GLADMAN
The largest orthostat is also arguably the most shapely.......
Image credit: Robert Gladstone
Not sure what we have here.... a stone relocated from the circumference.... a capstone (unlikely, I think)..... an imposter..... or a rare central stone? Y Gamriw bears its cairns above.
Image credit: Robert Gladstone
Not on the map... but none the worse for that. Quite the contrary..
Image credit: Robert Gladstone
For me this proved one of the most evocative stone rings I’ve ever been to, Y Gamriw rising above crowned by a series of very substantial cairns. The close proximity to the popular Elan Valley tourist route only serves to emphasise the utter obscurity.
Image credit: Robert Gladstone
The characteristically small orthostats of the Welsh upland stone circle... for me, it’s the space demarcated that matters.
Image credit: Robert Gladstone
Looking approx North-east from Drosgol, crowned by a pair of Bronze Age cairns. The Maesnant ‘activity centre’ (indicated) marks the end of the tarmac road accessing the heart of Pumlumon from the main Ponterwyd/Tal y Bont road across the massif. Pen Pumlumon-Fawr rises out of sight to the top right.
Image credit: Robert Gladstone
Looking approx SW from the flanks of Carn Hyddgen (itself featuring a pair of large cairns) the volume of archaeology upon Pumlumon is beyond impressive. I’ve attempted to highlight some of the more obvious in view. There are many, many more in the extended locale.
Image credit: Robert Gladstone
Highlighting just how big this monument is.......
Image credit: Robert Gladstone
Looking more-or-less north-east across Bwlch Drws-bern. The pair of fine cairns upon The Nantlle Ridge’s terminal peak Y Garn are, coincidentally (yeah, right!) – in direct line of sight from here, rising just left of the sunlit Trum y Ddysgl. The cairn upon foreground Mynydd Tal-y-Mignedd was raised by ‘grateful’ locals to honour Queen Victoria ... so needn’t concern us here.
Image credit: Robert Gladstone
Looking approx south-east across the cairn footprint... one of the most unusual I’ve had the pleasure to visit owing to the nature of the rock. Y Cnicht and the Moelwyns can be seen top right.
Image credit: Robert Gladstone
A ‘moment’ perched upon the muppet shelter fashioned within the monument... looking approx north beyond Mynydd Tal-y-Mignedd (deep shadow) toward Mynydd Mawr, another site of a fine Bronze Age cairn. Moel Eilio rises to its right.
Image credit: Robert Gladstone
Approaching from the great cairn upon Garnedd Goch... Craig Cwm-Silyn’s two cairns – well, I think so – sit top right of the mountain.
Image credit: Robert Gladstone
From the upper of Graig Ddu’s trio of similar monuments.... the ‘cairn of the goats’ can be made out a little to the right of the light show.
Image credit: Robert Gladstone
The only relatively half-decent image of this massive (c3m?) cairn I managed before the arrival of a very, very violent storm front.... too violent to stand upright.
Image credit: Robert Gladstone
The cairn looms through the driving rain..........
Image credit: Robert Gladstone
Rarely have I encountered a hill fort in such a desolately vibey location as this. The wondrous Pont Ysgethin may just be discerned beyond....
Image credit: Robert Gladstone
The hill fort possesses additional defence lines to the approx north-east, the assumed direction of assault.
Image credit: Robert Gladstone
Looking toward the Afon Ysgethin.... there are many other settlement features out there, apparently displaying great continuity of human habitation.
Image credit: Robert Gladstone
The massive cairn upon Moelfre can been seen top left. Difficult to resist the siren call.
Image credit: Robert Gladstone
Viewed from the ancient ramparts of Craig y Dinas, the additional defences, the hinterland rock formations almost approximating a natural cheveux de frise.
Image credit: Robert Gladstone
Toward the summit of 1,932ft Moelfre – at least, according to the compass – from the massive cairn.
Image credit: Robert Gladstone
A very substantial cairn, this..........
Image credit: Robert Gladstone
The hillfort (upper centre right) from the excellent northern flank of Craig-las (Tyrrau Mawr). The exquisite Mawddach estuary can be seen beyond reaching Barmouth Bay, with Llawlech, the southwestern terminus of the great ridge of the Rhinogydd, rising above. A lot of archaeology out there.
Image credit: Robert Gladstone
Although Llyn Arenig Fach has been ‘enhanced’ as a reservoir, nonetheless we have a major Bronze Age cairn sited above a lake. Note also the proto-standing stones – what I assumed to be glacial erratics facing off to each other across the water. Carnedd y Bachgen surmounts the impossibly black crags towering above to the left.
Image credit: Robert Gladstone
An aerial view of the cairn from Drosgol..........
Image credit: Robert Gladstone
Pumlumon Fach (Pen Pumlumon Fawr’s north-west ridge) rises top right of image....
Image credit: Robert Gladstone
Looking approx north across the monument... choose a hilltop here at Pumlumon... and it is crowned by cairns
Image credit: Robert Gladstone
Sunburst upon the cairn at Nant Measnant Fach... Drosgol, crowned by two more, rises across the reservoir.
Image credit: Robert Gladstone
