Taken 15th April 2003: I’m 99% certain that this is not a burial chamber. It may be a natural rock formation or a modern attempt at creating something dolmen-like.
I came across it in amongst the lunar landscape of Carn Meini, and it took me by surprise. Possibly inspirational stuff for our prehistoric ancestors?
Taken 15th April 2003: A slightly shonky photo of Carn Meini from the north east (I think), with William posing cheesily in the foreground.
Taken 15th April 2003: From the south, standing very near to Carn Ferched, you can clearly see two of the three massive cairns on Moel Drygarn (the third is only just visible to the right).
Taken 15th April 2003: On our way back to the car from Bedd Arthur, this shot is taken from the south west.
Taken 15th April 2003: The site, looking south east towards the footpath that runs beside the forestry plantation.
Taken 15th April 2003: The stone, taken looking (approximately) north towards Foel Drygarn.
Taken 15th April 2003: On our way back from Bedd Arthur the sun had decided to show its face, so I took some more photos. This hot is taken from the north (or there abouts).
The big boulder in the distance, against the forestry plantation, is a good landmark when you’re trying to find the site because it’s right next to the footpath.
Taken 15th April 2003: On our way to Bedd Arthur I took this shot of the site from the north east. In the distance are some natural boulders, with Lou and the boys standing amongst them.
Visited 15th April 2003: Another shot from the east, this time orientated towards Cerrig Lladron (I think).
Visited 15th April 2003: The stones from the north west, with the OS Landranger map for scale.
Visited 15th April 2003: The view from the south east (approximately speaking), looking towards the Preseli Mountains. The amusingly named Carn Sian is directly above the larger stone.
Taken 14th April 2003: The view from Tre Wallter Llwyd out towards Carreg Samson (marked with the red arrow).
Taken 14th April 2003: Two more fenceposts, this time looking off to the east (or there abouts). These are both touching the chamber.
Taken 14th April 2003: A close up of one of the fence posts. This one is in direct contact with the capstone.
Taken 14th April 2003: Looking approximately north east, along the sensitively placed stock fencing.
Taken 14th April 2003: From the north west. Lou is trying to figure out where Carreg Samson is. You can see it from Tre Wallter Llwyd, but you need to know where to look.
Taken 13th April 2003: Looking south, down the defensive ‘ditch’ between the stone ramparts on the outside of the defenses (left) and the natural stone outcrop.
Taken 13th April 2003: From outside the fort looking in, here are the southern end of the defences with two random walkers and their dog for scale. The walkers are about to pass through the gap in the ramparts.
In the distance is the island of Carreg-Trai.
Taken 13th April 2003: The promontory, with the fort’s rampart cutting across the shot, left to right. On the left hand-side there’s a gap in the fortification, but I’ve no idea whether this is modern or part of the original layout.
Taken 13th April 2003: Looking south west, in the forground is the smaller of the two chambers. In the distance are Point St. John and Ramsey Island.
Taken 13th April 2003: The northerly chamber, taken looking (approximately) west, with Lou and Alfie just behind it.
Taken 13th April 2003: This is the larger and more complete of the two chambers (the northerly one). This shot is taken looking north west(ish).
Taken 12th April 2003: This is the view of Castell Henllys from A487. I guess it’s just a matter of time before they get my money.
Taken 13th April 2003: From the south (or near enough) looking into the chamber.
Taken 13th April 2003: Looking south west(ish) towards Ramsey Island.
The water between the island and the mainland is called Ramsey Sound, and it’s home to the infamous stretch of white water known as the Bitches. This was clearly visible with the naked eye, but it isn’t at all clear in the photo.
Taken 13th April 2003: Looking approximately south east, towards Carn Llidi. I used lots of fill-in flash to give the impression that there was sunshine.
Taken 13th April 2003: This is the view you get of the chamber if you approach along the Pembrokeshire Coastal Path from the south. It’s about three quarters of a mile off at this stage, but you can still see under the capstone.
Taken 23rd March 2003: As we we leaving the sun set over the hills, so I grabbed this shot with the stone in the foreground.
Taken 23rd March 2003: I took this shot to try and show the two thin seams of quartz running through the Nant-y-Maen stone. They’re very distinctive, and must have been a contributing factor for the people who chose the stone.
Taken 23rd March 2003: The stone from the north, as seen on the approach from the farm.
Taken 23rd March 2003: From the south west, with Louise and Alfie posing for scale.
In the background (above Lou’s head) is Cefncerrig, which has a cairn just west of it’s summit, and another on it’s southern slope.
Taken 23rd March 2003: This is the view of the stone from the farm track, through a telephoto lense. If you don’t get permission to visit the stone, this is about as close as you’ll get to it.
Visited 23rd March 2003: From this angle (the east) the stone looks suspiciously squared off at the top.
Taken 23rd March 2003: The stone from the north west, with my hand-held GPS for scale.
Taken 23rd March 2003: This is how you’ll see Penmaen-Gwyn from the road, and you really can’t miss it.
Taken 23rd March 2003: Penmaen-Gwyn stands on a small hill just above the road. This shot is taken looking north, up the hill.
Taken 23rd March 2003: Looking south towards the road (and our car), you can see just how accessible the stone is.
Taken summer 1991: This is a view of the stone from the road. The kerb cairn is only just out of this shot, but I discovered this 12 years too late.
Taken 9th March 2003: This shot shows (what I believe to be) the packing stones. I’ve indicated the stones with red arrows, between which is a gap that fits the ‘fallen’ stone almost perfectly.
The (probable) standing stone lies on the other side of the reeds so you can’t see it from this angle.
I stuck my GPS in shot to give an indication of scale (the yellow blob, between the arrows). It’s 11cm long.
Taken 9th March 2003: This is the stone, viewed from the south west (or thereabouts). The packing stones are on the other side of the reeds so you can’t see them from this angle. The weather was appalling, and the light was fading when I took this.
I stuck my GPS in shot to give an indication of scale (the yellow blob to the left of the stone). It’s 11cm long.
Taken 9th March 2003: Looking west towards the porch.
Taken 9th March 2003: A nice passport photo, taken from the south west.
Taken 9th March 2003: The stone stands on the south side of the church. Three and a half year old for scale.
Taken 13th March 2003: Looking north west towards the standing stone, from the footpath that runs to the east. The wind turbines in the background are on Mynydd Gorddu.
Taken 13th March 2003: From the north, with Blaencastell Farm and the Rheidol Study Centre in the distance.
Taken 13th March 2003: A view of the stone from the east, with the hillfort behind it.
Taken 2nd March 2003: This is the smaller of the two remaining stones. It has quite a lean on it, which you don’t get an accurate impression of from his photo.
Taken 2nd March 2003: The larger of the two remaining stones, looking approximately west.
Taken 2nd March 2003: The two remaining stones at Meini Gwyr, looking approximately east. The phoney stone circle is off to the right.
Taken 2nd March 2003: A close up of the top of Coynant Maenhir from the south west (i.e. jammed up between the stone and the hedgerow). I was rather taken by the lichen growing on the stone.