Taken 2nd march 2003: The stone looks slender from the most angles, but from the north east it’s big and fat!
The farmer was a very pleasant chap, and didn’t mind me going to see the stone. Shame he steers so darned close to the stone in his tractor!
Taken 2nd March 2003: This is Coynant Maenhir in a brief spell of sunshine, viewed from the north west.
Taken 13th March 2003: On the south side of the fort the ersosion of the ramparts is less dramatic. This photo shows one of a number of large stones that sit within the defenses of the hillfort. They’re not earthfast, but large enough to have been in the area for a long time (possibly used in defensive walls?).
Taken 13th March 2003: On the north side of the fort the rampart is eroded in a number of places, presumably by the elements and sheep. Here the structure of the rampart is revealad in cross section.
Taken 13th March 2003: On the south side of the fort, looking west south west. I took this photo because I as amazed to see so much Iron Age masonry still evident, even if it is a scattered mess.
The stream running off in the middle distance is Afon Stewi. If it wasn’t covered in forestry we’d be able to see Garn Wen on the hill in the distance (actually less than a mile away).
Taken 13th March 2003:Looking south across the gateway (you can see the gap in the defensive ditch in the foreground). The kerb stone (at east that’s what I’ve chosen to call it) is just visible. In the distance is Blaencastell Farm, and the Rheidol Study Centre.
Taken 13th March 2003: This shot is taken looking across the old gateway, approximately north towards the Banc Mynyddgorddu Windfarm above Bont-Goch.
The stone in the foreground is interesting. I found myself wondering whether it represents the remains of a defensive wall, or possibly the Iron Age equivilant of a kerb stone protecting wooden defensive walls.
Taken 13th March 2003: From the east (or there abouts), here is a shot with the standing stone in the foreground and the fort on the horizon. Strikingly, the stone is on the side of the fort with the gateway on it. This suggests that it would have been significant to whoever built the fort, either because they knew why it had been put there, or because they placed some new Iron Aged significance upon it.
Taken 2nd March 2003: One of the three stones north of Maenpica. It’s probably not prehistoric. You can see the hinges mounted to the stone where it was once used as a gatepost.
A plan of the enigmatic Arthog Standing Stones. The quartz boulder is illustrated in white.
Visited 2nd March 2003: This rather sub-standard photo gives an indication of how close I got to Maenpica (i.e. not very close).
The strange angular thing to the right of the shot (not the cow!) is a sheet of corrugated iron, leaning up against the fence.
Taken 2nd March 2003: This is a side on view of the stone, taken from the west. The enormous (and not very ancient looking) packing stones can be clearly seen.
Taken 2nd March 2003: Here’s another shot from the south (west-ish) with Lou and Alfie in shot. The building in the distance is Maenhir farm.
Taken 2nd March 2003: William (aged 3 and a half if you’re interested in scale) was having trouble staying upright in his new wellies, and he fell over quite spectacularly playing in the mud next to the stone. I use the term mud loosely because I think the field had been spread in the not too distant past.
This shot is taken from the south west (or near enough).
Taken 2nd March 2003: We asked at the farm for permission to see Maen Hir and Coynant Maenhir, and the farmer was very friendly. Here’s the stone viewed (approximately) from the north east. You can clearly make out the holes where a gate was once fitted to the stone.
Taken 2nd March 2003: Taken from the north west, through a gap in the hedge near the school.
Taken 2nd March 2003: Last but not least, here’s another appearance from my famous foot (as featured in many other photos on this site). This time I’m using it for scale next to an unusually square indent on the top of the capstone (the north side).
Taken 2nd March 2003: Looking north west towards the Preselis, you can just about make out the remains of the cairn in this shot. There’s a discernable ring around the capstone, made up of small stones and earth.
Taken 2nd March 2003: A close-up of the capstone, looking north east. You can just make out the transmitter mast near Pentre Galar.
Taken 2nd March 2003: This is the view you’ll get of Carn Besi if you climb the bank by the roadside, and peer over the fence. The red arrow (approximately) indicates the location of Carn Meini.
Taken summer 1991: Armed only with a wide angle lense, I took this photo of the interior of the concrete dome and managed not to get camera shake. I don’t remember much about the visit, but it was my first brush with the term ‘Beaker People’ (on one of the information boards).
Taken summer 1991: I can’t remember exactly how we ended up at Cairnpapple. We were on our way between Edinburgh and Glasgow (in my trusty Mk I Ford Escort). The figure on the mound is Debbie.
Taken 15th February 2003: This is one of the two smaller stones set into the east side of the churchyard wall (the furthest north if you count the gateposts). The photo shows the foot of the stone, where you can see masonry (apparantly) running underneath it.
This illustrates the argument that the stones aren’t all in their original positions, possibly ruling out the suggestion that the site is a stone circle.
Taken 15th February 2003: This is the largest stone in the churchyard wall, and the least contentious of the lot. Most people agree that this is a prehistoric stones, but there’s debate as to whether it’s a standing single stone (the others being later additions to the wall) or part of a stone circle.
This photo is taken looking approximately east from inside the churchyard. The full height of the stone isn’t evident from this side of the wall.
Taken 15th February 2003: This is the largest stone in the churchyard wall, viewed from outside the churchyard where the public footpath runs off towards Parson’s Bridge. From this angle (looking approximately east) you can just about see how large the stone is. By local standards it’s enormous!
Visited 23rd January 2003: The White Stone lies near Cae’r Arglwyddes II. It’s probably a boundary marker that dates back to either the Bronze Age or Medieval period.
Taken 15th February 2003: On our way back from a shopping trip in Lampeter I insisted on pulling over and taking this photo. The winter sunlight was brilliant, and for the first time I positively identified Dolgamfa from the road (the A4120).
The photo is taken from the south east, so not far south of Ysbytty Cynfyn. I’ve effectively zoomed in (by cutting a small chunk out of a big photo). It didn’t look this obvious through the view finder!
Taken 14th February 2003: A close up of the stone, looking approximately west and the setting sun (hence the sunspot...that reminds me of rather a pleasant song).
Taken 14th February 2003: This is the view from the north (or thereabouts) looking towards the mountains.
Taken 14th February 2003: Maen Llwyd stands near its original location, on a patch of grass in a cul-de-sac. This is the view from the south west. The stone is hiding behind the bench.
Taken 9th February 2003: From the road, looking south west towards Bryn-y-Brain.
Taken 9th February 2003: Looking approximately north west towards the stone, with Fron Goch in the background (complete with Iron Age fort on top of it).
You can see how the hill gots it’s name. Translated from the Welsh the word Fron means both hill and breast. The word Goch means red, which makes a lot of sense on a sunny day when the dead bracken catches the light.
Taken 9th February 2003: This is a very boring photo of the stone, taken from the south west (approximately speaking).
Taken July 1995: This stone looks like a prehistoric guitar! I don’t know whether it looked like this when it was erected, or whether it has been damaged since.
You can just make out the moon, which is very appropriate.
Taken July 1995: This triangular stone really struck me. I’ve not seen anything quite like it anywhere else.
Taken 11th January 2003: The western stone, now in the garden of the cottage called Dolgwm. This shot is taken looking approximately west.
Taken 11th January 2003: Looking over the top of the middle stone, towards the eastern stone. The boundary on the right marks the road.
Taken 11th January 2003: The eastern stone, viewed (approximately) from the south east.
Taken 11th January 2003: Looking west from the roadside, with the middle stone in the foreground. The red arrow indicates where the westwern stone lies, just visible in the garden of the cottage called Dolgwm.
Taken 25th January 2003: The stone to the west, with Ferry Meadows in the distance (referred to as Nene Park nower days). The River Nene is hidden from view on the other side of the boandary at the bottom of the field.
Taken 25th January 2003: My famous foot, in this instance used for scale. Looking down at the easterly stone you can see how it looks like a large engineered block.
Taken 25th January 2003: Looking south west(ish). You can see how squared off the stones are.
Taken 25th January 2003: Looking approximately east down the fence line of the field. The road is just on the other side of this fence (and a very broken excuse for a hedge). I stuck the red arrow in to indicate where the second stone is (it’s a bit camouflaged in the grass).
Taken 11th January 2003: Looking west towards the forestry plantation. Loverly and thin isn’t it! A fine stone for these parts.
Taken 11th January 2003: A close up of the horizontal groves on the northern side of the stone.
Taken 11th January 2003: Looking east in the direction of the road (with William and Lou in shot).
Taken 11th January 2003: Looking (approximately) north. The road is off the shot to the right.
Taken in the late ‘90s (I think): This is Silbury Hill as seen on the approach from the north.
The photo was taken by my good friend Alice, with moral support from Richard (also a friend of great quality). They gave it to me as a birthday present last year. Thanks guys!
Taken Spring 1998 (I think): Pentre Ifan from the east with Mynydd Carningli visible under the capstone. This is one of the photos that graces our living room wall.