GLADMAN

Towards Gyrn Ddu from the northern arc...

Towards Northern Snowdonia, then. And a passing shower...

At the entrance...

Looking to the approx southeast from the south, where ‘modern’ walling surmounts the ancient stonework.

Looking roughly north towards the great cairns of Gyrn Ddu..

The exceedingly well-preserved ‘double wall’ to the west...

Looking back towards Cwm Cilio farm from the ‘main entrance’... top farmer, by the way. So don’t take the piss.

A first-class monument, in my opinion.

If at first you don’t succeed Mr. Kidd?

Hill fog (hence the visit) accorded a rather intense vibe to this substantial monument...

The substantial capstone...

Suffice to say, the location of this heavily overgrown monument is not exactly advertised on the ground. My third time of asking... (the first unsuccessful through my ignorance; the second curtailed by a young, hostile ‘farmer-type’ trying – and failing comically – to berate me for straying from the path... while farcically having no clue whatsoever as to any ‘burial chamber’ on ‘his’ land)... this was actually well worth the perseverance over the years. In retrospect, an audience is easy enough: approach from the east, not via Sling (i.e. the Chwarel-goch road, where a former ‘phone is annotated upon the map), head through the metal gate and look to enter the field to your left as SOON as possible... then follow the line of ‘telegraph posts’ uphill into the trees.

The Great Orme (appears to) rise above the hill fort Dinas Allt-Wen... viewed – with optical assistance – from Tal-y-Fan.

The strategic significance of the great hill fort’s location, looming above Dyffryn Conwy, is obvious – viewed from Tal-y-Fan.

Optically-assisted close-up of the brutal south face of the ‘hill fort’. The main summit of Y Berwyn rise beyond, Cadair Berwyn prominent.

Craig Rhiwarth and Y Berwyn are resplendent looking across Bwlch y Main from Carnedd Das Eithin to the south.

Foel Offrwn (centre) and Foel Faner (to right): two hillforts standing before the great escarpment of Cadair Idris. Yet more loom beyond overlooking the Afon Mawddach. Viewpoint is near Moel Cors-y-garnedd, above Bwlch Goriwared.

They sure knew where to put ‘em. Obviously...

The great round barrow/cairn(?) at the summit. Yeah, pretty obvious when you consider it... The wondrous Pumlumon peeps above the shoulder of Foel Fadian (which, as well as possessing a fairly substantial barrow of its own, hosts a viewpoint dedicated to the late, great Welsh raconteur Wynford Vaughan-Thomas. Can’t say fairer than that)

Gazing towards Southern Snowdonia – Cadair Idris is seen left skyline – from what is clearly a substantial summit barrow/cairn.

This is what can be seen at the spot depicted upon the map, looking across Bwlch Coch to the excellent Pumlumon outlier Foel Fadian. To be fair, there did appear some manner of circular feature here... and this would be a typically ‘Bronze Age’ location, set below and to the southwest(ish) of the summit. However, there is no doubt in my mind about the mound at the summit.

The monument can be clearly seen surmounting the 1,539ft summit of Moelfre upon concluding the very sharp ascent from Bwlch Glynmynydd to the (approx) northeast. Note that this is NOT where it is depicted upon current OS mapping... whether there is actually anything – or once was anything – at the said location would appear dubious.

Wondrous monument, wondrous location, and thus wondrous vibe...

Looking across the ‘hollow’ resulting from the c19th Century ‘excavation’ towards the site of the none too distant Afon y Dolau Gwynion chambered cairn, itself only rediscovered in 1993! According to CPAT: “...The c.1800 excavations produced “a piece of brass kettle” (possibly a small pot or cauldron) and some coins. Pieces of armour are reputed to have been found near the same place...”

Cadair Berwyn – the sentinel peak of Y Berwyn – can be seen rising above the stupendously ‘rugged’ hillfort of Craig Rhiwarth, top left.

The iconic main ridge of The Arans can be seen far left..

Located upon the 1,709ft summit of an outlier of Y Berwyn, this substantial round cairn is (apparently) some 6ft in height, c66ft in diameter. It seemed higher, no doubt utilising a natural knoll to good advantage.

The ‘crag-top’ enclosure before its magnificent parent

Looking toward Y Tarenau...

The great hill fort can be seen beyond...

That’ll do nicely...

A decent upland cairn, albeit somewhat ‘hollowed-out’ by halfwits.

My interpretation – for what it’s worth – is that the enclosure acted as an ancillary ‘lookout post’ guarding against a hostile party assembling here following an approach from Bwlch-y-maen to the south? Or maybe the enigmatic band of quartzite mirroring that below the cairn simply made this an ‘important place’?

The central peaks of Cadair Idris lord it over the head of the Dysynni valley.

Approaching through the entrance defences...

The site viewed from above to (very approx) south east...

Optically-assisted view from the great hill fort... the enclosure sits – hidden in plain sight – centre left, with the cairn rising above. Note the matching strata of quartzite...

I swear one could sit here all day. No, really.