Looking south toward Rhinog Fach and Y Llethr, the latter the summit peak of Y Rhinogydd. Cadair Idris floats upon the horizon.
Image credit: Robert Gladstone
GLADMAN
Summit cairn looking west(ish). The Gloyw Lyn can be seen below.
Image credit: Robert Gladstone
The cairn to the east of the summit...
Image credit: Robert Gladstone
Towards the summit cairn from that to the east... this stone pile, while much less certain, still retains quite a noticeable footprint. The Lleyn Peninsular can be seen beyond Cardigan Bay.
Image credit: Robert Gladstone
The 2,362ft top of Rhinog Fawr is crowned by a series of cairns, the western of which (bearing the OS trig station) appears – to these eyes – to represent a classic summit funerary monument constructed over irregular natural outcropping... in the manner of, say, Y Carneddau’s Foel Grach. Sadly, the cairn has been much vandalised by the gouging out of ‘idiot shelters’ by, well, idiots. Nevertheless, the prehistoric ancestry would appear pretty obvious, given the circumstances. The providence of the cairn standing to the east is less clear; however, on balance, the footprint is not consistent with what I would expect of a modern marker cairn. The small cairn at the eastern end of the plateau would appear a modern marker.
The Gwynedd Archaeological Trust (GAT PRN 5506) has this to say:
“A cairn about 10m diameter with an arc of radially set stones on the NE, stands on the W end of the summit plateau of Rhinog Fawr. The modern trig point is set on the centre of the cairn.
Enhanced natural outcrop on summit of Rhinog Fawr – utilises exposed N-S oriented strata, infilling gaps and fissures, which appear as radial, edge-set slabs at locations NE and SW. Possible kerb/original structure of cairn survives best however on west and east sides where mixed constructional techniques are evident. The original form of the cairn is presumed to have been round but with a bias to oval on a N – S axis. The centre of the cairn is made up of exposed outcrop and is surmounted by a modern OS trig pillar. There are 3 modern walker’s shelters incorporated into the circumference. There are numerous smaller cairns scattered across the summit plateau on the north-east side. All appear to be modern in their present form (Smith 2001).”
Try to discount the field clearance – if you can – and focus upon the fine footprint of this ring cairn
Image credit: Robert Gladstone
The excellent Castell Llanaber lies beyond.
Image credit: Robert Gladstone
Despite the deprivations wrought upon this monument, the substantial footprint is clear: this was a first-rate ring cairn.
Image credit: Robert Gladstone
Sadly the cairn is the depository for significant field clearance... plus an old bath, presumably for animal husbandry...
Image credit: Robert Gladstone
Eastern flank looking approx south... very windy
Image credit: Robert Gladstone
Approaching from the approx north (don’t, the track to the south is much easier) I was mightily surprised by the substantial remains of this excellent hillfort... even bisected by a bloody dry-stone wall.
Image credit: Robert Gladstone
The cairn with no name overlooking the Afon Prysor
Well, no one ever said a walk upon The Migneint was going to be easy....
Aran Fawddwy is centre of image, viewed from the northern flanks of Foel Dugoed to the south.
Image credit: Robert Gladstone
The cist appears to not have been aligned upon Aran Fawddwy, but rather in harmony with the rocky fault upon which it sits... integrating within Nature, as it were.
Image credit: Robert Gladstone
Great location overlooking Cwm Clywedog toward The Arans, Aran Fawddwy to left.
Image credit: Robert Gladstone
Set upon a prominent northern spur a considerable distance below the summit of Foel Dugoed, this cairn/barrow contains the remains of a pretty well preserved cist
Image credit: Robert Gladstone
The eastern cairn at SH8972213295 – again, evidence suggests a cist in situ. Aran Fawddwy rises top left, Mynydd Clywedog (with apparent stone row) to right.
Image credit: Robert Gladstone
The small cairn crowning the eastern shoulder of Foel Dugoed at SH8972213295... looking towards the summit.
Image credit: Robert Gladstone
Summit cairn... the wondrous Aran Fawddwy – featuring one of Wales’ finest upland cairns – crowns the far horizon.
Image credit: Robert Gladstone
The summit cairn’s not the best-defined you’ll ever see... but what with great location and cist in situ, that’ll do.
Image credit: Robert Gladstone
Summit cairn...... not pushing credulity too far to state there is evidence for a former kerb, perhaps?
Image credit: Robert Gladstone
The cist within the summit cairn... looking approx west to the wondrous Dyfi Hills and Cadair Idris
Image credit: Robert Gladstone
From Gyrn Ddu’s eastern cairns... Moel y Gest can be seen immediately beyond, the prehistoric cornucopia of Y Rhinogydd fading to haze.
Image credit: Robert Gladstone
The summit of the ‘fort is crowned by the remains of a massive Bronze Age cairn, seen here. Beyond Gyrn Ddu and its cairns, the skyline Eifionydd lead the eye toward Snowdon herself, centre.
Image credit: Robert Gladstone
