GLADMAN
The strategic siting of the enclosure is clear to the south-west... that’s the M4 occupying, presumably, the age-old route through these parts.
Image credit: Robert Gladstone
Inner defences to east, looking north(ish) – I think
Image credit: Robert Gladstone
Hanging out in front of the chamber in the sun. There are worse things to do. There’s still the remnants of long cairn material within that industrial-strength vegetation.
Image credit: Robert Gladstone
The capstone from above... Nature sure wants this back, don’t you think?
Image credit: Robert Gladstone
A large block of stone to the rear of the chamber. Oxwich Bay sparkles in the sun beyond.
Image credit: Robert Gladstone
The chamber, featuring a rather splendid capstone still in situ. I don’t usually undertake too much gardening... but the brambles were a little too much to let be, to be honest.
Image credit: Robert Gladstone
Looking northward... or thereabouts. Cefn Bryn (with who-knows-how-many-cairns?) rises beyond.
Image credit: Robert Gladstone
Not the easiest long cairn to find, it has to be said.... even in winter.
Image credit: Robert Gladstone
Looking across to the wondrous Oxwich Bay... from (I think) one of the Talbot Road cairns (cSS50758920)
Image credit: Robert Gladstone
The excellent enclosure upon Cilifor Tor can be seen extreme top right... if I’m not mistaken.
Image credit: Robert Gladstone
Talbot Road cairn at cSS50758920 (?) looking across to its neighbour (centre right).
Image credit: Robert Gladstone
Looking west. Long time since I’ve been that-a-way to the Great Cairn....
Image credit: Robert Gladstone
One of the Talbot Road cairns at cSS50758920
Image credit: Robert Gladstone
Fine – if very windy – conditions upon Cefn Bryn belying the poor forecast..... I reckon this is one of the Talbot Road cairns at cSS50758920
Image credit: Robert Gladstone
One of the Talbot Road cairns at cSS50758920... or so I reckoned
Image credit: Robert Gladstone
The Pistyll y Llyn – or at least one section of what, in my estimation, is one of the UK’s finest – not to mention highest – waterfalls... far superior to the famous falls at Devil’s Bridge. The cairn crowning the high ground overlooking the river to the east is totally at odds with what the experienced walker would expect from a ‘Pumlumon’ type of monument, capped by pure quartzite. Suggestion is this magnificent waterfall had something to do with this deviation from the norm? If our predecessors did possess ‘special’ landscape features, surely this was one?
PLEASE NOTE: obtaining this image was a pretty dangerous exercise in retrospect...
Image credit: Robert Gladstone
Visited July 2017 following an irretrievable camera breakdown upon Birch Tor (hence no images) it’s only just dawned upon me that this screensaver, taken looking approx west from Down Tor, highlights the superb position of this cairn – skyline, to the left of Sharpitor and overlooking Burrator Reservoir. Leather Tor stands in the foreground.
Image credit: Robert Gladstone
Looking from the cairn upon Moel Siabod, the fabulous setting of this ‘circle beside Llyn Cwmfynnon (almost exact centre of image) is, I would say, apparent.
Image credit: Robert Gladstone
I do feel The Welsh do not eulogize their prehistoric monuments nearly enough... to my mind, the long ‘mound’ upon Bwlch Goleuni (the horizontal-ish, sunlit ridge resplendent centre left before the ascent to the dark summit of Gallt-yr-Ogof) possesses one of the finest – the finest? – locations of a comparable monument within these Isles.
Image credit: Robert Gladstone
It should go without saying... but bring a compass.
Image credit: Robert Gladstone
Near the ‘top’ of Daear Ddu.... if Coflein’s records are to be believed it was not far from here – at SH71005520 – that the wondrous ‘Moel Siabod’ bronze shield was found. If so, it is an apt location.
Image credit: Robert Gladstone
Curious large slabs within the gutted cairn.
Image credit: Robert Gladstone
Looking across the cairn toward distant Y Carneddau.
Image credit: Robert Gladstone
The secondary ‘burial chamber’....... the image quality is indicative of the conditions.
Image credit: Robert Gladstone
The adjacent round cairn.... not to mention the vagaries of Y Berwyn’s climate.
Image credit: Robert Gladstone
Towards Carnedd y Ci... I was tempted... but in the end, a continuation to the cairn across the Nant Eisgeiriau won out. Good decision, too – for once – bearing in mind the week’s coming exertions.
Image credit: Robert Gladstone
