GLADMAN

Toward Pen Pumlumon-Arwystli....

Sunburst, looking southwards from the central cairn. Y Garn lies in the distance. Also a must-visit for the upland antiquarian...

Central cairn... so large, it has multiple parasitical shelters built upon its footprint.

Southern cairn, looking north..

The well preserved southern monument..

A section of the great central cairn, looking approx north-west(ish).

The huge footprint of the central cairn from the north... so large that it fills the entire breadth of the image. The well preserved southern monument can be seen extreme right.

The huge central cairn....

Pen Pumlumon Fawr from Banc Llechwedd-mawr’s cairns to the approx north-west. From here one can view the first cascades of the nascent Afon Rheidol from it’s rising within Llyn Llygad-Rheidol.... Pumlumon’s hidden watery eye. LLyn Pen Cor-Maen can (I reckon) just be seen centre right of image, the northernmost of a series of small lakes set upon the lower rocky spine seen here (Fainc Ddu). The stone, if it still exists, is a little to the left (north).

Indicating the approx position (assuming it still exists?) of Pen Cor-Maen, alleged to form an alignment with the Cerrig Cyfamod Glyndwr to approx north (right).

Eastern flank, looking south down to Cwm Berwyn. Incidentally, you can just make out my car extreme centre left of image – I had a chat with an occupant of Cefn Bychan farm and locals are happy with that – as long as you don’t park like an idiot.

Again, highlighting the well preserved circular footprint of the southern monument... and the exquisite aspect of northern Pumlumon.... imo the finest upland Bronze Age landscape in Wales. Sun, too!

Another of the ancillary cairns...

Gazing across to Banc Llechwedd-mawr and Drosgol... magnificent vibe here. Cairns, cairns... as far as one can see... Note the fine, circular arc of the footprint.

One of the small ancillary cairns... presumably later?

Note one of the little cairns mentioned by Coflein, foreground.

It has to be said – making the assumption that’s original cairn fabric within the ‘beehives’ – that these are very substantial cairns, indeed.

Pen Pumlumon-Fawr seen bathed in magical evening light from Banc Lluest Newydd 9/9/2020. The watercourse is the Afon Hengwm. And to think numerous muppets over the centuries would’ve had you believe Pumlumon is ‘boring’. The deep gash in the landscape conceals the source of the Afon Rheidol.

Again, that northern ‘cairn‘

The additional ‘cairn’ to the north.... Carn Hyddgen’s cairns can be seen top left.

Now Coflein is silent in this respect – and I didn’t notice during my last visit 8 years ago – but this feature, a little north, certainly appears to be of artificial construct? Pen Pumlumon-Arwystli glowers upon the horizon.

The way forward toward the far, far more substantial pair of cairns gracing the summit of Carn Hyddgen.

Towards upper Cwm Hengwm. Those with excellent eyesight may just about make out Carn Fawr, upper right.

Looking across the Afon Hyddgen to Pumlumon’s most enigmatic standing stones during an ascent of Banc Lluest Newydd (9/9/2020). Note that it is now possible to cross further to the south (left) – via a new footbridge at SN779891 – rather than ford the Hyddgen. The summit of Banc Llechwedd-mawr, rising above, bears two Bronze Age cairns.

Preparing to ford the Nant y Llyn (the nascent Afon Rheidol) en route to Banc Lluest Newydd, seen rising beyond, and Carn Hyddgen.

The natural defences of the eastern flank, looking approx south... note how the main rampart of the northern exclosure acts as a cross-bank.

Lots of stone still in situ here at this magnificent hill fort.

Southern enclosure, looking toward the northern... note the twin defence lines of the latter here.

The inner, southern defences of the northern enclosure, looking south... the main rampart can be seen arcing around to the left, with the southern ‘annex’ beyond.

Eastern flank of the northern enclosure, looking approx north... I found no trace of any former defences here... although whether there was a token wall back in the day, now fallen and within the scree below, dunno. I would assume not, since the angle is very steep. The traveller is immediately reminded of a similar plan at the great Dinas hill fort overlooking Llyn Clywedog further to the north.

Sunburst upon the powerful western defences of the northern enclosure, looking approx north.

Looking across the main entrance to Y Carneddau.

The unexpectedly well preserved main entrance into the northern enclosure, from the southern.

Y Carneddau... bearing hill forts and cairns galore ... from the SW corner of the northern enclosure.

Looking approx south along the very powerful western defences... this really is a first-class hill fort.

The approach from the north...

The superb Castle Bank hill fort from the equally fine ‘fort overlooking Cwm Berwyn to approx SW. I had taken a brief from the previous visitor’s fieldnote and decided to forego a visit... but, clearly, could not disregard the evidence of my own eyes.. consequently re-arranging the itinerary to enable a visit at the end of the week. Exceptional. It would appear Coflein agree.

Seen descending Garn Fawr to the approx south-west...

Looking towards the (apparent) site of Garn Felen, engulfed within forestry. I made a serious attempt to visit, but could not locate the monument within... Bryn Rhudd and Banc-y-Gwyngoed (left to right) can be seen beyond

Towards Tregaron.....

The obligatory ‘marker’ cairn upon the far larger prehistoric footprint facing off to Garn Gron.

Across the cairn, looking approx North-east. Garn Gron, with its excellent cairns/hillfort etc, rises beyond.

Looking approx south-west toward distant Bryn Rhudd.

The customary parasitic paraphernalia notwithstanding, the traveller can appreciate why this is called Garn Fawr......