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
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.
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.
Looking approx west along a quite substantial arc of the surviving ring cairn.
First impressions upon arriving at the c1,620ft summit can probably be summarised as ‘but there’s hardly anything here!’ However, take a peek over the fence and allow the eyes to adjust... this has a deceptively substantial footprint.
Esgair-y-graig can be seen beyond... the final leg of the horseshoe walk.
Not that upstanding, but of reasonable diameter... and occupying a first-rate location.
Esgair Clochfan is located ‘around the corner’ near the distant forestry line – with a soggy interlude en route.
Looking roughly south toward Blaen Clawdd Du. There is just so much going on upon these deceptively benign Cwmdeuddwr Hills. The footprint is hopefully self-explanatory.
The overcast, misty conditions thankfully didn’t persist.... or else I would’ve seriously considered aborting the continuation to Esgair Clochfan. These are not hills to take lightly.
