CARL

I spent a day at this site last year helping a volunteer group clear the banks of bushes, new trees etc as part of a CADW initiative. It was fantastic to be able to spend a day at a site ans know that you are helping preserve it for future generations. To avoid a long walk I would suggest you park by the church hall? (white building) and follow the path to the left of the house. It is only a 10 minute walk from here.

I visited the stone last year and am happy to report that it looks quite happy with flowers neatly planted in front of it!

When I visited this site I spent a lot of time trying to find it. I would suggest you first look for the children’s park with swings etc. (close to the road) Behind the park you will see a grassed area, with trees behind – that is where the hillfort is. When you get to the trees there is (was) a fence which has been pulled down with a large sign stating no motorbikes or guns!! If you are feeling brave go through the fence and start the short but steep climb through the trees and up the bank into the hillfort. The banks / ditches are pretty well preserved and there is the added bonus of a cracking view over Cardiff to be had!!

Gwern-Y-Cleppa is easily seen from the M4 when travelling from Newport to Cardiff (can’t be seen in the opposite direction). Just after Junction 28 there is a footbridge over the motorway, just after going under the bridge you will see the back of a large road sign on your right (giving info for motorists heading towards Newport). As you come alongside the sign, look to your right and there it is. Be careful not to crash though!!!

Visited 14.2.10. This site is difficult to find through a maze of unsignposted lanes. Eventually knew we were in the right place thanks to the lorry depot. Couldn’t see an easy way past the depot and as it was a sunday there was no one about to ask. Just along the lane from the main depot / house there is what looks like a scrap yard. I parked here and looked for a way up the near vertical bank. In desperation i ended up climbing through the scrap metal, up through brambles to get to the top of the ‘cliff’. Once on top of the bank the stone is easily seen, two fields away sticking up in a hedgerow. Mission accomplished! However, I would not advise anyone approaching the site the way I did as it is DANGEROUS. Please ask permission and find a safer route!!

Visited on 14.2.10. A really lovely site. Beautiful contryside with a lovely old grave yard inside a stone circle – what more could you want? Very easy to find and access – right next to the roadside (A4120)

Visited on 31.1.10. Follow Gladman’s directions and you will find the site ok. Just to add that you need to go to the right about 10 yards after the ‘proper’ path ends. (I went too far and had a bit of a problem finding it).

Visited on 13.2.10. Easy to access in field next to crossroads – approximately 20 metres from gate into field. Can be easily seen over hedge from lane which runs past the stones (on right) with farm a bit further on (on left).

Visited on 7.2.10. Knocked at farm door to ask permission to see stone. Owner refused but suggested I come back in the summer and ask again! There didn’t appear to be any easy way to ‘sneak’ a look due to the position of the farmhouse. (Will report back when I next visit)

A cracking ‘little’ Hillfort which is easy to access, well sign posted, with a handy car park with information panel. You can walk around the entire circumfrence in about 10 minutes.

My first ever post on TMA!
Visited the site yesterday (7.3.10) parked next to the house just off the A373 and walked straight up through the bracken (thankfully low) to the top of the hillfort. I didn’t realise that this small side road was private and the owner wasn’t too happy that I had parked there (although I was not blocking anything). She insisted that I should have taken the next turning off the A373 where there was public parking. She also insisted that all the land that side of the fort was private. Anyway, this was all academic as I had this conversation on my way BACK to the car!!
I was very impressed with the size and depth of the ramparts and the overall size of the hillfort. Well worth a visit. Unfortunately, the views were not up to much as the trees blocked most of the vista.