GLADMAN
From the approx west. Despite apparently losing a good chunk to quarrying towards the left of image, this fine long barrow is still a whopping 144ft – OK, not up to Jackets Field’s immense standards... but then, what is?
Image credit: Robert Gladstone
Zooming in on the descent of Esgair Nant-y-Moch – the cairn is approx centre, to the left of the ‘sheep enclosure’, or whatever it is.
Image credit: Robert Gladstone
Deteriorating conditions, toward Esgair Nant-y-Moch
Image credit: Robert Gladstone
Looking more-or-less due north from Esgair Nant-y-Moch. The Nant Geifaes cairn can be seen, centre right, to the immediate left of the enclosure. No prizes for guessing where the stone for THAT came from....
Image credit: Robert Gladstone
Looking approx north to the enigmatic ‘Watching Place’, Disgwylfa Fawr, its summit wreathed in mist. The hillfort Dinas rises far right..
Image credit: Robert Gladstone
This looked pretty convincing to me, to be fair. The eastern summit of Esgair Golan, bearing a larger monument, lies beyond (the western summit across the byway also features a cairn, or so I understand)
Image credit: Robert Gladstone
Lying to the east of the reasonably substantial cairn upon the (eastern) summit of Esgair Golan (SN72848261), this is a rather more modest monument, one of a possible trio surmounting this little ridge. Then again, perhaps the multiplicity hints at natural features?
Whatever the truth, this is well worth including in a circular walk from the roadside beneath – and featuring – the cairn overlooking the Nant Geifaes at SN73188331.
Coflein reckons:
“Remains of former cairn approx. 4m in diameter x 0.60m high. Consists of piled stone now grass and turf covered. Remains of cist visible formed by 3 slabs and 1 upright slab” [R.S. Jones, Cambrian Archaeological Projects, 2004].
For obvious reasons, this was the only image I took of what I was pretty convinced was the ‘saucer barrow’ said to reside here.... the industrial strength brambles making any further investigation completely out of the question. Needless to say if I am in error, I would be more than happy to be corrected in due course.
Image credit: Robert Gladstone
Historic England [List Entry Number: 1012222] states that this obscure site represents a ‘saucer barrow’... so very rare.
I struggled to find this one – and, to be fair, I cannot 100% categorically claim I did – since the whole site was subsumed in industrial strength, impenetrable brambles. Still, I’m pretty sure... and no afternoon spent walking around in sunny woodland listening to birdsong can ever be wasted, right?
Historic England has this to say:
“The monument includes a saucer barrow which comprises a low central mound with an encircling ditch which is in turn surrounded by a low bank of earth. The central mound measures 18m in diameter and stands to 0.7m above the level of the surrounding ground at its summit. The ditch that defines the mound measures some 4m across and drops to only 0.3m below the ground level, having been largely infilled by erosion from the mound and the outer bank. It was earth from this ditch which was used to build both the central low mound and the surrounding bank. Beyond the ditch is the outer bank, 2m across and only 0.2m high. The overall diameter of the monument is therefore some 30m.”
The great cairn is clearly seen (approx centre left) from the northern of Moel Faban’s trio of monuments. Drosgl lords it, top right.
Image credit: Robert Gladstone
Moel Wnion, Gyrn and Drosgl form the skyline (left to right)
Image credit: Robert Gladstone
Northern cairn, looking across to a cloud-wreathed Carnedd Dafydd...
Image credit: Robert Gladstone
The central cairn of the recognised trio
Image credit: Robert Gladstone
The southernmost cairn, apparently of modern origin.... although not obviously so, when compared to some I’ve seen. However, judging by the copious local traffic Moel Faban received during the hours I was here (dog walkers, poorly dressed old men etc) the likelihood for a new cairn to have been erected in historic times is clearly pretty high. Carnedd Dafydd rises beyond.
Image credit: Robert Gladstone
Looking toward Anglesey and The Menai Strait
Image credit: Robert Gladstone
Looking across Bwlch ym Mhwll-le from the great northern cairn. Note the great cairn overlooking the other flank of the pass, centre right, with yet another monster crowning Moel Wnion, centre background. The pyramidical Gyrn (top right) curiously looks much taller than the Moel Wnion from here...
Image credit: Robert Gladstone
This, a companion cairn to Garn Wen engulfed in trees upon the nearby hilltop, is a nearly destroyed – but not quite – monument set in rich pasture beside Tanybryn-Isaf farm, located in the Pumlumon foothills to the east of Aberystwyth. The field nowadays is home to nowt but inquisitive bovines turbocharged on the luxurious grass. No, make that REALLY curious cows. Tell me about it...
So, OK, only the well-informed will appreciate what is still here, the monument apparently only discovered by the wondrous Mr Driver pootling about in his plane back in 2001. As a TMA-er, that’ll now include you, then.
It’s worth combining with a visit to nearby Garn Wen, if only for fine views of neighbouring hillfort Pen-y-Castell (SN689848) across the cwm.
Coflein reckons:
“A Bronze Age round barrow, surviving as a low mound c.11m diameter, with a central hole showing a past episode of digging. The barrow lies alongside and to the south of the earthworks of an old trackway, climbing the hillside from Clawdd Melyn... Discovered during RCAHMW winter aerial reconnaissance in 2001 and recorded on subsequent flights. [T. Driver, RCAHMW, 27th Jan 2011]”
Anglesey and The Menai Strait lie beyond...
Image credit: Robert Gladstone
Looking approx SW across the bwlch to Moel Faban..
Image credit: Robert Gladstone
Zoomed at across the cwm from the denuded monument at Tanybryn-Isaf
Image credit: Robert Gladstone
The monument is very denuded, yet still pretty obvious up close within the lush meadow...
Image credit: Robert Gladstone
Pen-y-Castell can be seen across the cwm...
Image credit: Robert Gladstone
Looking approx south across the very denuded monument a few minutes before a downhill stampede of curious cows... Garn Wen resides within the trees, top right.
Image credit: Robert Gladstone
And to think we’ve got a myriad myopic muppets jumping up and down regarding what’s occurring on Salisbury Plain....
Image credit: Robert Gladstone
Arguably the image showing the clearest form..
Image credit: Robert Gladstone
The tree cover lends the site a somewhat surreal vibe..
Image credit: Robert Gladstone
From the approx south (I think)... it would appear the yellow marker indicates the route of some orienteering path, or other... not the cairn.
Image credit: Robert Gladstone
Searching – unsuccessfully, I might add – for the cairn cited by GAT as existing at SH65141153, I decided to mask my disappointment (and then some!) by carrying on to revisit the great Twll yr Ogof. Rude not to.
