GLADMAN

Kerb stones..........

Perhaps the finest cist I’ve seen this side of a Scottish Heritage-maintained site. And this really is in the ‘middle of nowhere’. So an infinitely better vibe..

Not sure what this feature represents, to be honest. Ideas? The displaced cist capstone lies just beyond.

Excellent monument, this...

The cist, looking towards Pen-y-Bwlch. Was on there in July. Looked this up online and knew I had to come as soon as possible.

Note the pièce de résistance in the centre of the monument... the excellent cist, more-or-less intact.

The ethereal conditions were appropriate... if no bloody good for photography.

Note the remains of a significant kerb...

The magnificent main cairn approaching from the approx east... magnificent not so much because of its size, but internal detail.

A brief moment of clarity. Wonderful spot, this.

Dodgy conditions... but there you are. I liked it here. The Craig Goch Reservoir can just be seen looming through the rain.

As with nearby Banc Cynnydd, the cairn here upon the wild, windswept top of Esgair y Llwyn does not appear on the map...

Another small piece of the extensive Cwmdeuddwr jigsaw. Numerous other monuments upon the far ridge.

Note: travellers approaching Banc Trehesglog from the north will note what has been termed the ‘BRINDDEL FELEN TOMB’ to the immediate right of the track at SN93256957 (a little way beyond a large standing stone at SN93226964). Now although Coflein are undecided about prehistoric pedigree... “May be animal shelter..“, CPAT are adamant this is a ‘natural feature’. To these eyes, it certainly looked the real deal – but if so, why wasn’t it picked up by any earlier antiquarian?

Exquisite in its anonymity...

Lacking a cairn – did it ever have one? – it would be beyond easy to walk straight by this gem. The presumably associated 3 stone alignment can just be seen beyond, the summit crags of Crugyn Ci rising above.

A welcome sunburst, looking towards the summit of Crugyn Ci.

As far as I’m aware the little upland llyn doesn’t possess a name...

Rhayader can be seen in the distance, to the right of Craig Ddu.

The cist lies, unseen, a little beyond.

This lovely alignment, lying (very approx) north-east of the summit trig station of Crugyn Ci, is not marked upon the map... but is there nonetheless.

Within the ditch looking approx south, the great outer cross-bank to right. I’d been here for hours in the pouring rain and high wind... and could’ve spent more if it wasn’t for the chill effect which sooner or later means enough is enough.

Inner bank to the north.

Inner bank looking presumably north(ish). Yeah, Nature has reclaimed Esgair Nant-yr-Arian. And so much the better for the vibe, I reckon.

Inner cross-bank, looking south(ish). The rest is very, very overgrown.

Looking approx south, the ground falling away very sharply...

Looking north along the ditch, outer defences to left.

Outer cross-bank, looking north(ish). Needless to say, the elements were not having any of it...

The massive outer cross bank.

In conditions very, very different from last year’s distant view from Carn Dolgau... the wondrous promontory fort occupies the far bit of the wooded hill/crag, centre left.

Looking very approx north-west toward Cwm Mwyro and my ascent route. Note the footprint, foreground, with stones protruding through the turf. Note also that there is a fine cairn about a third of a mile to the west, not to mention a cemetery at Blaen Glasffrwd to SW.

Time has not been kind to Pen-y-Bwlch’s summit cairn; however, although described as a ‘scatter of stones’, Coflein consider this to have a prehistoric origin. I agree... one just needs to know what to look for.

Looking approx NE into the heart of the Cwmdeuddwr wilderness...

As is often the case with these obscure Mid Walian monuments secreted away in the middle of the Green ‘outback’, a walker’s cairn (presumably just the one muppet irresponsible in this case) crowns a grassy footprint.

Looking approx east....

Pretty good structural evidence for a former cist...

Bit of unexpected rain a’passing through... but then if you don’t equip yourself for that in the hills of Wales you are, frankly, an idiot.

The stone pile is now more-or-less hollow, but nonetheless possesses a reasonably good shout for a former cist.

Note the kerb stones, bottom right.

I had planned to approach through the forestry – visible here – but ended up making the very steep ascent from the Afon Mwyro to the north (right). Good decision, in retrospect.