GLADMAN

To south-east.

Northern rampart, looking westward... the crag falls sharply away to the west rendering minimal artificial work necessary (as far as I could tell).

Northern defences, looking east(ish).

Eastern flank, looking north(ish). Fan Gyhirych battles with the inclement South Walian weather, beyond.

To the north – the most powerful defences facing the path of least resistance, as one would naturally expect. Including a rock-cut ditch, it would appear.

To the south/south-west... highlighting the shattered ‘rock pavement’ prevalent in the area.

For such an assumed ‘peripheral site’ the defences are quite substantial. This is to the south-east.

Viewed from the north... this is a tidy, well-sited hillfort set amongst a landscape of numerous Bronze Age cairns.

With (at least) several more cairns plus an excellent hillfort in the locale, I did wonder why I hadn’t been here sooner? But there you are.

Great place to hang out for a while, this. I popped in again on the way back to use up the remaining daylight. As you do.

By far the most substantial of (according to Coflein) a trio of cairns to be found here – like carl before me, I noted two.

I enjoyed a very extended stay here... time just seemed to fly. The central peaks of The Brecon Beacons crown the northern horizon.

This is a significant upland cairn, it has to be said.

Looking across the copious cairn fabric to Twynau Gwynion and Cefn Yr Ystrad.

9 years since realising a 2 mile diversion from Coedcae’r Gwarthog was too much... I finally make it here in search of an upland vibe. To say Carn-ddu delivers is an understatement.

Such was the OTT nature of the ‘keep out’ protestations, I chose to restrict myself to looking over the fence here. The large cairn is pretty well-preserved, all the more pity it is being treated with such disdain. But then South Wales isn’t exactly enlightenment central. Isn’t it tragic such so-called ‘progressive’ industries as ‘wind-farming’ appear to have no concept of the land their infrastructure exploits?

Towards Mynydd Margam...

The larger monument from the smaller.

The smaller neighbour....

The large southwestern monument. Pretty well preserved but unforgivably bisected by – and isolated behind – a barbed-wire fence, the owners of the wind-farm threatening “prosecution” against any more intelligent visitor. Although, come to mention it... isn’t damaging a scheduled ancient monument supposedly a CRIMINAL offence?

Hanging out upon the outer bank.

Eastern inner defences looking from within – much clearer with a ground plan, it has to be said.

The well-established trees ensured the eastern arc of outer defences was my favourite part of the site.

Inner defences with weather conditions deteriorating somewhat...

Incidentally, the wondrous Black Cliff promontory fort is within the woodland to the right of the near tree.

Upon the outer bank to the east...

Eastern inner defences.......

Outer bank and ditch within the trees to east.

Eastern arc of the outer defences... don’t you just love those trees?

Hanging-out upon the cross-bank....

Western flank, looking approx north(ish). Clearly, no significant artificial defence was required here. Coflen mentions ‘scarping’, although I was pretty sure there was some stonework beneath the vegetation? Maybe not.

Within the ditch, looking approx south, bank to right (obviously)

What I took to be the original entrance (?) to approx south; the great cross-bank curves away to the left.

The defences are pretty overgrown, but for me, that merely adds to the vibe here.

The cross-bank from the ditch, again looking approx north.

The great cross-bank, looking north(ish)

Western flank looking approx south......

Arriving steeply uphill from the approx north-east...