The southwestern cairn, with Fan Llia rising behind.
Image credit: A. Brookes (7.2.2018)
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The position of the cairns in their valley, seen from Fan Fawr.
Image credit: A. Brookes (7.2.2018)
Snowy view of Glyn Tarell from the slopes of Fan Fawr.
Image credit: A. Brookes (7.2.2018)
Visited 7 March 2010.
A visit to the “Three Castles” of Skenfrith, Grosmont and White Castle with some friends includes a walk up Edmund’s Tump (Graig Syfyrddin), a prominent hill in eastern Monmouthshire. A lovely spring day, a bit of a chill lingering from a cold morning, the mud still firmly frosted. From the hill, an impressive view stretches west across the Monnow valley to the Black Mountains, but the real draw for me lies nearer at hand in the form of the wedge-shaped Ysgyryd Fawr, an outlier of the bigger hills, sharp-crested and solitary in its elevation above the valley. It looks close enough to touch.
After leaving White Castle, a hasty plan is made to climb Ysgyrd Fawr before the light fades. We park to the south and make our way through woods to the steeply rising ridge. The sky is a deep blue, the ranks of hills, ridges and mountains themselves hazy in powder and periwinkle, ice and Delft.
It’s cold on the top, the summit is exposed to winds that didn’t register down below. The views are wonderful though, I watch a couple of planes leave their high altitude vapour trails, the only mark on the otherwise flawless sky. There’s little to see of any hillfort, although scant remains of the later chapel are discernable. But coming here isn’t really about the archaeology, it’s a matter of location and landscape.
It’s not long since I climbed the neighbouring Blorenge, a first foray to these South Wales peaks. By now my appetite is properly whetted and I long to visit the hills I can see spread before me. I won’t be waiting long.
Rybury (centre) under dramatic skies from the Vale of Pewsey.
Image credit: A. Brookes (21.2.2010)
Storm clouds threaten the downs. Adam’s Grave is silhouetted on the skyline, right of centre.
Image credit: A. Brookes (21.2.2010)
Ysgyryd Fawr seen across Abergavenny from the lower slopes of Blorenge.
Image credit: A. Brookes (20.2.2010)
The western rampart, with the presumed line of the ditch now followed by a trackway.
Image credit: A. Brookes (7.1.2018)
The low winter sun leaves the northern side of the barrow frozen and untouched. The shaggy moss covers one of several limestone blocks on the top of the mound.
Image credit: A. Brookes (7.1.2018)
Nice rock basin behind the Gorse Stone, looking over the edge of the moor towards Darley Dale.
Image credit: A. Brookes (30.12.2017)
Looking towards T2 cairn and the southern circle.
Image credit: A. Brookes (30.12.2017)
Some idiot has had a fire on the central slabs.
Image credit: A. Brookes (30.12.2017)
The site from the southwest, the bank just visible as a darker feature in the heather.
Image credit: A. Brookes (30.12.2017)
The western arc of the bank, nearest the path, with stone leaning against the inside.
Image credit: A. Brookes (30.12.2017)
General view across the very overgrown site. The snow against the bank on the left marks the opposite side.
Image credit: A. Brookes (30.12.2017)
Triangular slab marking the southern entrance through the bank.
Image credit: A. Brookes (30.12.2017)
A winter visit is recommended, the cairn will be swamped with bracken in the summer.
Image credit: A. Brookes (30.12.2017)
Looking north towards the Reform Tower, which makes for the best landmark to find this cairn.
Image credit: A. Brookes (30.12.2017)
Buried in bracken, this is actually one of the biggest cairns on Stanton Moor.
Image credit: A. Brookes (30.12.2017)
The low stones of the bank clothed in bright green moss.
Image credit: A. Brookes (30.12.2017)
The southern arc of the bank, visible as a green curve from bottom right across to the left under the forked tree.
Image credit: A. Brookes (30.12.2017)
