GLADMAN

Chamber ‘A’. Gilman Camp can be seen rising beyond...

The magnificent Chamber ‘A‘

Chamber ‘B‘

Chamber ‘B‘

Traces of ‘archaeological matting’ out of shot extreme bottom left indicate the former final resting place of the ‘Red Laddie’ some 33/34k years ago now [natural light, 13 second exposure]

From within. I swear one could sit here all day. But best not... unless one can abseil. Or happen to be Aquaman.

From the cave entrance [natural light, approx 8 seconds exposure]

Looking from the path traversing Foxhole Slade... the cave is within the cliff face (approx centre) accessed to the left.

Looking down Foxhole Slade. The fort is top right, the tide well and truly ‘in’.

The wondrous cave is out of sight below.... but not out of mind.

With the wind a’blowing some knots I don’t mind admitting a fair degree of vertigo. One assumes the former inhabitants were not prone to sleepwalking?

Incidentally, the evocative Craig-y-Dullfan might just be made out centre left... or not. My eyes are no longer that good.

My mama told me, there’d be days like this. Not very often on Pumlumon, mind. Hopefully, TMA will be seeing a lot more in the future.

Looking approx southwest near the summit of Tal-y-Fan towards the northern Carneddau. The great cairns of Carnedd Y Ddelw (right) and Carnedd Pen y Borth Goch (left) allow Llwytmor and Foel-fras to shine... well, glow as these rise above.

Towards ‘the rest’ of Y Carneddau from a rather hostile Tal-y-Fan. Just the way it should be.

Gazing towards Conwy Bay from Tal-y-Fan. There’s a lot going on down there, enough to interest any period-head, I’d have thought? For the Antiquarian, the hillforts Dinas Allt-wen and Castell Caer Seion can be seen centre and right, The Great Orme bringing up the rear, so to speak. Foel Lus is to the left.

Towards the site of the ‘axe factory’... and destroyed hill fort... from Tal-y-Fan

Southern flank, looking east(ish)...

Southern flank

Southern inner bank... pretty impressive.

Northern flank...

Western arc, looking approx north...

Western defences...

Hadn’t been here before... which, given the quality of the earthworks and relative proximity to the M4, is pretty odd.

Classic site, this. A very substantial monument set in a wondrous location overlooking what is – for me – one of Wales’ finest cwms: Cwm Doethie. Cefn Cnwch Eithinog stretches away, centre left. It was good to return here.... and linger.

The smaller cairn to approx southeast.

Carn Saith-wraig’s neighbouring monument to approx southeast... in most other locations this would surely be a primary site?

This is a substantial, impressive monument.

The magnificent ‘composite ring cairn/round barrow’, looking across to Bryn y Gorlan..

The sun began to break through after a horrendous morning. Whaddayaknow?

The professionals don’t appear to concur... but I did wonder if there are actually several former cairns here?

Forestry obscures views upon the northern arc... which is a shame, but hey. I do like trees...

Not the most upstanding of upland cairns, granted... but given the location, what’s not to like?

Looking towards the nearby round cairn...

Looking toward Cwm Doethie in deepest Ceredigion...

Not exactly ‘standing’ anymore – if it ever did? – now more a fabulous quartzite block ‘reclining’ in old age. Punters might wish to compare with not-too-distant Cerrig Cyfamod Glyndwr upon wondrous Pumlumon.
themodernantiquarian.com/site/13116/cerrig-cyfamod-glyndwr

Ironically enough, this is the only section of the monument shown upon the map. At least my map...

Don’t fence me in! There is a field gate some distance to the southwest (behind me taking this picture) allowing access. I felt pretty sure the landowner would not object.

The circular bank can be seen curving away to the left...

Looking approx southwest(ish). Clearly, this was a pretty substantial monument back in the day.