GLADMAN

The central section of the main ridge of Pumlumon from Banc Llechwedd-mawr.... Pen Pumlumon Fawr is to the right. Pumlumon cradles the birthplaces of three major rivers – Rheidol, Hafren (Severn) and Gwy (Wye) here.

Southern cairn toward Nant-y-Moch, Y Garn (background left) and Drosgol... a great airy perch to enjoy a summer’s day away from the summer tourists ascending the sentinel peak from the south. Note the quartzite ‘nipple’ topping this monument – as upon the much larger monuments gracing Pumlumon Cwmbiga. Quartzite can be found naturally outcropping upon Pumlumon and is imo most enigmatically deployed in forming the Cerrig Cyfamod Glyndwr below Banc Llechwedd-mawr itself.

Northern cairn.....

Southern cairn looking to Nant-y-Moch

The well preserved southern cairn......

The northern cairn dwarfed by a fabulous fair weather cloudscape. Cadair Idris is resplendent upon the horizon – just the thing to blow away the cob-webs of lockdown for a while.

Looking from Banc Lluest Newydd at moon rise. The light is natural.... if other-worldly.

A retrospective ascending Banc Llechwedd-mawr 20/7/2020... the ascent route for Pen Pumlumon Fawr can be seen following the cascading Maesnant stream, upper left, Y Garn beyond to the far right. Note the car parking spots: this is where Citizens Cairn’d wishing to explore Pumlumon should make their way.

Drosgol rises beyond (as with more-or-less every hill in the locale of Pumlumon, bearing cairns). Note that, unbeknown to me before this visit, two new footbridges have recently been erected at SN779891 and SN766888. No need for soaking feet!!!

The essence of Pumlumon, perhaps?

Looking north-east(ish)... Banc Lluestnewydd rises above the monument, with the wondrous Carn Hyddgen to its left.

Looking across the monument (and into the sun – inhibits photography but hey, take it when you can I say) towards Pen Pumlumon Fawr (top right) and Pen Pumlumon Arwystli, both summit bearing a trio of cairns.

OK, the outlook from the cairn may have changed dramatically since erected by the pioneering locals millennia before; however, I reckon there is a haunting, ethereal presence to the Nant-y-Moch reservoir.

Bathed in golden light... the substantial footprint bears the standard marker cairn. Banc LLechwedd-mawr rises above; the lure subsequently prove too great to resist.

Approaching from the northeast (ish)... Y Garn rises left background...

Western flank, looking approx northward.

Such is the extreme topography, no artificial defences are required upon the eastern flank.

Upon the southern defences, highlighting the surviving ditch.

Western flank.....

Southern defences.......

Looking approx south towards the hillfort star of the locale: Pen-y-Gaer, centre right. Well, at least it was for me. Clearly Dinas is the primary site.

Southern defences... these terminate at a more-or-less sheer drop to the east (the right, looking here) – as if the site has had its entire eastern half sliced away by some poorly navigated mothership along its longitudinal axis.

Ever wondered what lies within a hill fort’s bank? Unfortunately this type of damage is encountered all too often.

Llyn Clywedog from the western end of the southern bank climbing the hill.

Defences to the north(east) approx....

Despite being by far the largest fort in the extended locality – and with powerful defences still very much in evidence – Dinas has clearly a PR issue with passing punters. To put it mildly.

Again, that’s Y Gamriw. Well worth a visit, too, assuming superb views and exquisitely placed upland cairns are your thing.

The footprints of a couple are very substantial indeed... classic Cwmdeuddwr.

Such is the sheer volume and quality of prehistoric archaeology to be encountered among the green hills of Cwmdeuddwr that I happened across these wondrous cairns once again while returning to the car from the Hafen stones. To be fair, they are impossible to miss. Y Gamriw looms above crowned by numerous cairns of its own.

Pumlumon crowns the northern horizon. Incidentally, the wind farm wasn’t here last time I ventured to this ‘airy’ spot. But then that was 21 years ago.

Highlighting the very significant footprint of this upland cairn. The smile says it all, I think. A sun hat above Cwm Ystwyth. You what?

Aside from the parasitical ‘shelter’ – albeit one erected with sheep in mind, methinks – the cairn features an OS trig pillar with solar-powered transmitter – apparently assisting the local community during these troubled times.

Pumlumon crests the horizon...

I return 21 years after my previous visit: the cairn is badly robbed, but the footprint very substantial indeed.