GLADMAN

One of two relatively substantial round cairns located to the south of the Greens Moor long cairn [along with numerous other small (clearance?) cairns], this tall, well defined monument is described by Canmore thus:

’ This well-preserved cairn now appears as a heather-covered mound, composed of small to medium sized boulders. Circular on plan, it measures 11.3m in diameter and 1.7m high, exhibiting a fairly regular, bowl-shaped profile on all sides except the S, where severe stone- robbing has taken place. RCAHMS 1978, visited 1975‘

Another lower, less well preserved round cairn is to be found nearby. Unfortunately I was unable to get any images during my visit due to ever-worsening weather conditions, although the Canmore database has some worth checking out.

This hill, a 586m eastern outlier of Tinto, is also crowned by an ancient cairn, although – at c1.2m high and 13m diameter (according to Canmore) – it is much less substantial than Tinto’s extraordinary c6m high monument. But then since Tinto is quite possibly Scotland’s largest upland cairn, of course it would be, wouldn’t it?

Searching The Heritage Gateway I found the following concerning the fine bell barrow situated within Deerleap Wood, part of the private Wotton Estate:

“Name: Bell barrow in Deerleap Wood
List Entry Number: 1007878

The monument includes a bell barrow situated on the rise of a gentle north-facing slope in an area of greensand. The barrow survives as a centralmound 25m in diameter and 2m high, surrounded by a flat platform, or berm, up
to 6.5m wide. This area is contained by a ditch 4m wide and 0.5m deep from which material was quarried during the construction of the monument. Beyond the ditch is an external bank 4.5m wide and 0.4m high. The overall diameter of
the monument is 55m. The barrow was partially excavated in 1960 when the construction of the mound was found to include an inner mound of turf erected over an inhumation burial. No skeletal evidence however was preserved due to the acidic soil conditions. The turf was then covered by stone capping over which sand was piled. Two artefacts contemporary with the construction of the monument were found, a whetstone and a flint tool. Additionally over a thousand Mesolithic worked flints were found, showing that the barrow had been constructed on a much earlier flint working site.

Book Reference – Author: Corcoran, J X W P – Title: Excavations of a bell barrow in Deerleap Wood, Wotton – Date: 1963 – Journal Title: Surrey Archaeological Collections – Volume: 58 – Page References: 1-18 – Type: DESC TEXT”

Another of a series of Bronze Age funerary cairns which surmount the most easterly ridge of The Black Mountains, this also doubling as the England/Wales border.

The Loxidge Tump cairn, well sited overlooking Cwm Siarpal and the beautiful Vale of Ewyas, is most directly reached via a popular path ascending from Llanthony Priory to the Offa’s Dyke Long Distance route, the latter following the aforementioned ridge. As such, the Mam C and I have walked right by the monument without realising what is was. Doh!

According to Coflein it is ‘A cairn, 6.5m in diameter and 0.7m high. (source Os495card; SO22NE8) J.Wiles 03.09.02’.

Not much to go on, then.

I make this denuded monument to be fractionally across the English border... although, to be honest, lines upon maps mean nothing up here. The Offa’s Dyke Long Distance Path runs right past the western flank.

Nevertheless, Coflein have the cairn recorded as:

‘A centrally disturbed cairn, 14m by 12m and 1.4m high. (source Os495card; SO22NE13)J.Wiles 03.09.02‘

Although not marked upon either the 1:50k or 1:25k OS map, the denuded mound at the northern extremity of Beacon Hill apparently represents the remains of a round barrow... according to Buckinghamshire HER:

“Late prehistoric round barrow excavated in the nineteenth century and re-used as a beacon and Second World War gun emplacement.... Length 0600 cm Width 0350 Height 0091....Excavated by B Burgess. Found bone fragments, a horse’s tooth, a lttle charcoal & coarse brown & black pottery (B1)....” HER Number: 0091000000.

The ‘Cairn of the Goats’ represents the remains of a Bronze Age round cairn – presumably funerary in nature – surmounting Drum Ddu (The Black Ridge) which rises a little to the south of the village of Llanwrthwl, near Rhayader.

According to the Clwyd-Powys Archaeological Trust (record PRN897) it is:

‘15.9 m long N.-S. by 13.1 m wide and 0.9 m high, attaining a height of 1.5 m on the N. owing to the fall of ground in that direction. On the W. side of the cairn is a projecting platform of partly-turfed stones, extending 5.5 m from the perimeter, 4 m wide and 0.1 m high. The centre is much disturbed and a rectangular sheepfold 4 m square, 1 m high. entrance to the S. has been erected upon it. O.S.Card SN 96 SE 11’.

Although clearly not having survived the millennia that well, the cairn is nevertheless well placed and thus a fabulous viewpoint... particularly looking north along the course of the River Wye towards Rhayader. Consequently an ascent is recommended via the fine cairn cemetery of Carnau Cefn-y-Ffordd, below to the west. Note that there are numerous other Bronze Age cairns in the vicinity, in particular upon Y Gamriw across the valley and further east.

Probably one for completists only – or the... er.... obsessed – but I guess well worth having a look around if you’re a lover of remote mountain landscapes and discovering traces of the human beings who actually used to call such desolate spots ‘home’. That’ll be me, then.

The settlement – or what remains of it – sits upon the south-western slopes of Moel Eilio, outlier of the shapely, funerary cairn-topped Pen-Llithrig-y-Wrach (the ‘slippery hill of the witch’) which forms a fine triumvirate with Pen yr Helgi Du and Carnedd Llewelyn (also bearing a Bronze Age cairn) at the head of the valley beyond. The site itself overlooks the Afon Porth-Llwyd and Llyn Eigiau Reservoir, the impressive crags of Craig Eigiau adding the finishing touch to the vista. Not bad scenery, then.

According to Coflein:

‘A settlement of 7 hut circles from 3-7m in diameter. Several enclosures of loose-lipped rubble walls. Hut circles badly mutilated and barely discernible. Modern sheepfold built in centre of site. (JONES.RS/CAP/2003)’.

I’ve driven past this many a time... yet never stopped to have a look to date. A sorry state of affairs which I’ll need to rectify at some point.

According to our friends at Coflein this is:

“A ploughed down round barrow 9.0m in diameter and 0.3m high. It lies on a narrow strip of common land between cultivated fields. Its neighbour, less fortunate 21m NNE in an arable field, has been obliterated......RCAHMW AP955059/42”

Set upon high ground to the south of Merthyr Mawr Warren and its plethora of historic and prehistoric human settlement sits the probable ploughed out remains of a causewayed camp.... presumably discovered by air survey.

Hence nothing tangible to see at ground level, but I guess the fact that it can still be determined is enough.

Coflein has quite a bit of related text at:

coflein.gov.uk/en/site/90000/details/NORTON%2C+INTERRUPTED+DITCH+ENCLOSURE/

Merthyr Mawr Warren is a special place in a great position overlooking the Afon Ogwr. Yeah, even when judged in relation to the superb coastline of Glamorgan, of which it forms part – a coastline with majestic cliff lines bearing numerous Iron Age hillforts – it is stunning. Not only does it consist of some of the highest sand dunes in all Europe – rising up to some 200ft – but the continuity of human settlement here is staggering. No, really, it is. From Mesolithic to Medieval, with several Bronze Age cists discovered for good measure. Not to mention the substantial ruins of a fortified manor house (Candleston Castle) and a Norman fortress at nearby Ogmore Castle, the latter guarding exquisite stepping stones across the aforementioned river.

Having said that, shifting sand doesn’t make for good location/preservation of detail, so don’t expect to ‘see’ a great deal of prehistory here in the normal sense. But if you are prepared to open your mind and walk the dunes.... I’ve no doubt a good day will be had.

The Glamorgan-Gwent Archaeological Trust (GGAT) site accessed via

archwilio.org.uk/

possesses a lot of information regarding the prehistoric, er, prehistory of the dunes. To whet the appetite, try these two for starters (I quote GGAT records, of course):

ROBERTS’S CIST BURIAL – (PRN) : 00226m – SS85917704

“A stone cist on Merthyr Mawr Warren, uncovered by sand movement in 1948 and examined by staff of NMW who found sufficient other structural remains to postulate that it may have been part of a barrow of a type known elsewhere on the warren, composed of sand with a covering of stones. It was 0.5x0.3m and contained the skeleton of a child; to the S of it stones formed the segment of a circle 10.7m in diameter, and near them where two slabs of stone with fragments of burnt and unburnt bone (Savory 1953). Nothing is now visible at this NGR, which falls in a hollow in dunes at the foot of the high ground.”

CANDLESTON CASTLE CIST – (PRN) : 00227m – SS86727726

“A cist NW of Candleston Castle near the ruined windmill. This was oriented N-S and was roughly trapezoidal in shape; the internal length was 5ft (1.5m) and the internal width ranged from 13in to 17in (0.33-0.43m). It was entirely lined with stone slabs”

There is much more where that came from..... not least a probable ploughed-out Neolithic causewayed enclosure upon the high ground to the south at Norton [SS87467578].

Set upon Mynydd Herbert to the approx north-west of the Tythegston long cairn, this Bronze Age round barrow is well seen from the earlier monument. In fact it crowns the horizon so perfectly when viewed from the Neolithic capstone – unlike from many other directions (although I haven’t tried them all, I must admit) – that one is encouraged to believe the later barrow was specifically sited with this primary attribute in mind? If so, what continuity this represents!

According to our friends at Coflein this site, unfortunately located a little to the south of the busy A48, is:

“A round barrow, 20m in diameter [RCAHMW J.Wiles 03.12.02]”

According to Coflein the site is:

“A robbed and disturbed cairn, 16.5m in diameter and 1.0m high, with a cist exposed and two parasitic sheep shelters. (source Os495card; SO22NE9) J.Wiles 03.09.02”

A Bronze Age funerary cairn upon the western ridge of Mynydd Pen-y-Fal, the mountain more usually known locally as the ‘Sugar Loaf’ due to the profile it presents to Abergavenny. Having never seen such a loaf I’m afraid I couldn’t possibly comment....

Coflein has the following to say:

“Remains of two burial cairns....on the west-facing slopes of Mynydd Pen-y-fal. The westernmost cairn” – this one – “is situated downslope of the first. It is roughly circular on plan and measures about 8.5m in diameter and up to 0.5m in height. A stone built cist is visible within the centre of the cairn, measuring 1.35m from north-east to south-west by 0.6m transversely and about 0.5m in depth. Source: Cadw scheduling description of 02.2006 F.Foster/RCAHMW 03.2006”

There is (apparently) a large round cairn sited at the 2,234ft summit of Mynydd Tawr – ‘The Hill of the Bull’ – rising to the east of the main Berwyn ridge above Cwm Maen Gwynedd. These main Berwyn summits are, of course, crowned with numerous funerary cairns of their own.

Despite being on ‘the list’ for a number of years now, I have yet to visit. I live in hope.

Anyway, according to Coflein:

“Cairn at summit of hill, circular shape (hollow in middle), 3.5m diameter in centre, up to 0.9m high in places, 10m diameter outside..... Possible mound 50 yards North East of cairn, similar size. (A.C.K. Roseveare & N.A.R. Vaughan, AP, 29/03/2007)”

Although not specific to prehistory, anyone with an interest in the area may be interested to know that the book ‘I Bought a Mountain’ by Thomas Firbank relates to the life of a farmer in Dyffryn Mymbyr....

Worth a read.....

This is a large Bronze Age funerary cairn sited upon Pen Garnedd Wen, the summit of a heathery ridge overlooking the northern shore of Llyn Celyn. According to Coflein:

‘Remains of a large burial cairn in a prominent position on the summit ridge of Garnedd Wen overlooking Llyn Celyn reservoir to the S. The stone built cairn is circular in shape and measures c. 18m in diameter and up to 3.5m in height. The 1921 Royal Commission on ancient Monuments inventory for Merioneth states that a cist and ashes were removed from the cairn in 1860 and this is supported by the presence of a central pit measuring 1m deep and 4m wide.‘

The Gwynedd Archaeological Trust (PRN5546) cites several structures in upper Cwm Cowlyd as the remains of prehistoric ‘scattered hut circles’....

Unfortunately I arrived in the vicinity (on my return from Pen Llithrig y Wrach) with darkness fast drawing in, not to mention being subjected to vicious hail fronts moving down the cwm with ever increasing frequency.... hence just the one image at an extreme exposure limit, I’m afraid. I believe what I’ve captured is one of the hut circles, but a return visit is necessary to confirm this.

Sources :
Hut Circle Settlement Survey , SMITH, G. , 1998 , PRN 3990 , SHERRIFF, A. , 1983

Wasn’t aware of the ancestry of this funerary cairn at the time – although the use of quartzite suggested this was very much a ‘probable’ – so very pleased to be able to add this summit cairn to the ever growing TMA catalogue of Welsh upland monuments. According to Coflein:

‘Remains of a cairn, probably dating to the Bronze Age, situated within open moorland in a prominent position on the summit of Foel y Geifr. The stone built cairn is circular on plan and measures about 12m in diameter and up to 1.2m in height. An Ordnance Survey triangulation pillar has been erected on the cairn.
Source: Cadw scheduling description. FF 13/07/2004‘

The Gwynedd Archaeological Trust has the following to say (PRN4230):

‘45ft diameter from E-W? Near the summit of Moel Gallt y Llyn. Opened by Wynne-Foulkes in 1850 having been previously opened by an old woman some years before. Wynne-Foulkes excavated the centre but found nothing.... A cairn of roughly piled stones measuring 13m E-W and 14m N-S, on a W facing slope averaging 1.2m high. There is a hole in the centre, 6m across and 1.2m deep which has exposed the natural ground surface’.

Incidentally, GAT also cites the existence of a further cairn surmounting the high ground below and to the west at SH65141153. Sceptical – as always – I decided to revisit Oct 2023, only to find.... nothing. Which, of course, is not to say that evidence does not exist.

The GAT record is given below should anyone wish to try their luck:

“Cairn, Llanfihangel-y-Pennant
Primary Reference Number (PRN): 4248
Trust: Gwynedd
Community: Llanfihangel-y-Pennant
Unitary Authority: Gwynedd
NGR: SH65141153
Site Type (preferred type first): PREHISTORIC CAIRN

Description: Robbed cairn, 16m in diameter, on the summit of an un-named peak, 1657ft high. (Crew, 1979)

Sources:
Crew, P., 1979, Cairn, Tyriau Mawr, Archaeology in Wales: Vol. 19: p. 18
Ordnance Survey , 1980 , SH61SE 34 , ”

This Bronze Age cairn is described by the experts thus:

Gwynedd Archaeological Trust (PRN1478):

‘Cairn, built of roughly piled stone 9m in diameter robbed at the centre to form a sheep shelter. Height 1m the kerb is nowhere pronounced but a few non orthostatic kerb stones are visible’....’ A well defined cairn of piled stone. Kerb not obvious but turfed over edges could hide this. Centre dug out to about surrounding ground level. Small cairn built to SW, not recent, but probably using stone from centre. Siting: on a wide north-facing terrace at the top of a steep slope from Nant Cynnyd – on the line of sight along the valley.‘

Sources :
Prehistoric Funerary and Ritual Monument Survey: West Gwynedd & Anglesey , SMITH, G. , 2003 , Caernarvonshire 2 , Royal Commission on Ancient and Historic Monuments , 1960 , SH65NE 5 , Ordnance Survey , 1970 ,

According to The Gwynedd Archaeological Trust (PRN758):

[the] ‘Two cairns on Drosgol were excavated in July 1976. The main, originally 2m high, with a flat top, was slightly oval, and was constructed on a prepared surface of small chippings. It consisted of an inner oval cairn 7m by 5m, with a well defined kerb of pillar shaped blocks standing on end, and two further concentric skins of cairn material, each with revetments surviving up to 1m high. The cairn covered two cists, the larger had been robbed but cremated bones were recovered. The smaller cist was polygonal, its capstone still in position, the only find here was a 1921 silver three penny coin and bottle glass. A second cairn 10m N has a well defined kerb of orthostatic and laid blocks, 4m by 3. 5m by 75cm high. This contained a previously disturbed cist with an intact cremation deposit.‘

The Gwynedd Archaeological Trust cites the summit cairn of Pen Llithrig y Wrach as being of Bronze Age origin (PRN 3799):

‘A low, flat-topped cairn 4m diameter with a turf cover over small stones, is on the summit of Pen Llithrig y Wrach at 799m. A number of edge-set stones protrude through the eroded surface.

Sources :
Archaeology in Wales , CREW, P. , 1980 ,
Prehistoric Funerary and Ritual Monuments: West Conwy/North Gwynedd , SMITH, G. , 2002‘

I concur, the construction and positionning making this likely in my view.

Set below a Bronze Age cairn cemetery crowning the summit ridge of Moel Faban, this is one of a number of settlements in the immediate locality.
According to Coflein:

‘A generally curvilinear enclosure, c.30m N-S by 20m, defined by tumbled stony banks & scarps, incorporating at least three structures, the largest c.7.2m in diameter: set within an extensive area of relict field boundary features, c.430m NE-SW by 285m, including several groups of settlement features, with further, similar features &/or cairns outlying on the N.
A burnt mound...lies rather to the E.‘

Quite apparent when viewed from Gyrn Wigau on the ascent to Drosgl from Bethesda, this grouping of cairns, crowning the minor, outlying summit of Moel Faban, appear well worth a special visit in their own right. One for ‘the list’. There are also numerous prehistoric settlements in the vicinity.

According to Coflein:

‘Extensive ridge-top cemetery of cairns, running for some 300m, aligned north-east to south-west with the ridge. Part of wider cemetery which extends to the west’.

Woah! Can there be a more beautiful setting for Bronze Age burial cairns than perched high upon Tyrrau Mawr, western sentinel of the central summits of Cadair Idris?

Tyrrau Mawr (also known as Craig Las to confuse non-locals) possesses a north-western arete that must have launched a thousand post cards when viewed across the exquisite Llynnau Cregennen, deep scree gullies allowing the sun infinite possibilities for highlight and lowlight when conditions are favourable.

What is not apparent from down below, however, is the aforementioned series of Bronze Age cairns upon Carnedd Lwyd, the mountain’s eastern shoulder.... which vie for attention with – and I have to admit (sorry!) lose hands down to – the stunning vista towards the Mawddach Estuary, the close proximity of the coastline emphasising the feeling of height here. It is arguably a common tendency for us to patronise past cultures from our modern viewpoint and all too difficult to ‘walk in their shoes’. However I can’t imagine anyone from any culture standing here and not thinking “wow – this place is the one”..... aside from the guys in ‘Trainspotting’, I suppose. Sadly Coflein provides no information save confirming the Bronze Age origin and funerary aspect of the cairns. It may be a surprise to relate that, aside from an example upon Craig-y-Llyn further to the west, Tyrrau Mawr’s cairns are the only such Bronze Age monuments upon Cadair Idris’s high ridge that I’m aware of. Nethertheless it is enough. More than enough.

Folklore fans will already be aware that the name ‘Cadair Idris’ refers to the central cwm of the massif to the east as being the eponymous ‘chair’ of the giant Idris. Fizzy drink aficionados of a certain age will perhaps conjure up other images, since the factory was nearby. Perhaps it still is.....

Tyrrau Mawr is perhaps best visited via the ‘Pony Path’ to Pen-y-Gadair – Cadair Idris’s summit peak – only turning right at Rhiw Gwredydd instead of left. The cairns are sited upon the large craggy outcrop (Carnedd Lwyd) which stands below the main summit. A longer walk is possible by continuing to Craig-y-Llyn and returning via the ancient route Fford Ddu, itself flanked by several standing stones and with The Arthog stones also nearby.

Garnedd Goch, the ‘Red Cairn’, is sited at the western 2,296ft extremity of a boulder-strewn plateau which also possesses, at its eastern apex, another Bronze Age monument crowning the summit of Craig Cwm Silyn, the primary peak of The Nantlle Ridge. The northern flank of this brutal, upland landscape plunges vertically to the twin lakes of Llynnau Cwm Silyn in a series of awe inspiring crags much beloved by rock climbers. In short, it is an impressive location, albeit not one to frequent in mist! Hence, the name may be prosaic, but a visit here will surely prove to be anything but dull.

So what of the Red Cairn, then? Firstly I should say that it didn’t seem very, well, ‘red’ when I last came a few years ago.... this is not the red sandstone of the South, after all. Then again perhaps that’s just me, since The Snowdon Massif across the way has its own celebrated Crib Goch, of course. But that’s of little consequence for, according to Coflein, it represents the remains of a Bronze Age funerary cairn and:

‘Has a 10msq base and builds like a pyramid up to a central height of 2.5m. A likely victorian cairn of 1m diameter sits on its eastern side. RCAHMW 2006.‘

So there you are. Not the finest of cairns you’ll ever see... but location, location, location!

Moel Hebog – The Hill of The Hawk – is a fine 2,565ft mountain rising to the approx south-west of the attractive town of Beddgelert. Aside from being an truly exceptional viewpoint – assuming a clear day, naturally (yeah, right) – it also possesses at least four Bronze Age funerary cairns in the vicinity of its summit. I make that a cemetery! Anyway, according to our friends at Coflein:

‘1) SH5650346951 – A roughly round cairn base, with only 1 layer of stone left above ground, measuring approx 0.9m in diameter.

2) SH5649546945 – A slightly oval cairn measuring 1.2m x 1.5m and surviving to a height of approx. 0.4m.

3) SH5650246948 – A roughly formed cairn measuring 1m in diameter and surviving to a height of up to 0.3m.

4) SH5649346930 A small, roughly oval cairn measuring 1.5m x 1m and reaching 0.3m in height.‘

Another ‘possible’ is located at SH5648646944. All of the above were noted during an Upland Survey conducted by Archaeophysica, 2005-6.

The ‘classic’ ascent of the mountain is from Beddgelert itself, via Cwm Cloch. Usual warnings and required dress apply... and note you can ‘bag’ another Bronze Age cairn upon nearby Moel yr Ogof if you so wish. Plus fantastic views of The Snowdon Massif, Nantlle Ridge and whatever else takes your fancy.

Moel yr Ogof...the ‘Hill of the Cave’.... is a 2,149ft mountain rising to the north west of Moel Hebog, separating Cwm Meillionen from Cwm Llefrith. Its claim to fame – and, indeed, reason for its name – is a cave high up on its eastern face where Owain Glyndwyr is said to sleep until called upon to do whatever slumbering heroes do when rudely awakened. I tend to rush off to work, it has to be said, cursing all and sundry...

Moel yr Ogof possesses another, much more tangible treasure upon its brutally exposed summit, however... a Bronze Age funerary cairn. Ha! According to Coflein it is:

‘A roughly circular cairn of approx. 1.2m in diameter which is situated on level ground adjacent to a summit. Comprised of stones varying in size between 0.2m – 0.3m, there are two possible capstones over a hole in the ground that could be a cist. Noted during an upland survey conducted by Archaeophysica during 2005-6‘

Coflein cites the pile of rocks which crown the 3,038ft summit of Garnedd Uchaf as a possible prehistoric funerary cairn... which I would have thought to be a pretty safe bet in this context, what with numerous other examples crowning the tops of the high Carneddau peaks all around – so much so that Foel Fras is notable for not possessing one! Ha! The name itself means ‘Highest Cairn’.... not quite the highest, perhaps, but you get the drift.

Although this is a seriously remote, uncompromisingly brutal landscape, the remnants of prehistoric settlements are still to be found in the locality (e.g. around Cwm Caseg and east of Foel Grach). Hard to fathom nowadays how people could actually survive here, albeit in the more sheltered valleys..... in fact it is so remote that I’m virtually certain I will not be able to return for further investigation. Ha! I therefore hand on the baton...

Incidentally Garnedd Uchaf was ‘officially’ renamed ‘Carnedd Gwenllian’ in 2009 – Gwenllian was, of course, Llewelyn the Last’s daughter – so there’s clearly an attempt at some pointless political point scoring here way, way after the event. If only we knew the name(s) of those who may well have been interred here millennia ago....

Three Bronze Age cairns stand near the north-western extremity of the main Pumlumon ridge, west of Carnfachbugeilyn and a little north of the source of The River Severn (Afon Hafren). Coflein has quite a bit to say, thanks to J.J. Hall:

Carn Fawr 1) – SN8181090530 – ‘A Bronze Age stone cairn, 11m in diameter and 2m high, on a northwest facing false crest. The interior had been hollowed out to create a shelter. A linear arrangement stones, about 4m long east-west, led off from the western side of the cairn. Only one block of quartz could be seen in the cairn, which was thought to be of note as there was a lot of surface quartz in the area. When the feature was recorded in August 2006, there was no vegetation on the cairn. J.J. Hall, Trysor, 14 November 2006.‘

Carn Fawr 2) – SN8186590580 – ‘A small stone cairn, 3m in diameter and 0.5m high, utilising an outcrop. Some signs of structure were apparent. When the feature was recorded in August 2006, it was partially covered in grass and bilberries. J.J. Hall, Trysor, 9 September 2006‘

Carn Fawr 3) SN8182090545 – ‘A low, stone cairn, 2m in diameter and 0.1m high, 10m northeast. When the feature was recorded in August 2006, the cairn had grass and bilberries growing on it. J.J. Hall, Trysor, 9 September 2006‘

Coflein has recorded the following for this little Bronze Age funerary cairn, sited below and to the south of the larger pair upon Carn Hyddgen:

‘A small, stone cairn, 2m in diameter and 0.15m high, on top of a local summit. When the feature was recorded in October 2006, the edges of the cairn were partially covered with grass and moss’.

Another piece of the great Pumlumon Bronze Age jigsaw.....

An indication of how the condition of upland Bronze Age cairns may be subject to considerable variation over relatively short time frames is perhaps given by the following Coflein entries:

1) ‘A mutilated, summit-top cairn, 12.5m in diameter and 0.6m high. A shelter has been constructed on the NW side and a modern cairn on the S, a boundary stone, marking the county border, stands on the E side.....J.Wiles 16.04.02‘

and...

2) ‘A Bronze Age stone cairn, 9m in diameter and 0.8m high on a local summit. The cairn has been altered substantially. A small cairn on its southern edge contained evidence of structure and may be Bronze Age. A shelter had been hollowed out of the top of the cairn. When the feature was recorded in August 2006, most of the cairn was clear of vegetation although the exterior of it was covered in grass/heather.‘

Bear in mind that the example upon Carnfachbugeilyn is not exactly easilly reached, either......[SN8263190380].

Coflein has the following regarding the two Bronze Age funerary cairns which grace Pumlumon Cwmbiga, just two of a series which crown the various summits of this remote Mid Walian mountain range:

Northern – ‘the northernmost of two large, Bronze Age stone cairns on a local summit named Carn Biga. This northern cairn is 17.5m in diameter and 2m high, with a more recent cairn, 2.5m in diameter and 1m high built on its centre. A shelter has been built into the east side of the cairn, above which a drystone wall 1m high, had been constructed between the cairn centre and the shelter. A small cairn was recorded just northeast of the cairn. When the site was visited in August 2006, it was observed that there was very little quartz in the earlier cairn, which was noticeable given the quantity of surface quartz in the area.‘

Southern – ‘This southern cairn is 14m in diameter and 2.5m high, with a more recent cairn, 2.5m in diameter and 0.8m high on it. Some stone had been removed forming shallow hollows. ‘

Incidentally, the source of The River Severn (Afon Hafren) is a little way due west of the cairns upon the main Pumlumon ridge.

Coflein says the following regarding the site:

‘An agglomeration of curvilinear enclosures, c.90m accross, set on ground falling to the W, amongst which are located seven circular structures, c.3.6-5.4m in diameter, these features being represented by stony banks, c.1.5m across & 0.3m high; features appear to have been refurbished as shelters....Generally similar features occur to the NE‘

Mynydd Du forms the lower section of Carnedd Dafydd’s great north-western ridge, rising above Cwm Pen – llafar. Plenty of water nearby, not least the Afon Llafar itself, but one assumes copious volumes fell from the sky during the Bronze Age, making this a spot for the hardy to live, an assumption supported by the ‘Black Mountain’ moniker. Needless to say, it still rains. A lot.

This is another site I didn’t appreciate at the time whilst ascending/descending the ridge....

At 2,802ft this is a pretty high one, it has to be said... the funerary cairn – or rather the remains of one – crowning the northern, and higher, of Arenig Fawr’s two summits. According to Coflein:

‘Remains of a large burial cairn on Moel yr Eglwys, the highest summit of the Arenig Fawr ridge. Stone built and circular in shape, the cairn measures circa 1.5m in height. The edge of the cairn is marked by a low kerb, except on the E side and the kerb measures a maximum of 0.3m tall and is 12m in diameter. The cairn material has spread beyond the original circumference and now measures circa 15m in diameter – the material has been remodelled to include an Ordnance Survey triangulation pillar, a World War II United States Air Force memorial and two walkers’ shelters..‘

Hmm... note the reference to the USAF memorial, which, like several other Welsh sites (e.g Cefn Yr Ystrad in the Brecon Beacons) adds an extra poignancy to a visit here, a sense that perhaps we are not so really different from our Bronze Age predecessors after all... we, like them, erect memorials to our heroes upon mountain tops. The gentlemen in question died here on 4th August 1943 when their B-17F ‘Flying Fortress’ hit the mountain while on a night cross-country training flight. Yeah, it was men like these, thousands of miles away from home, who played a major part in preserving the freedom we take for granted. Lest we forget, they were:

Lt James N. Pratt; Lt William A. Bowling; Lt Allen M. Boner; T/Sgt Frederic J. Royar;S/Sgt Walter J. Johnston; Sgt Walter B. Robinson; Sgt Phillip Simonte; Pfc Alfred B. Van Dyke.

If you decide to come and have a look for yourself, the classic route starts from approx SH846396 to the approx north and ascends via the impressive, if initially hidden, Llyn Arenig Fawr. As you would expect for such an isolated mountain, the views are exceptional when the summit is clear. But there’s a lot more to Arenig Fawr than that, as the still remaining, occasional piece of aluminium debris will testify.

Set upon the lower south-eastern flanks of Gyrn Wigau, to the north of Cwm Caseg, this prehistoric enclosure grouping is cited by Coflein as a ‘wandering wall settlement’. In other words – unless you were in the know – it looks pretty much like just extensive sheepfolding from the Bera Bach/Drosgl ridge above. Just goes to show what is under your very eyes all the time, doesn’t it? Anyway, to quote Coflein:

‘1. An area of relict enclosures & structures, extending over an area, c.450m E-W by 250m, set on the N side of a minor stream channel on ground falling to the S at the foot of Gyrn Wigau: a more recent sheep-fold complex occupies part of the site.(source: RCAHMW 1956 (Caernarvon I), 139-40 No.492)‘

and ....

‘2. ‘On the very steep northern slopes of Cwm Caseg, above Bethesda, is a very fine example of an upland settlement with a series of large enclosures defined by low stone banks. These have no evidence for wall facing and there is not enough material for them to have been walls in the real sense of the word. If they had been meaningful boundaries there must have been a timber element, such as a hedge or fence. On a slope as steep as this the enclosures could only have been used for stock as the soils are too thin and stony for any agriculture to have taken place. Settlements of this type are typically associated with small and ill-defined hut circles. The locations of many early upland settlements have been re-used and, as in this case, some of the stones have been removed to make a more recent sheepfold.’Crew and Musson, 1996, ‘Snowdonia from the Air’, SNP/RCAHMW. Page 20.‘

Coflein has the following regarding the two stone circles and associated monuments:

‘Two quite irregular stone circles: at SN83353109, about 75’ in diameter, composed originally of c.30 stones, at most 2’ high, with those on the S, where an entrance is suggested, being the tallest; at SN83313106, about 25’ in diameter, originally made up of c.10 stones, with five or six, up to 3’6” high, surviving. These circles are not considered to represent the remains of funerary mounds, but have been integrated into a general discourse of ritual circles, thus short lengths of stone alignments, adjacent or nearby (at SN83413101) can be interpreted as ‘stone rows’ rather than as the remains of field boundaries, and a large fallen stone to the SE (SN83393107) is seen as marking the midwinter sunrise from the larger circle.‘

Coflein has the following to say regarding the complex at Nant Tarw:

‘There are two stone circles with associated monoliths at Nant Tarw. Both circles are composed of 15 stones: the larger, to the east, is 21m in diameter and centred at SN81972578. It has stones reaching from the level of the turf to 0.8m high. The lesser, western circle, is 19.5m in diameter and centred at SN81872583. It has stones barely breaking the turf, with others up to 0.7m high. Between the two circles is what is thought to be a large in-situ glacial erratic with another 116m west-north-west of the western circle associated with two small standing stones... Two cairns are set close to these monuments and a further stone, on the banks of the stream to the north-east has been viewed as a possible monolith.‘

And specific to the probable stone row at SN81762587:

‘Located to the north-west of two stone circles at Nant Tarw, 115m from the western circle, lies an alignment of three stones. The largest is what appears to be a fallen, or broken, monolith. It measures some 3m long and 0.75m thick and its base is stone packed. Two further stones stand behind it, 0.43m and 0.28m high respectively. This kind of arrangement, an alignment of one large and two smaller stones, is similar to that found at Maen Mawr, Cerrig Duon‘

Another example of an upland funerary cairn sited at a point other than the summit area of a mountain... in this case significantly so, near the southern extremity of Mynydd Troed’s long ridge. According to Coflein:-

‘Remains of a burial cairn situated in open moorland on the S end of the Mynydd Troed ridge. Stone built and roughly circular on plan, measuring about 9.5m in diameter and up to 0.6m in height. Source: Cadw scheduling description. F. Foster 17/03/2005‘

A small defended enclosure, probably Iron Age, upon the north-eastern flank of Pen Milan, Brecon Beacons. According to Coflein it is:

‘A small, multivallate enclosure with wide spaced ramparts, on the north east facing lower slopes of Pen Milan... four platforms, or terraced areas, covering an area of c.100m by 50m, may have formed a coherent hillslope defended enclosure.‘

According to Coflein there is much more than Cerrig’s stone circle upon this windswept Mid Walian summit:

SN74945473 – Stone Circle – ‘...located close to the highest point of an undulating plateau, near to its NW scarp and survives as a semi-circle of ten visible stones suggesting an original diameter of about 18m. The largest stone is 0.9m high, the smallest are stumps of only 0.1m...‘

SN75005467 – Standing Stone – ‘A fallen monolith, broken at its base, thought to have originally been some 1.8m high by 1.5m by 0.3m; set c.90m SE of stone circle‘

SN74885463 – Stone Setting – ‘A discontinuous ring of upright, or leaning slabs, defining an irregular area, c.1.5m across; a low mound on the E is thought to be a spoil heap from a robbing episode’.

SN74985476 – A low, turf-covered mound, 2.5m in diameter & 0.15m high, having a circular hollow at its centre; thought to be a possible cairn, or else an emplacement for a standing stone‘

SN74345464 – Stone Setting – ‘Seven fallen, or leaning slabs define an oval area, 2.0m N-S by 1.5m.‘

Further to my fieldnotes, Coflein has the following for Drygarn Fawr’s two original Bronze Age cairns.... or at least for what lies beneath the massive modern beehives...

Western cairn – SN86315846:

‘The base of a robbed cairn, 8.8m in diameter, for which kerbing has been claimed, but dismissed. A visually dominant ‘beehive’ cairn 5.8m in diameter and 3.7m high, stands upon, and is probably responsible for, its wreck.‘

Eastern cairn – SN86755858:

‘A scant remains of a cairn, 8.8m in diameter and posibly kerbed, is utterly dominated by a large ‘beehive’ cairn, 5.6m in diameter and 2.7m high, constructed upon it.‘

So yeah, although there’s not a great deal of prehistoric structure left – if the truth be told – somehow the modern cairns super-imposed on top actually enhance this mountain top, in my opinion. And at least the bleedin’ hillwalking nerds won’t be building storm shelters in these anytime soon....... Ha!

Located due west of the summit of Esgair Pen-y-Garreg, not far from Rhayader, Coflein has the following to say regarding this small, remote funerary cairn:-

‘Approx. 4m diam x 0.3m high. Hollow at centre (NH 1980). Crugyn Gwyddel translates as ‘Small cairn / mound of the Irish person’. Cairn appears to been located on former cairn base, approx. 8m diam x 1.5m high. Poss. beacon site (RSJ 2000).‘

Two cairns – possibly a third, too – grace the top of Cistfaen, a hostile, windswept summit of The Cwmdeuddwr Hills. According to Coflein:-

‘Remains of two burial cairns, probably dating to the Bronze Age, on the South-facing side of the summit of Cistfaen. Both are roughly circular on plan – the northernmost cairn (A) measures about 8.5m in diameter and up to 0.6m in height; the southernmost (B) measures about 13.5m in diameter and up to 1.1m in height.
Source: Cadw scheduling description. 03/08/2004 FF

It is suggested that the ruin of a third cairn, further to the N, revealed a cist, giving rise to the name ‘Cistfaen’.‘

An unmarked site – on both the 1:50K and 1:25K OS maps – and therefore a very pleasant surprise indeed for the traveller on the way to Cistfaen’s summit cairns....

According to Coflein:

‘Remains of a cairn cemetery on the south-west facing flanks of Glan Fedwen. Comprises of at least four cairns, one of which is a massive and very well-preserved kerb cairn, measuring 18.5m in diameter and up to 1.3m in height. The remaining cairns are small satellites of the kerb cairn and range in size from 3m to 5m in diameter and stand up to 0.3m in height.
Source: Cadw scheduling description. F.Foster/RCAHMW 17.08.2006’.

Coflein says this of Carnedd Llewelyn’s cairn:

‘Burial cairn, probably Bronze Age, in a prominent position on the summit of Carnedd Llewelyn. Stone built circular cairn, measuring c. 8m in diameter and up to 1.5m in height.‘

So, not the largest cairn you’ll ever see – although no doubt it’s suffered a lot over the years – but then again, being up here, it doesn’t have to be, does it?

At 3,425ft Carnedd Dafydd is one of Wales’ premier mountains, with the topography to match... aye, on the rare occasions mist does not engulf the summit, the scenery is truly awe inspiring. However there is more; for here the brutally extreme, mountainous landscape is given a human association by the presence of a couple of Bronze Age burial cairns upon the summit ridge...the abode of the gods....Coflein describes these thus:

SH66246303 – ‘Burial cairn, probably Bronze Age, on the NE-facing edge of the summit of Carnedd Dafydd. Stone built circular cairn, measuring c. 12m in diameter and up to 2m in height. Several kerbstones are visible on the SE arc. It has been disturbed in the past, with the construction of a now-destroyed Ordnance Survey triangulation pillar and several drystone shelters’.

SH66136293 – ‘circular burial cairn, 10.5m diameter and up to 2m in height’.

Together with neighbouring examples upon the even higher Carnedd Llewelyn (3,490ft) and Garnedd Fach, these cairns form the highest, most extremely sited Bronze Age cemetery in England and Wales. It therefore goes without saying please ensure you know what you’re doing [map, compass, waterproofs etc] if you decide to visit. Sometimes it doesn’t hurt to state the obvious... this is an extreme, other worldly place. And, of course, was always supposed to be.

There is a natural line of ascent fron Gerlan to the NW, although the most popular route takes in the whole ridge from Pen Yr Ole Wen [via Cwm Lloer], past Garnedd Fach’s great cairn to Carnedd Llewelyn, descending via Y Braich.

This hillfort is clearly seen from, and incidentally dominates, the excellent hillfort and broch of Edin’s Hall to the NE. Clearly this raises issues regarding period(s) of occupation... no authority with the power base sufficient to erect such a substantial broch would have tolerated anything other than a totally compliant community upon Cockburn Law... and what would have been the point of that anyway, bearing in mind the size of Edin’s Hall? I guess the assumption must be that Cockburn Law was an earlier settlement superseded by the lower placed enclosure, perhaps being used merely as an advanced ‘look out’ point, if not totally abandoned? Then again, since the ramparts surround what may have been a Bronze Age cairn, was its function purely symbollic. Surely not? Well, check out the surrounding water courses which leave only a relatively narrow approach to approx SW... coincidence, excellent defensive siting...or something more?

Anyway, according to Canmore:-

“...The side of easiest approach is defended by three earth and stone ramparts (there is no evidence of ditches) with two staggered entrances. On the E side a single low rampart follows the top of steep natural hillslopes. A wide linear boulder spread which runs parallel to the foot of these slopes may be a further line of defence. A third entrance (on the S side of the fort) is approached by a terraced way. The 0.2m high stony banks which form the curvilinear internal detail at the summit cannot be readily interpreted; the two level circular areas may be the sites of huts, but the alleged cairn is not clearly identifiable”.

The 2,608ft summit of Cribyn (sometimes also referred to as Cribin) is generally considered in South Wales to bear the remnants of a Bronze Age burial cairn. Indeed, situated as it is between two excavated examples upon nearby Pen-y-Fan and Corn Du to the west, and an excavated cremation burial upon Fan y Big to the east, it would (arguably) have been very unlikely not to have been chosen in this respect – particularly bearing in mind Cribyn’s topographical profile and status as one of the Breacon Beacons’ ‘Big Three’.

The aforementioned Bronze Age cairns gracing Pen-y-Fan and Corn Du were subsequently protected – following excavation – from further erosion through the construction of overlying modern cairns; not so Cribyn, which, as far as I’m aware remains unexcavated and at the mercy of walker’s boots. It is now surmounted by a feeble ‘walker’s cairn’ and, according to a recent survey by The Clwyd-Powys Archaeological Trust, considered to be at great risk of being lost for ever:-

CPAT Project – Prehistoric Funerary and Ritual Sites, 2005/06: Breconshire:

“....encouragingly, the majority of sites (86%) are considered to be subject to a low impact threat, with 12% subject to a medium impact threat, and only one site with a high impact threat, which is the summit cairn on Cribyn (PRN 4560).”

It therefore seems somewhat paradoxical to encourage visitors to this fragile site ... but since this monument is currently sitting in the realms of ‘who gives a monkey’s land’, raising public awareness, I think, is the only way forward. If you fancy it – and bear in mind this is a serious mountain walk requiring all standard precautions – The AA have published walk guidance notes at:

theaa.com/walks/the-brecon-beacons-from-the-neuadd-reservoirs-420064

Incidently, these state that “The summits of Pen y Fan, Corn Du and Cribyn were once all crowned with Bronze-Age burial cairns, probably dating back to around 1800 bc. It’s clear that the mountains held some significance, even way back then”.