to the Minffordd path. If Dr Toby Driver’s speculation is correct and this path is an ancient route up to the lake, this quartz boulder must have been well-known to the passing visitors.
Image credit: A. Brookes (8.11.2021)
Llyn Cau seen through mist from Craig Lwyd, on the descent from a climb of Craig Cwm Amarch in filthy conditions. If this was a place of pilgrimage, it certainly has the ability to throw in some seriously arduous conditions!
Image credit: A. Brookes (8.11.2021)
From Dr Toby Driver, RCAHMW, 9th October 2018:
There is a high likelihood that the lake was a place of sacred importance in the Iron Age given the find of a hoard of La Tene Late Iron Age metalwork (NPRN 419531) a kilometre to the south-east on the mountain path up to the lake. However, further archaeological investigation of the landscape environs of the lake are required to place it in a more robust archaeological context.
The horde was found below Llyn Cau in a cavity below a large boulder protruding from the mountainside;
Field visit by Toby Driver, RCAHMW, 11th December 2013. The find spot is marked by a prominent glacial boulder, naturally fallen into its present position and propped up on massive upright stones so as to resemble an artificial ‘burial chamber’. Beneath the boulder is a dark, nartually formed ‘chamber’ which may have attracted Iron Age people to use the site as a place of deposition. The find spot lies alongside the modern Minffordd path up to Llyn Cau and Cadair Idris, suggesting considerable antiquity to this particular route. Across the path from the propped boulder, and below the line of the track, is a minor spring formed of rock slabs on three sides of a cleared, damp area. This spring head, if ancient, may have further influenced the hoard site. The boulder marking the find spot is the most prominent and impressive of its kind flanking the path as it ascends from the valley floor to the open mountain above. It is perhaps the only boulder formation which may have suggested an artificial construct or chamber to prehistoric people. It is likely that the corrie lake at Llyn Cau was the focus for any traveller climbing this path in antiquity, perhaps for ritual purposes, and therefore the attribution of the hoard to ‘Tal-y-llyn’ is potentially misleading in the interpretation of its landscape context.
Foel Offrwm is centre of shot, with Y Arannau behind. Lower down to the right is Foel Faner. Seen on the descent from Y Garn, above Ty’n-y-Llwyn.
Image credit: A. Brookes (7.11.2021)
Autumn on Diffwys (centre), seen from Y Garn’s summit.
Image credit: A. Brookes (7.11.2021)
Mynydd Moel is the left hand of the three central summits of Cader Idris. Seen from Y Garn (Rhinogydd), across the other side of the Afon Mawddach.
Image credit: A. Brookes (7.11.2021)
Diffwys is the mountain summit over on the right. The ridge extending left across the skyline boasts three further cairns; Mynydd Egryn, Bwlch y Rhiwgyr and Llawllech. From Mynydd Foel-isaf to the east.
Image credit: A. Brookes (7.11.2021)
The hillfort stands sentinel over the Afon Mawddach estuary, in the middle distance just left of centre. From New Precipice Walk below Foel Ispri.
Image credit: A. Brookes (7.11.2021)
Sunburst on the Afon Mawddach, with Cader Idris rising behind. Tyrrau Mawr is the peak over on the right, the cairns located on the ridge just to the left of that. Seen from New Precipice Walk, below Foel Ispri.
Image credit: A. Brookes (7.11.2021)
Foel Offrwm is the prominent hill in the middle distance, just left of centre. The skyline mountains behind are the Arannau, with the Dyfi Hills over to the far right. The viewpoint is the New Precipice Walk below Foel Ispri.
Image credit: A. Brookes (7.11.2021)
According to Gwynedd Archaeological Trust, there are the remains of a cairn and cist right on the summit of Diffwys:
On the highest point at 750m, approx 18m N/S and 12m E/W, with high crags dropping to the E.
Heavily robbed for the modern wall crossing the cairn but with undisturbed cairn material surviving up to 0.5m above the natural hill top.
Just W of the wall are two arcs of large, radially set stones and two large edge set stones, 1.5m and 1m long, set at 90 degrees, forming part of a cist which appears to have been robbed.
Kicking myself that I didn’t check Historic Wales before traipsing up here in September!
Foel Faner is the shadowed hill on the right, the fort occupies the right hand summit. Looking towards distant Rhobell Fawr. The viewpoint is next to Llyn Tan-y-graig, above Llanelltyd.
Image credit: A. Brookes (7.11.2021)
Looking over the circle towards Chatton Hill, just out of reach today. The smallest stone is very deep in the heather now.
Image credit: A. Brookes (20.10.2021)
The grooved stone, the tallest in the circle.
Image credit: A. Brookes (20.10.2021)
Approaching the circle. Even the bigger stones are disappearing into the ankle deep heather.
Image credit: A. Brookes (20.10.2021)
A little kerbed cairn over the wall from the circle, sadly I didn’t have time to investigate further.
Image credit: A. Brookes (20.10.2021)
The steeply conical profile of the hill from the south.
Image credit: A. Brookes (20.10.2021)
The equally heathery western side of the fort, looking towards The Cheviot.
Image credit: A. Brookes (20.10.2021)
Looking southeast towards the moors above Alnwick.
Image credit: A. Brookes (20.10.2021)
Something structural on the highest part of the hill.
Image credit: A. Brookes (20.10.2021)
Looking northeast from inside the fort, towards the North Sea. There’s little in the way of visible earthworks to be seen under the heather and bracken.
Image credit: A. Brookes (20.10.2021)
The prominent hillfort from the southwest, near the neighbouring Hepburn Crags Camp.
Image credit: A. Brookes (20.10.2021)
Looking along the western rampart, situated just above the steep slopes of the escarpment.
Image credit: A. Brookes (20.10.2021)
Looking across the interior towards The Cheviot.
Image credit: A. Brookes (20.10.2021)
The sloping interior of the fort from the eastern rampart (left).
Image credit: A. Brookes (20.10.2021)
Stonework at the eastern entrance.
Image credit: A. Brookes (20.10.2021)
Looking northeast towards Ros Castle from the eastern rampart (left side of shot).
Image credit: A. Brookes (20.10.2021)
Looking south along the eastern rampart.
Image credit: A. Brookes (20.10.2021)
Looking SSW. The green hill in the middle distance, centre, is Old Bewick hillfort. I think the ridge of hills on the far horizon may be Simonside.
Image credit: A. Brookes (20.10.2021)
Apart from the modern marker fashioned out of stone from the earlier monument, the rest of the structure is completely covered in heather.
Image credit: A. Brookes (20.10.2021)
Heather-covered cairn on a natural prominence above the western escarpment of Hepburn Moor. Looking west towards the Cheviot Hills.
Image credit: A. Brookes (20.10.2021)
Looking west towards The Cheviot.
Image credit: A. Brookes (20.10.2021)
A serious quantity of stone is retained inside the kerb.
Image credit: A. Brookes (20.10.2021)
Looking southwest, with Old Bewick hillfort on the skyline.
Image credit: A. Brookes (20.10.2021)
It’s difficult to tell if all this stone is cairn, clearance, or something else. Looking back up to the hillfort on the hilltop.
Image credit: A. Brookes (20.10.2021)
Cairn material, presumably, although it’s not in much of a shape.
Image credit: A. Brookes (20.10.2021)
Looking over the ramparts of the western fort towards Ros Castle.
Image credit: A. Brookes (20.10.2021)
Looking from the western fort into the eastern fort.
Image credit: A. Brookes (20.10.2021)