GLADMAN

Strangely... Coflein includes images of a cairn at these co-ordinates with cist and slipped capstone??

Not the best of conditions; but nevertheless a pretty fine, well placed cairn with heaps of vibe.

Viewed from a very hostile Yr Aran: there are (sometimes) rewards for perseverance in the face of adversity. Llanberis Pass is filled to the brim, top right.

A worthy spot for a giant’s burial, perhaps? Yr Wyddfa Fawr viewed from Yr Aran

A somewhat grassy cairn...….

The sharp-eyed may just make out Cerrig Cedny top right. Not a stone.... but many, arranged in a great pile

Toward the mountains of South Wales.

Pretty large, this.

Crowned by an OS trig pillar.... set amongst forestry operations – indeed, damaged by those operations, despite obvious efforts of those in charge – this is nonetheless a large, well preserved (presumed) cairn. Presumed, since the grassy mantle is absolute.

The summit cairn of Carn Twrch can be see beyond...

Toward Y Mynydd Du and the great escarpment barring access to South Wales. Pen-y-Fan and Corn Du can just be discerned extreme top left beyond Carn Twrch.

Another excellent upland round cairn to add to the Mid Walian canon.

Eastern cairn.... possible cist.

Eastern......

Western cairn...

The other cairn.... and some sky. To be fair the sky takes precedent here.

Western cairn. Note the obvious kerb

Western cairn. Note the orthostat, foreground.

Both cairns display – to me – clear indications of former cists elements/kerb. This is the western cairn.

The cairns sit upon Esgair Beddau, approx centre of image (the middle of the three roughly parallel ridges.

Craig Goch Reservoir can be seen extreme right....

The landscape is classic Cwmdeuddwr Hills...

Looking across to Egsgair Beddau, home to a brace of cairns. The ridge continues to Clawdd Du Mawr… note that a circuit of the surrounding hills, despite the relatively modest height, is a serious undertaking owing to lack of any paths across knee high tussocky grass and bog. As you would expect from the Cwmdeuddwr.

Unless you are aware what you’re looking for.... but once located this is clearly a fine round barrow, excellently positioned within the landscape.

Approaching from Trumau to approx south.... the round barrow stands upon the near rise, lower centre of image.

The irony of places such as this – pragmatic, utilitarian structures – also being so goddam exquisitely beautiful never fails to impress upon me.

Looking back to the ‘enclosure’ upon Cefn-y-Gaer. I must say I agree with the local farmer (who came up to check me out and was an unusually well informed man) that the powerful nature of the ramparts of the latter suggest something much more significant than ‘livestock enclosure’ apparently assigned by the pros.

Western defences. Suffice to say these people weren’t messing about.

Toward Llanddewi and the A483..

Note the Norman motte and bailey (Tomen Bedd Ugre) to the left of the central wind turbine

The western defences are superb...

Northern flank looking to very approx north-west

Western bank.

Western bank looking approx south...