GLADMAN
The ‘Cwm Shelkin’ cairn sits approx upper right. There are numerous other cairns upon Cefn Moel (to left) which I decided to save for another day due to the quality of monuments to be found upon Mynydd Llangorse itself.
Image credit: Robert Gladstone
Not the best light... but at least the cloud base followed the forecast. The morning was cloudless...
Image credit: Robert Gladstone
The monument is crowned by a pretty large walker’s/marker cairn which belies the massive green footprint beneath.
Image credit: Robert Gladstone
Approaching from the approx south-west(ish)
Image credit: Robert Gladstone
Needless to say Pen Allt-Mawr (horizon) possesses a couple of large cairns of its own
Image credit: Robert Gladstone
Looking approx north toward the summit of Mynydd Llangorse... no cairn there, although there is a promontory fort beyond.... with a chambered cairn beneath.
Image credit: Robert Gladstone
Highlighting – albeit not very elegantly – what I took to be clear remnants of a kerb still in situ.
Image credit: Robert Gladstone
Looking approx east toward The Black Mountains... Pen y Gadair Fawr – apparently the summit peak, although reality can be deceptive – is centre left skyline, crowned by a monument of it own.
Image credit: Robert Gladstone
Coflein lists this cairn under ‘Cwm Shelkin’... although it sits upon the southern flank of Mynydd Llangorse. Nomenclature issues notwithstanding, the monument certainly appears to retain a capstone and evidence of former kerbing. Here we look south toward the site of a number of other cairns, according to the map.
Image credit: Robert Gladstone
Pretty substantial cairn, to be fair... perched right upon the edge of the escarpment.
Image credit: Robert Gladstone
A crack in the clouds lets light flood onto the landscape beyond.
Image credit: Robert Gladstone
Not shown on either the current 1:25 or 1:50k OS map... this is so clearly a prehistoric cairn it’s reassuring to find the Clwyd Powys Archaeological Trust do in fact have this logged as such (PRN12365). Here we look across Cwm Sorgwm to Mynydd Troed.
Image credit: Robert Gladstone
A deceptively large cairn, this. Brecon can be seen beyond in the gathering gloom.
Image credit: Robert Gladstone
Highlighting the substantial grassy footprint of the monument. Fan Fawr can be seen rising above Craig Cerrig-gleisiad, beyond. Hey, perhaps those who erected this cairn lived below the latter?
Image credit: Robert Gladstone
And approx south-west toward the summit... the lowering cloud base covering Y Mynydd Du beyond was set to come and sit upon me in short order.
Image credit: Robert Gladstone
Overview of the settlement site from Craig Cerrig-gleisiad.
Image credit: Robert Gladstone
Aerial view of the settlement site – the frankly perfectly sheltered settlement site – from the magnificent cliff line of Craig Cerrig-gleisiad. Fan Frynych’s ancient cairn can be discerned top right.
Image credit: Robert Gladstone
Note the crumbly bits waiting to fall into the sea...
Image credit: Robert Gladstone
With the fast encroaching water threatening to submerge the boots... time to go.
Image credit: Robert Gladstone
Dusk beckons darkness... but the sea never sleeps, hammering away at the base of the cliff fort.
Image credit: Robert Gladstone
The relentless assault.... which can not be repelled by any warrior.
Image credit: Robert Gladstone
How much of the cliff fort has been lost to the sea is anyone’s guess.......
Image credit: Robert Gladstone
The multiple banks form a deceptively impressive defence.
Image credit: Robert Gladstone
The ‘fort is a fabulous viewpoint... here looking across Tal y Bont to the wondrous mini-mountain Tor-y-Foel. The snow-clad ridge to Waun Rydd rises top right.
Image credit: Robert Gladstone
Western section of northern bank... from without.
Image credit: Robert Gladstone
The Mam C surveys the south-western defences overlooking the Usk.
Image credit: Robert Gladstone
The very windy southern defences... although much less substantial than the northern, here we have defence in depth.
Image credit: Robert Gladstone
South-western flank, looking approx north to the fertile, serpentine Usk. Must’ve wound up those bloody Romans no end.
Image credit: Robert Gladstone
North-western arc, looking approx north... trees restrict views here; yet add enigmatic tracery in compensation.
Image credit: Robert Gladstone
The Mam C provides scale for this massive northern bank.
Image credit: Robert Gladstone
Looking approx north-east from the (unexpectedly) massive northern defences... Llyn Syfaddan (Llangorse Lake) and Mynydd Troed (top left) lie beyond.
Image credit: Robert Gladstone