CARL

I drove up and down looking for this stone which appeared easy to see from my map. Eventually I spotted it – and sure enough it was easy to spot – once you were looking in the right place! I viewed the stone from the road as there didn’t appear to be any easy access due to the river and difficulty parking.

When I visited I parked next to a water treatment? plant which had a barrier blocking the entrance. As it was a sunday morning I guessed no-one would be likely to want entry. I couldn’t find the path at first but a helpful dog walker pointed me in the right direction. Up through the trees and I was at the entrance to the hillfort. I was surprised by how well preserved this site was. There was a clear path along the grass which ran right through the centre of the hillfort. Fairly easy to access and one to recommend.

Whilst on a short camping holiday two years ago on a campsite on Brean Down I took the opportunity to walk along the headland. There is a car park at the base of the cliffs next to tropical bird garden / cafe. You then need to undertake a very steep set of steps which take you to the top. Just as you get to the top of the steps there are the remains of a small hillfort to be seen – corner section. Only small but fairly well preserved. I also managed to obtain a N.T. visitor leaflet on the site from the cafe. This gave details of the prehistoric, Roman and WW2 defences found on the headland. It’s quite a long walk but there is a circular walkway which takes you right around the headland and past the various sites. A good way to spend and hour or two.

The first time I visited Stanton Drew I didn’t even know this circle existed. Therefore I made sure I had a look the next time I was in the area. Access was easy enough from the main stone circle (2 minute walk) and despite quite a few people about, I had this site to myself. Well worth a look when visiting Stanton Drew.

As Moth said ‘You will think ‘is that it?’ You almost certainly will think ‘why did I bother?’!!
In saying that, when in the area anyway why not have a quick look?

I have visited this site on a couple of occasions and can’t really add much to what has already been said other than this place is well worth a visit. It is very large with many large stones. The last time I visited the field had cows in it which made little Dafydd very happy! The honesty box and information sheets were still there when I last visited.

Visited 14.2.2007.
Bath is a lovely place to visit if you have never been and the Roman Baths are a ‘must see’. As Rhiannon says, despite lots of tourists, there are some areas of the Baths which are very quiet and peaceful. I know the Romans are not everyone’s cup of tea who may be reading this but don’t let that put you off. Visit and enjoy!

Visited last summer after a day on the beach in Weston Super Mare. The site is easy to get to and had a large car park with plenty of people about – including a very welcome ice cream van on a hot day. Whilst the others sat and ate their ice creams I followed the path right out into the headland. The views along the coast each side were lovely. However, I can’t say I spotted anything which looked much like a barrow! Don’t let that put you off because the walk alone on a nice summers day makes the effort wothwhile.

Visited 14.2.2007.
I remember the date well because as a special Valentine’s day treat I took Karen for a day trip to Bath (she likes Bath and it gives me a chance to re-visit the Roman Baths). I also thought it would be a good chance to visit this hillfort. We drove up the steep narrow lane which takes you to the gate leading into the hillfort. Karen stayed in the car as I walked up the steep snow covered slope onto the top of the hillfort. It was a lovely sunny day and the views over Bath are great. I thought Karen would enjoy this view of Bath and persuded her to walk up for a look whilst I sat in the car. This was where it all went wrong! I didn’t notice that Karen got stuck on the muddy slope and couldn’t get down. I saw here sat there but thought she was admiring the view. I didn’t realise she was crying in frustration and anger as she was getting her new boots (Xmas present from yours truly) covered in mud! After being helped by a stranger walking his dog and getting back into the car she wasn’t very happy. However, we are still together so I must be doing something right!!

As per my notes on Lansdown Camp Barrow Cemetery I couldn’t make out any barrows for this site either. I did visit in the middle of summer so perhaps the grass was too high to make them out? Either way, they can’t be very big.

I had a look for the barrows when In the area visiting the English Civil War battlefield site (E.H). I must admit that despite spending a fair bit of time looking for the barrows I couldn’t see any. Perhaps the sun needed to be lower on the horizon to show them better?

I visited this site back last summer.
Take the minor road off the A431 and drive into North Stoke village. (The road is a dead end) Park near the church and take the public footpath which runs through the graveyard and around the back of the church. Follow the path up the hill and the hillfort is on your right. Unfortunately, the whole site seems to be fenced off and I couldn’t see any easy access points over the fence (it is also very overgrown by the fence). The views down the valley do however make the walk worthwhile.

This is s cracking little site I visited last summer.
Follow the lane north east through Bettws Newydd up Clytha Hill. You can pak right next to the edge of the hillfort and access is very easy through a gate. The scenery is lovely and a 10 minute walk will take you right around the hillfort. Despite being so easy to get to, the site has a fairly ‘remote’ feel to it. This is probably why I stumbled across a ‘courting couple’ when I visited – sorry for the interuption!!!!

I had a quick ‘visit’ on my way home when in the area 2 years ago. I didn’t have time to ask for permission to get up close to the stones so I parked a little down the road (near the junction) and walked back towards the farm. The stones are visible from the B4310 between the farm buildings.

I visited this site last summer – follow Elderford’s directions and you won’t go far wrong. Like Jane I only managed to see the one standing stone – over to the far right as you enter the field. No problem with parking although I did get a few strange looks from the locals carrying a baby into the field whilst looking for an ‘old stone’! This is a very pretty place to visit although I didn’t frequent the pub (which looked very busy judging by the number of cars in the car park) as Dafydd was too little – maybe next time?

Visited 12.6.10.
I parked in the official car park (I have a CADW pass so it didn’t cost me anything!) and along with Dafydd walked up through the field to the barrows. There were quite a few people making the same walk in the summer sunshine and everyone seemed to show a great interest in the site. The barrows are well preserved although they are showing signs of wear and tear with all the foot traffic. Sitting on top of the barrow Dafydd enjoyed his sweets and I enjoyed the view north to the Cursus and south to the circle.
A pleasant little walk and well worth it. I wouldn’t be surprised if this site is restricted at some point.

Unlike Rhiannon I didn’t walk right up to the Cursus but chose to ‘view’ it from the top of a barrow just to the south of it.
(Easy walk from the official car park)
There was a pretty good view from the top of the barrow and you can let your imagination get the better of you by imagining how it would have looked when in its prime. I wonder what really went on here all those years ago?

Visited 12.6.10.
The last time I visited Stonehenge I didn’t know about these post holes but have read about them since. You can’t really miss them as you drive over them! I wonder if they will still me marked when the planned changes take place?

Visited 12.6.10.
Funny thing is, when I last visited Stonehenge 4 years ago I never even noticed the reinforced concrete. I did this time although to be fair it probably ‘blends in’ as best it can. I don’t suppose there are too many options if you want to ensure the stone stays standing?

Visited 12.6.10.
See my notes for New King Barrows.
All you have to do is keep following the track north and it leads you right to this group of barrows. Not as good as the New King Barrows but worth a look if you have time.

Visited 12.6.10.
After visiting Stonehenge and all its hustle and bustle I headed up to this site. I parked just off the main road onto a little piece of land in front on the gate which leads you to the barrows. There is a metal N.T. sign here which calls the site King Barrow Ridge. It was a lovely sunny day and the light was dappled through the trees. Myself and Dafydd had the place to ourselves and it was very peaceful with good views back towards Stonehenge and all the people walking around the circle. This really is a lovely place to visit and access to the barrows is very easy. I would certainly recommend a visit when in the area. One word of warning though – it is quite difficult getting back onto the main road as it is very busy and the cars are not hanging around!

Did a ‘drive by visit’ on 12.6.10 as there was no where convenient to park. Despite driving as slow as possible on this busy road I couldn’t see anything to be honest. Perhaps you need to get closer?

Visited 12.6.10.
As I am sure everyone knows who has visited Stonehenge, the best place to see the Avenue is just by the fence between the road and the circle. There is a metal bridge where people now cross over the avenue to prevent damage / erosion.

Visited 12.6.10
You can drive a little way up the rough stone track off the A360 and park next to the publib by way signs. DO NOT try to drive any further as the track gets worse and you would need a tractor to go get by. Walk up the very rutter track for a bout 5 minutes and you come to a new wooked stile on your left with a metal N.T. sign. The barrow is right in front of you. The grass and nettles were long and as I got stung walking to the mound I wished I had worn jeans! The barrow was about 90 paces long and must have been about 8 to 10 feet high. One of those sites where it may be better to visit in the winter months when the vegatation is lower?

Visited 12.6.10..
After missing these stones on my last visit to the church (it was raining!) It was time for a re-visit. As you walk up the path to the church the stones are hiden in the hedge to your right. They are in a line and do look like head stones except the two largest which a squarish blocks covered in ivy. Easy to miss unless you are specifically looking for them. There are many large stones embedded in the foundations of the church itself. Most easily seen around the back of the church. I like visiting old country churches. They are very peaceful and interesting places to visit – this is no exception.

Visited 12.6.10..
Not much to report on this site. Very little to see other than some ‘lumps and bumbs’ in the fields. Not worth the effort unless you happen to be in the area with time to spend. At least it is another E.H. site ticked off my list. On another plus point there is a good view of a white horse carved out of the hillside in the distance. Not much else to recommend a visit I’m afraid.

Visited 12.6.10.
I had read quite a lot about this site and re-read about it in Julian’s book before leaving home. The site is easy to find (sign posted off the main road) and a very bumby lane takes you up to the equally bumby car park. Through the gate and a 20 minute stroll takes you rigt around the site. This is a strange place although the views are lovely – particularly on a warm summer’s day. The site is surrounded by M.O.D. land with lots of barbed wire fences and warning signs. Don’t be put off, go visit and enjoy the ‘oddness’ of the internal ditch and the wonderful views.

Visited 12.6.10.
This was my last stop off on the way home after a long day. I parked in the car park alongside the lane which runs to the east of the hillfort (room for about 10 cars). I looked up and saw what appeared to be a long walk ahead of me. Even though I was a bit tired I decided to go for it and picking Dafydd up, walked over the wooden stile and up the hill. The walk to the top took about half an hour but the gradient wasn’t too bad at all and the walk wasn’t as gruelling as I expected. It was a lovely warm, sunny summer’s evening and the views from the top are spectacular – some of the best I have ever seen from a hillfort. Dafydd played in the grass picking buttercups and daisys and I just sat and admired the wonderful views, watching the sun and clouds make patterns on the fields below. A farm in the distance was calling the cows in for milking. A very, very pleasant place to be. I didn’t walk right around the large site and settled for a look at the ramparts near where I sat. I could only see the remains of one ditch / rampart which snaked its way around the hill top. The central area of the hillfort is fenced off although you can walk around the perimeter. A lovely place to visit – for the views alone. Highly recommended. A great way to end a successful days ‘old stoning’.

I have visited this site a couple of times and have to admit I have failed to spot the Cairn – despite using binoculars. I have tried to spot it from the lane which runs off the A479 towards the farm – to no avail. Perhaps I have been looking at it all the time but not distinguished it from any other ‘lumbs and bumps’ in the field?

Visited 2008.
Just west of the B4268 road junction at Pentre Meyrick there is a very bumpy, muddy, rough track. You can just about drive down it and shortly you will see trees to your left – this is where the enclosure is. Park as best you can and walk over to the trees. There is a fairly obvious small bank which runs around the square enclosure under the trees.
Not much else to recommend a visit i’m afraid.

Visited 2008.
I parked by the church and followed the ‘path’ through the trees which runs around the side of the hillfort. I then made my own way through the bushes/trees up to the hillfort. This is private land with a fence around it and when I visited there were several horses in the field. Nothing to see other than small stones around the edge. Whether these are anything to do with the hillfort or just part of field clearing I don’t know.

Visited as part of a day out looking at cliff forts along the South Wales coast. As with the other sites I visited there was nothing much to see – other than the lovely Welsh coast. Cracking on a fairly rare sunny day! There is a car park in Dunraven Bay which is only a short walk away.

Visited last summer on a lovely hot day. Drive through Llantwit Major and follow the road down to the car park at the sea shore. There is a shop here where you can buy the normal bucket/spade, chips, tea, ice cream etc. A nice little spot where the river runs into the sea and there are plenty of places to sit and ponder.
With ice cream in hand I headed along the coast, but to be honest I couldn’t make anything out. The vegatation was waist high so I headed back and had a cuppa instead!

I have driven down the B4270 many times and always have a quick look to see if I can spot the barrows. From the road there is one that can be seen as a shallow rise in the field. The rest are not obvious from a ‘drive by’ view.

I visited this site back in 2008.
Quite a tricky one to find this one. Take the road south from Pontlottyn and drive through Fochriw. Just as approach the cemetary there is a sharp turning to the right. Park near this junction. Make your way up the steep bank and head for the furthest point north. The cairn is not visible until you are pretty much on top of it. From what I remember there is a post stuck right next to the cairn. The cairn itself is of a reasonable size with stones protuding out of the grass.
Not a lot to see for the effort it takes to find it i’m afraid to say.

I visited this site last summer – for what it was worth. On the plus side it is easy to get to. I parked at Pen-Y-Lan farm and looked out over the field in which the site stands. Unfortunately there was nothing to see – other than a ‘levelled off’ area in an otherwise non descript field. Not worth the effort unless you happen to be in the area and have a bit of spare time.

Although I live quite near to this site I have only viewed it from afar. It is one of those typical tree covered hilltops. The O/S map shows a right of way which takes you around the base of the hillfort. One to visit for a closer look one day.

When I visited earlier this year I parked at the farm to ask for permission. There was no one in so I took a chance to have a ‘quick look’. The ‘quick look’ I had planned turned out to be a lot longer than expected as the tomb took a lot longer to get to than I thought. When I got to the tomb (out of breath as I had jogged up the hill) I was delighted with the views to be had over the Brecon Beacons – which were topped with snow against a blue sky. The tomb was better preserved than I expected and I managed to return to the car before anyone returned. All in all a good place to visit.

When I visited last year I approached the site from the opposite direction than given by Elderford – mistake! The route I took was very boggy, meant climbing over several fences and scrambling through bushes. In saying that the site is a cracker and was worth the effort. Although a large chunk of the cairn is missing it gives a fairly unique opportunity to see how a cairn is constructed. Good views to be had as well. I stayed here for quite a while watching the birds float by against a deep blue sky. Worth the effort this one.

I visited this stone last summer. Very easy to access as it is on the verge of the road BUT the road is quite busy so parking is a problem. The broken small wooden fencing was still there – just. Not much to look at but easy to find.

I ‘sort of’ visited this site a couple of years ago. I say ‘sort of’ as it was viewed from a narrow country lane a couple of fields away whilst being given the ‘evil eye’ by a farmer who obviously thought that all the minor lanes around his farm belonged to him!! As it was, it was quite late in the day and the light was fading so I probably wouldn’t have had time to get any closer anyway. The stone is fairly easy to spot even at a distance due to the white lichen on its top/side.

Visited 5.6.10.
This is a cracking stone, easy to spot amongst the trees right next to the main road into Crickhowell (lovely place to look around). There is a large parking area opposite if you want to get closer. Be careful crossing this road as it’s a busy one.

I have visited this site a couple of times and it has always been sunny! Lovely views over to the mountains, easy to park right next to the site and Dafydd can play in the park whilst I look at the ‘old stones’ – a ‘win win’ situation!

I made the (near) big mistake of visiting tis site in the summer which made it even more difficult to find. An O/S map is a must although it is easy to park once you get to the edge of the forest. This has to be one of the most remote sites I have been to. The best tip I can give is that the burial chamber IS just about visible on your left. It is VERY low to the ground so you need to concentrate. It’s only a short walk off the track but it took me a long time to find. Not much to see really but I guess it is satisfying when you do eventually find it!

In my quest to visit all 120 CADW sites this was one of the first I visited back in 2007. Difficult to find and an O/S map is vital. Despite being a CADW site there are no sign posts to help. Park as best you can at the entrance to the farm (not much room and the tractors were fast and frequent when I visited). Take the ‘path’ through the trees oposite the farm entrance and make your way along the right hand side field until you come to a gate. Climb over the gate, through more trees and you come to the hillfort. When I visited in the summer the grass was high and it wasn’t easy to spot the defences although they could be made out. Perhaps best visited during the winter months when vegetation is low? – and less tractors about!

Trelleck is a fantastic place to visit. Not only does it have Harold’s Stones but it also has a motte, Holy Well and a broken medieval cross in the church yard – all within a short walk of the car park next to the village hall? There is a decent information board opposite said car park. The stones are easy to access but be careful crossing the raod as it was surprisingly busy when I visited. The stones are cracking. This is obviously a very special place. I wonder what it all means? Must visit again when I get a chance. Make the effort to visit this place – you won’t be disappointed.

Another site I have visited many times. (when visiting here you should also visit St Lythans just up the road) Parking is easy and a 10 minutes walk across the field takes you there. The cap stone is huge and the chamber quite well preserved. I have never actually crawled into the chamber as every time I have visited it has always been very muddy. Unfortunately I usually find lots of rubbish / beer cans etc throw into the chamber by the less well educated in society.

I have visited this site several times over the years as it it not far from where I live and is so easy to access. Oddly enough, although Tinkinswood gets all the ‘glory’ I actually prefer this site. On a windy day the stones for a sort of ‘wind tunnel’ when stood inside.

Easy to find – just head for the sports centre! In front of the centre, right next to the road, is this rather ‘unloved’ standing stone. A small information board is next to the stone (equally unloved). I am sure that most people who pass this stone have no idea what it is. If in the area stop and give it a pat. Let it know there are some people out there who do care!

The common is easy to find although if you do have a problem just ask a local! Plenty of places to park and I was surprised how pleasant the common was for a walk. Lots of ‘modern’ standing stones about – circles / avenues etc. Somehow it seemed a strange place to find these recreations. All in all a nice place to visit. Don’t forget to look for the cist (Coed-Pen-Maen) when visiting – not easy but worth the search.