postman

We parked just west of Pontrhydfendigaid ( nice little name for a nice little town) halfway down a lane leading to Dolebolion farm,
The footpath crossing this lane takes you more or less striaght to the top of the hill. At 352m it’s quite a puff to the top but the view
alone is worth it, the trig point speaks of the forts hieght and maybe its unasailability but only being there shows its dominence over
the surrounding country. The Entrance is very well preserved, being the most vulnerable side it has three banks and ditches only a low
bank stregnthens the eastern side. Infront of the entrance is an irregular shaped ring of rubble, iron age I doubt but near that is a 
pair of large boulders (one standing) they do look part of something older. Around the stones are three large mounds from on top
of which we could almost look down on the fortified entrance, not often does that occur.
On our way back down we saw what the track was for around the southern edge of the hill, cars were racing round it, a pity they werent
more cool cars, astra’s, escorts and the like, but it was different, and we did stay and watch for a bit.
From the other hillfort three miles N.West the hill that Pen y Bannau is on seems to stand out even more, it is such a perfect place
to build a fort on .

To the east of Pontrhydfendigaid is Ystradmeurig the hillfort is just north of the latter, but seeing as both places are unpronouncable and
deep in last century Wales, miles even from the nearest B road, any directions are just a piss take, get a map !
After reaching the top of the hill just walk along the wide ridge till you come upon the fortified entrance this is more or less all thats left,
except the natural barrier of steep sided cliffs and they’ll be there forever. Not as well preserved as Pen y bannau and the topography
flattens out going off to the coast, but well worth the walk, some good fungi too.

Leaving Ysbyty Ystwyth south on the B4343 turn right immediatly then right again, at the fork in the road park and take left branch.
Follow the path with dark Mynydd Bach forest to your right, looking to the left of the track for the ring cairn, beware, it comes up suddenly.
A good one this, after recently visiting Hirnant ring cairn it was good to see one that has more cairn than ring, the eastern arc of stones are
still under the cairn,there are two large stones and some smaller ones and some probably missing, in the centre of the cairn is a long thin
stone about a metre long this might be a cist side stone. From here we could see the hillfort a little to the south.

By far the easiest approach is from the north, we parked by some big black bagged hay roles half way down a farm track, and sneaked
the rest of the way.
High above the Afon Ystwyth (and I mean high) is the third of todays hillforts, it was the most beaten down of the three but it was in
the most exhilerating position, the view up and down the river is perfect. The entrance and a long bank arcing east-west enclosing the
hilltop between the long way down to the river and the easy way up are all thats
left. The best view of the hill fort is from the car as you approach.
A short thankyou to the capricous welsh weather is needed
as it was greyer than a greys grey spot, but no more than a 
few spots of chilled sky water did touch our tender selves.
Thankyou Wales

My first stone of the day and it couldn’t have been any better. I parked just over the bridge in Newbridge on Wye room for at least four cars. From here we can see the stone in the field skirt around the edge of the field by the river and cut across by the football pitch.
Leaning to the north across the path of the river the stone is 1.75 metres tall measured from the bottom of the hollow in which it stands. The stone was found at the turn of the last century when a hedge was removed.
The rising suns glow shone on the mist as it rolled up the hillsides, the cows and sheep were silent, the bequadbiked farmer didn’t seem to mind me and whats more feet stay dry in wellies
Who knew?

Twas a beautiful morning on the hilltops looking down into the mist enshrouded Wye valley. I parked close to Carregwiber farm, and walked through it to the hill, caged dogs barked at me but a good postman shrugs off such things and soon they gave up as I ascended this abode of the ancestors. The southern side of the hill is steep and undefended, the earthworks banana around the hilltop with possible entrances on the west and east. Coflein describes it as a Defended enclosure rather than a hillfort and the iron age tag has a ? after it.
The very peak of the hill has bare bedrock, if it were situated far to the north one might expect cupmarks or something, but no, here its just the view that captivates.

This is a strange place, I came down from the hillfort armed with map and compass confident that these two stones were going to be easy to find. Before I’d even found stone one the hill had somehow seperated me from my compass, even retracing my footsteps in the dewy grass failed to reunite us, oh well thought I worse things happen at sea, lets just have a good walk round and try with just a map, which I now held on to with an iron grip.
I found one likely looking stone next to a smaller similar shaped stone inbetween the two was a dead sheep, but this stone was next to a bridleway which my map completely fails to acknowledge, so maybe that stone is either not a menhir or it is and its not on the map, because Coflein says there are three stones up on this wide ridge but mappy says only two.
I carried on walking in ever wider circles ‘till I came upon a ruined house with two junked cars, that wasnt on the map either, on the other side of the house I finally found a standing stone a small one indeed but definatly a standing stone.
I packed up quickly and left the place before I too became lost.
Coflein says there are three stones the one by the house is the most obvious, down the bridleway is the other one with deadsheep. But if that isnt it then there is one thats a boulder in a hollow and its almost two metres tall so god knows how I missed that one.
A beautiful and mysterious place.

I parked by two gates one for farmland and one for golf course, taking the farmland one, cross the field and at the far end of the next one is the stone easily spotted sitting proudly on its hillock. But before you go down to it break of to the left and see the grass covered cairn (little hill cairn 3) which looks toward hills known only as Carneddau. The plump little stone is barely half my height but has great views up and down the Wye valley. Coflein says there are more stones nearby, one on the golf course 200m north but fallen and several hundred metres south a boulder one metre tall is a possible third.
On your way back to the car jump the fence and see little hill cairn 2, much bigger than no.3, though god knows where no.1 is

Very close to the road ample parking by the gate.
Nicely situated under a tree so even in heavy rain one could sit a while and appeciate this place. The stone is nearly two metres tall and distinctly triangular, a couple of smaller stones have been dumped at its feet but they make good seats for inspecting the stone right up close. The hills around the stones are perhaps its reason for being, Allt y Clych in particular whilst the stone in profile does resemble the hill a bit I cant say its deliberate, I put the hills name into a translater and the best fit was the “ringing hill ” which seems to go well to me.

I parked in the forestry commisions Coed Ciliau car park and made my way back up the road till I found an easy place to cross the fence. The tip of the stone can be seen from the road so its just a case of getting across the boggy ground between here and there but the bewellied of those amongst us can laugh it off.
This stone is nearly two metres tall and wears a mossy hat, together with two much smaller stones lost in the grass the place has been interpreted as a stone row by some. The tall thick grass that grows around many Welsh stones is here in abundance and doesn’t half get on my ....

I parked by the bridge 200m west of the stone, there is just room for one car for 10 minutes if you squeeze up to the hedge. Then follow the stream east through one gate and the stone is to your left next to a hedge. At just over two meters tall this was the last biggest and most impressive stone of todays adventure. Tradition has it that it marks the site of St Afans murder in the 6th century. (what he was doing at a bronze age menhir I dont know) There is a seat on the stone carved by nature I presume, whilst I occupied the seat I wondered if St Afan had sat here, either way it was good place to be.

This was my second visit to the triple cairn but it didn’t make it any easier to find . I parked in the quarry entrance by the T junction and made our way on to the moor. But Arnie my 11 yr old Jack Russell was finding it hard going and I had to carry him through some of the higher heather. Too far to the right had I taken us so we struggled through the unpathed moor along the edge of the small plattau that is Raven Tor. Eventaually we found the cairns and Arnie immediatly set to finding a rock to chew. It is a bit more overgrown than the last time I came but really overgrown compared to the other pictures. Come see the triple cairn now before it is lost forever (he says melodramaticly) and enjoy the ethereal beauty of the Peak District (he says earnestly).

Straight forward to get to, but a long slog uphill.
Coming south west out of Rhayader go straight past the Elan village turn off and go over the dam. Park as close to the church as possible, take the bridlepath through the forest and up the hill, follow the path all the way through till you come out the other side. turn left and follow the edge of the trees, strike out for the higher ground and the stones are on this wide ridge.
Six stones are close together but only three stand, from the west, stone one is erect, 1.5ft tall, stone two is flat and being covered by grass and moss, stone three is erect and 1.75 ft tall, stone four is almost down but quite bulky, stone five is about 6ft tall, proud and pointy, stone six is down but the biggest stone in the row. Pointing just slightly north of east, so it may not be aligned on the equinox sunrise but to be honest trees, mountains and horizon hugging clouds obscured the true moment of sunrise, but I’m sure glad I picked this unheard of stone row to be at when the sun rose, it was a beautiful morning and my feet were well and truly soaked going round in circles and weaving amongst the stones photographing and trampling down that orrible thick green grass. There is a very battered cairn about 60 metres east. I wish I’d bought my shears as this is a good example of a stone row in a beautiful part of Wales and should be shown at it’s best.

From Llanwrthwl go south west, eventually the lane turns into a track and then becomes impassable so an uphill walk is required. When youve followed the path up to a sadlle in the hills , the hills rise up to the east and west, head east past the diminutive standing stone. Just past the menhir is the first out of at least five cairns, this one is the smallest. Head uphill on the rather vague path and then the two big ones come into view. They did have shelters built into them but I pushed them in (hope they wer’nt original features) Slightly down hill is a ring shaped cairn, but I doubt it is supposed to be so as it is now only a crescent of cairn material. Down hill and towards where the valley drops down is the last cairn I found,smaller than the last three but larger than the first, ( hope that makes sense) it had a stone standing up in the middle of it, probably put up by the shelter builders, its prostrate now.

Heading south west out of llanwrthwl south of Rhayader the small one track lane goes further and further into the hills leaving the valley floor away to my left. We have to leave the car and walk the rest of the way up the hill, the path is well worn so its easy to get there. when we reach the top of the hill, we’re actually in a saddle of hills they rise up to the east and west. the standing stone is 50 metres of the main path, hiding in horrible waist high thick green grass. Although its only half a metre high it seems well proportioned, as if it were just the right size for its intended purpose. Along with the at least five cairns two of which are bigguns, and presumably theres a stone II but its whereabouts are unknown to me.

If Carlsberg did unfindable dolmens it’d be this one, fortunately I love dolmens and beer.
Starting at the picturesque bridge SM981284 go south and when the road goes uphill look for a farm track on your right immediatey after is a passing/parking place stop here, you wont know it but your about 6ft from the chamber.
Ten feet further north look for a standing stone set in the hedge bank and you know your there.
Now walk uphill untill reaching a large metal gate, over we go and then follow the hedge back downhill looking for a clump of bushes protruding from the hedge, it’s in there.
Rediculous, utterly without feeling did they treat this cute little dolmen, the road is less than a foot away the hedge and its bank goes right over/through it and whats left is at the mercy of brambles, bracken and young trees.
That said I was pleased to find it looking almost intact, inside the chamber is soil upto one foot away from the underside of the capstone. It has what looks like curb stones on its northern side,
one of which is a big quartz boulder. Get the time team in for gods sake. I pulled away a lot of the brambly stuff to better understand the place but it needs more than one bloke with only an hour to spare. Standing on the capstone one can see the car parked right next to it, its funny here, Ive never seen such a stealth dolmen,on one side of the hedge and it’s “wow look at that” ,6ft the other side of the hedge and it’s “what dolmen, watch out for the tractor”.

After seeing the picture in Architecture of death by George Nash I was totally unprepared for Garne Turnes immense size, it’s a whopper.
There is only one place to park and there’s only room for two or three cars, there is a gap in the hedge and an unlocked gate, The giant capstone has it’s back to us as we came towards it, and the whole affair unfolds as you approach. There aren’t many burial chambers that remind me of Brownes hill dolmen near Carlow in Ireland, but because of its huge size this one certainly does, and both places are thought to have been undercut and propped up as they dug. Even the court stones are big especially one to the right as you look in. To get a good view of everywhere and the dolmen climb the outcrops just 50m away. It was too muddy to get in the chamber and I didnt remember to look for the cupmark till we’d left.
Oh well I don’t suppose it’s going anywhere, unlike the Alter further north.

Travelling south on the A40 I went straight through the cooly named Wolfscastle twice before noticing the east going lane can only be accessed by leaving the A40 and going under the bridge. Driving down the lane look out for a bridle way on both sides of the road take the southern one, the chamber is in this field against the hedge.
But I couldn’t get to it because of over curious cows, the ground was muddy by the gate amongst the small trees, it was very frustrating to be able to see the object of my desires and not be able to get to it. I climbed up a tree a bit and zoomed a photo over the heads of the cows which by now had me completly surrounded. My daughter shouted encouragements from the gate and innapropriate (for a 9yr old)abuse at the cows. I spotted a gap in the bovine defences and bolted through and fair dived over the gate. ” Just like Indy” said Phil, we laughed all the way to Garn Turne.

You can drive almost right up to the field in which this portal dolmen stands, but if you get to a cottage turn round and park by the gate, not ideal but there was no answer at the house.
A short ramble back down the lane and a shorter rummage through the bushes over barbed wire and you can see where Moss took her picture from, here, the monument is 60m away.
Again, the chamber is half full of field clearence, and the whole thing is half overgrown. The stones are a bit of a jumble, to me it looked like the capstone had broke in half and collapsed into the chamber, but George Nash seemed to disagree, he also says the place has never been excavated.
From here I can see Carn Treglemaes, I toyed with the idea of finding Llecha cromlech but Coflein says theres only two boulders left, sorry Moss.
coflein.gov.uk/pls/portal/coflein.w_details?inumlink=6020831

Treffynnon and White house burial chambers are identical twins, different only in their distruction.
Leaving the small village of Treffynnon to the south east I parked at a t-junction with barely enough room for one, went through the gate up the field through another gate and the chamber is to the right/east . The capstone is a perfect giants pebble for skimming across giant ponds and is dislodged over the entrance to the chamber. The chamber is full of field clearence and the obligatory black slugs. Considering the reconstruction of other Welsh monuments Anglesey’s Ty Newydd for instance, it would take virtually nowt to set it right and enhance the site no end. I’d even lend a free hand too.

My daughter and I left the car parked at the stables directly west of the chamber and beyond the rocky Pen Rhiw hilltop. A ten minute walk through wet sluggy grass brings us to this Wedge tomb, a wedge tomb in Wales, cant be many of them. Grimes Re-erected the 3m long capstone in 1936, and is still there now resting on three long stones, a large empty space where the other one was just has big rubble as if someone smashed it up or dumped field clearence. With Fishgaurd and it’s ferry to Rosslare just a couple of miles away it makes perfect sense to find an Irish wedge tomb here, though it’s on it’s own as far as I know.

On the northern outskirts of Goodwick/Udig, there is a carpark with signs pointing the way. From the carpark we come to the southern and biggest capstone known locally as Carrig Samson first it rests dislodged on just two or three suppoting stones . All three capstones have shifted somewhat, but are still high enough to crawl into, best to do it in dryer weather and evict the slugs and spiders first. The unobscured view would have been almost overwhelming, but the houses bring us down with a small bump, although serving to remind us that the living wouldn’t have been far from the ancestors. Above the chambers is the outcrop which protrudes above the bracken and brambles,it just has to be scrambled around on, and amongst them is a natural chamber which should it have a capstone it would be about the size of the three capstones we see below it. A nice rumour to spread maybe, nothing more.

Never saw any dogs or thier doings, come early.
And I mean early !

Sorry Ocifant, but this cracking dolmen couldnt have been easier to find, you must have asked the wrong Postman. At the south end of Llangynog on the western side of the road is a carpark with footpath leading almost straight to it, both carpark and path look new though so we’ll let him off. when the path forks turn right and on to the bridge, its off to the right amongst the trees there is even a gate at the end of the bridge but it was locked. I didnt take the right hand fork in the path and ended up stepping stoneing across the river and into the quarry, then I started wading through neck high bracken and was beginning to think this was another lost site, but just then a chest high beige coloured pony came right up to me out of no where( how cool would it have been to meet a greyhound) it then began to toss its head in the direction of the river, being one to accept and act upon signs and portents I went in that direction. After two minutes following the small river back towards the carpark it seemed to pop out from behind the trees. I had secretly wished this one to be a goodun, and it was.
Three moss covered stones between two and three feet tall make up the chamber and the large thick capstone leans against one side, reminding me of in size atleast Maen y Bardd on Tal y Fan up north. At first it seemed tranquil and serene, but then it took an ominous turn when I noticed someone had been collecting quartzy pebbles probably from the new footpath, and the soft ground was disturbed in a ring around the dolmen, dancing wiccans make me nervous, don’t know why they just do, it was time to go anyway, so I did.
Upon returning to the carpark I realised I’d lost me filter and attachment ring so I returned to the stones, then I realised I’d not replaced two big quartz stones from in the chamber not wanting to anger any spirits I put them back and asked for them back foolish maybe but I got back the car and returned two more times (it isnt far) finally finding it by the side of the river
Hoooooray viva la spirits.
When I finally got home and put the pictures on the computer I saw that at least half of them were very blurry, just the ones from this dolmen, not from any of the other places I’d been to just this one. Hmmmm?

After the confusing warren of streets and lanes of Llanybri we eventually found these two stones near the pylons infact there was a prostrate pylon in the next field it was in two or three parts and looked like the bones of some iron giant. These giant killikng stones haven’t had it all there own way, the biggest stone is on it’s back and it is big, about 10ft long. The other stone isnt quite 5ft tall and has a triangular cross section. Two hundred metres to the west by the river under the pylon is a smaller Maen Llwyd also threatened by hedges and brambles.
Why so many Maen Llwyds ? Their spread out over most of Wales, Iv’e been to maybe half a dozen, but they’re all over the place here, did they get a one word parrot in to name them all or was it “what shall we call this one?” Ermmmmmmm

Very easy to get to but parking is sparce, on the east side of the B4312 less than a mile south of Myrddyns quoit. The field was half full of sitting cows but there didnt seem to be any bulls so I skirted around the far side of the field and moved in for the kill, only to suddenly see a very large bull stand up, it didnt come over, none of them did they just stood up and stared at me. Three stones remain, one leaning, almost down but putting up a fight and two at the front? about five feet tall.
The info board says this is another quoit, a dolmen, if it had it’s capstone and it would be a big one I thought it might look a bit like Lanyon quoit in Cornwall, which is only a boat trip away, so they may be linked.

A narrow lane seperates two monoliths, for which no further detail is given.

That is what Coflein says of these two stones, it doesn’t get much more enigmatic than that or unhelpful. We wended our way through the narrow lanes passed all the right landmarks and parked for all the world right between the two stones, but now I understand the “no further detail” bit, they werent there,not in the field, not in the lane either. I can only assume that like Maen Melyn they’d been consumed by the earthern wall, hedge and brambles. A winter visit with a long stiff pokey stick might yeald more.

Just a minutes drive east from Llanybri, located in the corner of a T junction. There was loads of room to park the car, so while the wife saw to the dogs I went in search of this seven foot tall stone. Should be easy you’d think but ohhh no those damn welshies have really tried hard to hide these stones and they’ve had huge success here. So much so that I didnt know what Maen Melyn was, it just said the name on the map and I assumed it was a stone, but couldnt find it so I presumed it was the long mound nearby I even took a picture. It wasnt it, I was so obviously in the right place I couldnt work it out . When I got home I looked on Coflein and they said it was actually in the hedge, so I was right on top which is why these are field notes and not a misc note. Why on earth would you hide it in a hedge, they’re not just hedges but an earthern wall with a hedge on top, it may be lost forever, a winter visit may be more rewarding. I cant beleive it was there all along I must have walked past it half a dozen times.

Heading S.W on the B4312 just after Llangain turn right after going under the power lines, watch for footpath going to the right. Follow the path under the lines and just before a stile are these two stones, surprisingly, with an information board. If these were a pair of standing stones they’d be cool but seeing as this was once a burial chamber there’s not much left. Having said that I quite liked it here, we were even joined by an elderly gent and his collie, he said he’d heard that thirty years ago there were three stones, cool I thought local knowledge. Then he went on to tell me to stick to the path as that was a private road over there, I sighed inwardly and thanked the chap.
There could be still three stones, the bank with a hedge on top could have just gone right over the other stone, or there was a small boulder on the other side of the hedge. The information board reminded me of Asterix, and it didn’t even have much information on it (see pic).

The road closest to the stones had cows in it and I didnt like the sound of a manor house so close to the stones. My lack of respect for Welsh farmers forced me to make a clandestine visit. I make only few apologies for this but heck it is more fun sneaking about like ninja trained SAS. I made my way along hedges from the east, furthest away from the big house, so it was over the gate by the road, through a really muddy gateless gap in the hedge, then not wanting to go over another gate I tried to squeeze between some barbed wire but messed it up some how and ended up with a bleeding two inch scatch to my forehead, poetic justice maybe, I was sweating so much that I couldnt tell if it was blood dripping down my face or sweat. After a long swear at my self I saw the first of the four stones a huge bulky monolith with better camouflague than any sas dude. 250 degrees of bramble round it and threats to be completely consumed by them but still a good place to sit for a while and nurse ones injuries.
About 100m to the south-west are the two stones with a smaller one 50m further on.
The smaller most northern stone is known as the pulpit stone, the taller southern stone is almost twisted. Luckily there were trees between me and the big house so when my daughter started shouting me from the gate up the hill I realised I’d been here too long and now would be a good time to go, as shouting kids are a dead give away to someones prescence even more than fleeing sheep.
God I hate farms.

Theres nothing one can do to escape these damn pylons round here, it wasnt the first time i’d been slightly freaked by the fizz and crackle from above this morning either, some times I think they do it on purpose, perhaps the council or farmers pay a bonus to the pylon erecters if they can people orrf my land.
One side of the stone (the one with the tiny gorge at the top) was two tone, a nice mottled shiny grey with lichen and moss, whilst the lower half was a fetching manure colour, not that odd really when one examines closer and realises that it is manure.
Kammer is right, this stone needs respect, and then some.

I arrived about 7pm armed with shears and a binliner, determined to get a good look at these two stones. But someone had beaten me to it all the brambles and nettles were gone, someone does care afterall, I wonder if it was the farmer himself (seems unlikely) or someone from one of the houses that back on to this field. Either way its nice to see you, to see you nice. A few things occured to me now that I could see the stones, both stones lean in the same direction at the same angle. They are both aligned on a nearby hilltop to the east, so well aligned that from at the end of the row you can hide one stone behind the other. On our way back I turned to say goodbye to the stones and noticed that the stones were in the middle of two bumps as if they had been erected inbetween two ploughed down barrows, but the ground is all natural I suppose, intriguing though.
Untill we note the name change, the henge is almost gone, just the two stones remain.

The whole family were with me at Hirnant but Iv’e been left to wander around this one alone, just as well really because I really should take note of other peoples fieldnotes. I tried the direct approach from the road and found my way barred by the uncrossable but very stunning Rheidol gorge. Not wanting to leave the gorge
I followed it back up to the farm where I would do the right thing and ask. There was only one dog compared with Kammers two, perhaps the other one was with the farmer, because no-one was in. So i made my own unhindered way following the very obvious track right to it. What a stunning view it would be on a sunny day, I was glad for the peace I had on my own, it was a good circle to find, though the thick green grass obscured the depression and some of the smaller stones. Both this circle and Hirnant are small in every way (except the views, there big)
but very nice nonetheless.

It’s been a while since we all went to some stones together, so it was nice to have the whole family at this, another of Wales unsung heroes. The weather wasn’t perfect it was a monotone grey almost all afternoon but the stones made up for that. Also Eric left the gate open a bit causing a farmer to sit and wait out our visit, just to say could we make sure the gates are shut after yourselves, very understandable but a tad annoying, had I known I’dve gladly run back and shut it.
One of the stones is out of place and easily rolled over by one man, I pushed it back onto the circumfrence but it left a sad muddy gouge where it had been so I decided beauty came before form. I couldnt tell if it was even from the circle as it appears on none of Kammers pics.
It does get a bit swamped in all that ‘orrible thick grass but some shears or big scissors would clean it right up.

If Serth means steep or obscene then it could refer to its proximity to the steep sided cliffs, or as I beleive obscene refering to that old obscene religion and just to confound them they carved there own religous symbol on it. So Maen Serth could be “Big stone of the old obscene religion”
The stone is soooo obviously a way marker, People making there way over the hills wouldn’t immediately head down through the pass, which in ancient days was probably covered in trees, they would follow the stones up and along the ridge. Any way the stone looks prehistoric,
and even Coflein states it as Bronze age as if there was never any doubt, not even mentioning it’s so called disputed antiquity.
If you ever go to this stone for gods sake go the long way round dont go up the cliffs, its exciting but a bit dangerous.

Just a five minute drive from Henriw standing stone and so close to the road that to not say hi to the stone is considered a crime in these parts.
You would have to go a long way to find a more beautiful part of Wales and the stones are very well placed, on the valley floor at the base of a hill and near a river, Has excavation proved that this is a pair of standing stones, to me it seemed like maybe the two were once one.
Even if your not into stones anyone would have to admire this places natural beauty, on a lovely day with butterflies and swallows the big but thin stone is just a good excuse to tarry awhile.

I do value my anonimity and always try to get in and out of anywhere without drawing attention to myself. So we elected to wander of the recognised footpath, only one problem , the river, which was in full spate. We eventually found a narrow enough place to jump and bob was my uncle. The menhir is square in section about eight foot tall and has a nicely sloping top into one corner. It’s a very bulky stone, a nice change to some of the tiddelers we’d seen at Y Capel and Kerry hill stone circles.
We tried to find the proper path on the way back hoping there would be a bridge, there wasn’t, not that we could find anyway, we shimmied along a tree branch that crossed the 6ft wide fast flowing river.
A really nice stone this one, good texture, ace place, a barrow in the next field, and for those with a spirit of adventure try the river crossing.

About 150 yards from Kerry hill stone circle, the barrow occupies the very highest point of the hill and is only half a metre high but is defined by a shallow ditch around it. Mega view.

You won’t find this one without a map, it’s a long walk unless your a 4x4 owner. We parked by two barny type farm buildings and trudged off into the misty drizzle. Keep your eye out for two mounds of glacial deposit one of which has a suspicously perfectly placed stone on top, the circle is directly behind them, at the summit of the small hill.
The stones on the eastern side are about 1 to 2 feet tall, and the western stones are barely above the surface, I had to scrape grass off the smallest stone to see it. The sun actually came out for a minute or two and we smiled broadly. Why dont they use bigger stones ? Its an ideal location with an awsome feel to the place, if I were making this circle I’d have bollocked the bloke that brought that tiny stone, but it doesn’t matter, we are here and the sun doth shine .

Head east out of Newtown on the A489, after passing through the village of Kerry turn right/south on to the B4368. Two miles on and there should be trees on both sides of the road, when trees have cleared on both sides, the circle is on the hill to your left, find a safe place to park and head up the hill. As we walked up the grassy slope we noticed that we were heading for a Buzzard perched on the fence, the stone circle was right behind him, the bird soon left. Nine stones remain of this ring with a four foot long prostrate stone in the middle, which is aligned east-west. The sandstone mix of stones straddles a mild hilltop and the stones on the other side of the circle are almost out of view when standing on the other side. The view west is tremendous, and though it rained nearly all the way here we stayed relatively unmolested by the weather .
An easy one to find with a map and some stamina.

We parked to the south west of the hillfort by a farm and followed the path through the trees, it skirts around the bottom of the hill and works it’s way up slowly untill in the end a rocky scramble was needed to get to the top.
By now it was raining lightly, the kids and myself lead Arnie the jack russell from tree to tree trying to stay as dry as we could, on a welsh hill in the rain we did quite well. The earthworks with its very impressive entrance stand on the northern edge of the flat hilltop. By the time we got to the entrance our feet were soaked, and there was a perfect tree to hide under from yet more rain, from here we saw a fox doing pretty much the same as us, trying not to get wet.
There are three lots of banks either side of the entrance, which has long banks at ninety degree angles to the walls leading into the fort, an inturned entrance maybe, Castle cawr a mile away or so has a different type of entrance but is similarly impressive .

A mere seven hours after coming back from Scotland and my son and I were on the road again, a promise is a promise and we do like a good hillfort. We parked beneath the northern slopes and started up the path. There were a lot of small paths criss crossing all over the place but eventually we found the southern rampart which is about 5-6 ft tall. We followed it along till it turned east and was really surprised to find the scrub free massive entrance, there are a lot of hillforts in N.Wales but this was the most impressive entrance of them all so far, at least 10ft tall, I wondered how I managed to avoid it on the way up. With three lots of ramparts I was really taken with the place .
Slightly to the east of the entrance is more defences, of the natural variety, a very deep gorge that just dissapears into blackness, a wooden bridge crosses it .
This part of wales is crammed with hillforts,they are nearly all intervisible and i would deerly love to know more about them, who built em who lived there which were more important than others

Probably best approached from the south where a road leads to a nice house, but a long walk is needed from the north, can you guess which way I came from? Its still a nice walk with the narrow hill top coming into view as you approach along the footpath. A fence needs to be crossed and it’s up the hill. The large low cairn is well defined towards the southern edge of the ridge, the whole of which is situated at one end of a large bowl created by the surrounding hills. It may seem a bit obsessive but iv’e been wanting to come here for at least 2 years , here at last and its a pleasure to behold, and such a gorgeous day too.

Sitting on a slight hilltop, the fort is easily spotted from the small lane, on which there is room for one car only to park. Before ascending the hill , note the three standing stones acting as gate posts. Climb the rusty gate closest to the trees and make your now unimpeded way up. This compact settlement is well preserved with no definate main entrance but three or four small entrances. There are two sets of banks and ditches remaining high and impressive, as ever the views were stunning specially towards Snowdonia. In the ditch on the northern side is a big boulder, how did it get there? and did it have a function? I dont know, but it did perplex me somewhat what with the stones on the other side near the car.
But now the weather is winning and we must beat a hasty retreat...Yaaay hillforts

I parked once more by the scout hut, and started walking that way, when the gate is reached almost double back across the dryest part of the moor, then follow the wall with it on your left, when you can see the farm buildings, head towards Sheepstor (the hill) and the stones are obvious. dry feet at a dartmoor circle how unlikely was that.
All four circles were covered in poo, from several different sources, but the scenery and the lovely little circles more than make up for it.
The central circle is damn near perfect the next two outer circles are made from tiny stones and the outer ring has the biggest stones of all especially on the southern side.
A very photgenic place, but what you really need is to see it from above.
On the way back when the wall stopped, I tried to take the direct route back to the car instead of retracing my steps back to the scout hut, big mistake, I was wet once more. The best route is definatley the right hand route, it is longer but is also drier .

This was my second attempt to witness the summer solstice sunrise at Down Tor, last year my daughter and I camped on a Tor half way between carpark and stone circle/row, but it was raining windy and cloudy so we left it for another time...this time!
Well well well what do you know, despite last nights awsome sunset, I awoke this time to clouds and fog, at least it wasn’t raining, so I gave it another go.
The walk to the stones is long and arduous up and down over three rocky tors the last one not so rocky, in good weather a delight to trek over. But this time on the second hill the fog came in really badly and I got turned around and ended up very lost. five in the morning in fog on the moors alone isn’t the most happy feeling Iv’e embraced. It wasn’t till I stumbled across the cuckoo stone that I realised where I was and with a view to the resrvoir through the fog, I knew which way to go.
Before long the tallest stone could be seen peeping over the low hill, then another and then more, untill my relief must have been obvious even to the small bird that was drawing me on.
Even in the fog this place is cool, the perfect little circle with internal cairn and the stone row, starting of with a whopper of a stone( reset deeper than the original stone hole) but quickly dwindles to knee high stones. I followed the row up to the other cairn, the terminal stone is about 5 ft tall but doesn’t go all the way to the cairn, it stops about 50 m away. The pound is still quite well preserved several stones sticking up maybe entrances to huts.
Now it was time to go and find Yellowmead after a long soggy walk back to the car

After a five hour drive down motorway and across the moors I almost yelped with joy to finally get to these stones, the sunshine was glorious and the stones tall, well, three of them were. I parked near the scout hut, walked straight to Wittenknowles settlement on the low hilltop and back down the other side, all in all, a fifteen minute walk.
The tallest menhir in Devon is here about 14 feet tall I think, and so much more, cairns with rings of stones, a beautiful cist (you’ll know which one) long lines of stones sometimes double rows, and the large barrow(giants basin) overlooking it all. Throw in the sound of running water, some birdsong and a lovely sunset and your in a megalithic paradise, plus I had the whole place to myself. Although the stone rows are more likely to be roughly aligned towards the winter sunset
A good couple of hours are needed to appreciate it fully.

We parked almost on the A481, inbetween hedge and field theres room for a dozen cars, the walk through two fields and some woods was more than pleasant, only one fence to step over. The circle is quite large about 25metres
some stones are quite big, but lying flat, the remainder are small. At both the southern and northern ends of the ring are piles of large stones, probably where farmers have dumped nuisance rock, although some could be from the circle if not all...ha! what do i know.
The circle though small is in a beautiful place seemingly in the centre of a bowl created by the most shaplely of mother hills and sleeping goddesses, I felt the whole valley was trying to speak to me but was too limited to understand.

It was about 8.00am when we parked the car on the forts northern side and it took about 20 minutes to get up.(I had a 6yr old in tow, don’t look at me he wanted to come) First to be reached was what looked like a dwelling of some sort with a stone that had red water resting in a hollow on it, presumably this is the place where iron working was done. From there we can see a chevaux-de-frise, lots of short pointy stones used to impede any attackers, something I don’t think Ive seen before. Then going up the hill through two stone built entrances the upper one still large and impressive with the thick walls reaching off around the hill. There are more obvious round huts on the southern side one even has doorposts. The view from the top is beautiful looking down to the river or staring of into the mountains, one could sit here quite a while, if your alone that is, this is the best place to have a defended settlement along the river because it juts right out away from the mountains and into the valley, further along the valley I could see the smaller Caer Bach .

Just 90 minutes before airport check-in time and I was paying to get in to Trepuco, cutting it a bit short but as it’s so close to the airport I just had to. It had been raining all day but it just made me feel more at home, besides there were plenty of places to shelter from the rain, The cave is just a few metres beyond the kiosk/shed, and the giant talaiot is a good wind-break, but the best place to stand was under the taula. It’s not the most intact of poblats some of it even off bounds, and even though half of the taula sanctuary is concreted in place it was still well worth the entry fee (2 euros i think), and before long I was getting a phone call from the car,it was time to go.
But Menorca just kept on giving, even on the runway we could still see Toellonet talaiot.themodernantiquarian.com/post/67507/images/torrellonet.html

This was our last day on Menorca and it was raining, we sat in the car waiting for a window of dryness, as soon as it stopped we payed the guy in the shed and starting our way round this metropolis. This place is huge, the path takes you to the top of the hill passing some kind of building then up to a Talayot. Around the tower is the sanctuary, high walls with niches in with the perhaps ritually toppled taula. Then its down to the caves, all surprisingly close together and one has three large carved stones, for some homely purpose I presume. Then down to the settlement where the water holes and covered house with its wheel like design are, some of it was covered over with black tarpualin some archaeology had been done recently, one small metre square part was covered by a sheet of perspex, my guess is that it was the actual ground surface or something .
The path (if you can find it) then takes you back to the carpark past another stone fronted cave/chamber and the other talaoyots, it was here near the carpark that my daughter started jumping and dancing around shouting “snake”, sure enough there was a small brown grass snake and she nearly stepped on it, out in open area too.
It was nearing departure time so it was off to our last menorcan site Trepuco