postman

I thought I’d go for one not in the TME and armed with map and compass, my daughter and me headed to the north east of the island.
I must have been in the zone or something because it was much easier to find than i anticipated. After getting to the long gated drive we passed through the gate, drove the drive and parked at the house, Torre Blanca. A lady was taking her son to school so I asked Sa Torreta? Then came a jumble of Spanish, but miraculously
I gleaned from this, two gates, keep left.
A five minute walk, and the taula peers at you over the trees. It was sheer bliss to find this place intact despite its proximity to the house, The tall taula is blacked at the bottom from ritual burning and the sanctuary wall is still high, but above it all is the large talaiot with exotic views out to sea and over land to Menorca’s central sacred hill El Toro.
We sat quietly and watched house geckos for a while, I love ‘em, and I love this place.

Unfortunatly my computer was down before we left home so I was unable to read the other feildnotes much to my cost. I set off looking for Julians Torre Llisa Vell but by the time I’d found So Na Cacana it was too early to go in and we’d brought no money anyhow, very annoying, so we returned later that day. The taula sanctuaries and burial cave are as ever the stars of the poblat so by now we were ignoring the talaiots, specially ones with “No Climbing “signs.

This one is my favourite so far, we’d been to the water park followed by cart racing and after all that it was extremely nice to have a bit of me time, the wife was soaking rays and the kids were chasing lizards which left me free to explore at will.
There are standing stones first from the carpark looking for all the world like an arc of a large stone circle. Next is the cave with megalithic entrance, then it’s up to the talayot with a trig point with a you know what kind of view.
The sanctuary is a bit ruined, but enough remained to send me into a dream state and I just sat for a minute trying to soak in the place and then sit somewhere else and the same again, I just couldnt sit still, theres so much to see in these places.Even the gargantuan wall has three chambers and a doorway?
Throw in Buzzards, Kites and a Booted eagle in the air and geckoes ( they use static electricity to stick to walls y’know)amongst the stones and this was one happy place

well signposted off the Me1 but the one car road to the carpark is horrible, its a smooth ride but tall walls on both sides really squeeze you in. As we set out of the carpark an old couple attracted our attention and told us it was a 2 hour round trip, for you maybe I thought Ive two kids whos first words upon arrival are guarranteed to be” can we go now”! (sigh ....leave ‘em at home I implore you)
It was a long walk to the poblat but a stones throw compared to say... Bryn Cader Faner. First thing we found was the megalithic picnic sight which threw me a bit, no way thought I, Then I saw the Taula through the trees and off we went, standing almost alone compared to yesterday visits to Den Salort and De Dalt there is a large mound of rubble with two menhirs sticking out of it, presumably the last remnant of the sanctuary wall. Nearby is the Talaiot which by now we all but, but not quite ignore on our way to the anthropomorphic tombs, we found the one with angled entrance lintels, and the one with a pillar in it but because of the constant can we go now I missed the one with stone seats and carved walls.
Taulas are just fantastic I could spend a whole day at any of them

I dont understand this siesta thing, surely its just sciving, there was no-one in at Talati de Dalt’s shed at about 2.00pm, so we climbed the wall where the pokey out steps were. Heading up the hill we took the left path which took us to the chambers and caves, I’ve never seen so many, I’d just start to investigate one chamber with a large stone basin (which reminded me of Newgrange) when one of the kids would shout over “I’ve found another one” and then “so have I” they just carried on, caves inside caves with stone walling to make them more subterranean. We saw our first lizards here a colourful wall lizard and a large house gecko (they don’t have eyelids y’know) Not far, at the top of the hill is the talaiot, still very tall, and what a view look to the horizon and there’s Monte Toro and at your feet the taula sanctuary. The wall of the sanctuary is mostly a tumbled ruin, except where theres a chamber with pillars under it. The holed stone would cause me a trip of a hundred miles at home, but here it’s the taula which holds my attention. On the way back to the carpark is another cave probably in use earliest on this wonderful hill, it has its back to the megaliths and looks out to Monte Toro.

It was mid morning when we arrived the sun was shining and it was waaaarm, a coach load of oldies were coming out so we hung on a bit, paid the bloke in the shed and walked on in.
First we pass the still tall talaiot but then the path takes you away and straight to the taula sanctuary, i got the same feeling of awe here as I did at Stonehenge. The taula is I think the tallest on Menorca and an incredible monument on its own never mind the megalithic wonderland all around. There are niches all around the wall and the whole place is built in solid bedrock, the taula is in a rock cut pit which must of been a right pain to cut out. some of the menhirs in the wall are concreted in, but it doesn’t matter at all, this place is magic and I could stay here forever.
But just past the threshing floor and well are two strange caves the entrance to cave one is carved but straight through and to your left is another deeper cave, Cave two has a stone basin inside towards the back, and must go right under cave one if not then they’re only a few feet away.
The path then takes you past the original megalithic wall that surrounds the whole place, then its on to another cave, this one I think wholly man made, pillars hold up big stones which hold up bigger stones, the whole place looks very likely to fall in at any moment.

I cant imagine why this place and the other taula sanctuaries aren’t more famous, this was my first and it really blew me away.

This is the taller and more complete of the two navetas here, inside is darker and there are two shelves one at the back and one above the entrance, the stone of which is broken at the bottom. The roof has weighted at each end capstones to prevent collapses. This is my 5th naveta and my last, it’s time for taulas, but they have left me knowing that they’re as important and cool as any Bryn celli ddu or even a maes howe. Start saving now and come to menorca its mindblowing, im already feeling dizzy .

Laughably easy to find, no map needed just look for the purple sign and go down side lane for 200m and they’re both off to the left. A good few days could be spent just driving up and down the main road across the island, the Me1.they’re all signposted .
This Naveta like the last 3 has been raised on exposed bedrock and also has a nicely carved entrance stone.
The roof is well worthy of note as the capstones are counterweighted at each side to stop them falling in, like the Kings chamber roof in the Great pyramid of Giza. (if i’m not mistaken) Inside the chamber isnt dark but light and airy, quite nice actaully, if you dont mind weird grey caterpillers black beetles and some type of funnel web spider.
Rafal Rubi 2 is 80m towards the Me1 a well worn path leads the way.

My map though waterproof and extra durable didnt mention the zoo, which got me a bit sidetracked and I missed the Naveta altogether even though they practicaly occupy the same space. Park by the gate and the now getting familiar rustic gate and bin, and follow the path.
A different one this, with its front made of smaller stones and it’s Newgrangey roofbox, taller than the other Argentina. That zoo is so weird its all around we were watched by emus and monkeys and the dawn chorus of a dozen exotic species of bird. Menorca is really growing on me.

Very easy to find, just look for the sign on the main road and 60 yards along is the Naveta, go through rustic looking gate.
This one is very easy to access either through the well carved entrance stone or anywhere from above as it’s got no roof. the bottom courses of megaliths are real bigguns. built on rocky outcrop as are its 3 near neighbours.
Didn’t see any lizards but did see lots of little black beetles but then it was before breakfast and wasn’t warm enough yet.
Nice juxtapose to last nights damp squib at Es Tudons. no bars, no trouble .

We arrived in time for the sunset and payed the girl in the shed, the kids were free and 2 euros for adults (I think). The path to the Naveta isnt long, first we pass a burial cave on our left, it had bars on so I didnt go over, then pass some cart ruts like those on Malta. Then from behind some bushes rises this huge burial chamber, I made a bee line for the entrance but, boy were those bars dissapointing. You fly god knows how far to see these magnificent places, you pay the lady on the way in and it’s goddam closed, not since the Carnac rows have i been this annoyed.
That said what a place, and what a burial chamber its very well put together not like the Gallarus oratory is, but very similar . I was really looking forward to going in, (burial chambers being the most interactive of ancient places) with it being my first double decker and all, so all I could do was walk round, and wander on to the rocky hill a hundred yards away then it was sitting and staring at those bars.
I was going to ask the lady in the shad if it is ever open, but she had gone, it was nearly 9.00pm. Being able to see it from the road I always looked to see if I could see anyone on hands and knees, but to no avail.
Even if it was locked i’m still glad to have seen it
despite not entering.

In Copes TME he warns us about the potholed road down to the necropolis but it has since been tarmac’d and is now a nice smooth drive.
I tried to get the kids interested by saying who’s up for a picnic at the city of the dead, but it didn’t go down as well as I’d hoped so I dragged them along anyway. After the strop had ended they got into the spirit of exploration, and I was just amazed by the place and the more we explored the more amazed I became. Perhaps it was because it was my first actual necropolis, perhaps it was that holiday feeling but this place was just another world. We saw our first wild Tortoise here, the obligatory wall lizards which interested me and the kids as much as the caves did. On the southern side of the gorge are some weird caves with rock cut pools on their porch, one of which was dry the other full of water and some ‘orrible green slime, are they for some ritual purpose or just a status symbol, rock cut water gullies around the place indicate that water was a big deal, due to the lack of no doubt.
Before you reach the ravine with the majority of the caves, back up the road, are what I called the king and queens chamber two big caves with windowed patitions, with a great view down to the beach, maybe it’s because i’m
British but the bay and the seashore looked like another planet, not like anything I’d seen before. Inbetween all the big posh caves are smaller caves big enough for 2 or 3 people to curl up in, what could these have been for?
This is one must see place!

I used the Menorca Tour and Trail 1:40,000 map and found it perfectly adequate to find all the sites I wanted to see.
This Talaiot is the tallest on all Menorca so I could see the tower from many different places as I approached. Parking is ample down the road but nearer the tower the road thins severely, but if you tuck into the side of the road there’s just enough room for 1 or 2 cars.
Dont be tempted to climb the wall even where there is pokey out stones stepping over the wall, go towards the house and theres a gate. The Talaiot is in a modern walled area with several deep rock pits for water storage, and remains of buildings at the towers feet and an access ramp winding round the tower, but it doesn’t go all the way round and in through the doorway at the top, go round the other side it’s much easier to get up. There is an ugly concrete thing on top with an arial of some kind poking out the top, something to do with the airport I think.

Taken from..Archaeological Itinerary around Menorca

“...Those boulders in the large Talayot of Torello...measure 2 metres in length by 1 in width and are 0.40 thick, representing an approximate weight of two thousand kilograms.”

Pedro Riudavets y Tudury
History of the Island of Menorca (1891)

This Large Talaiot was right beside the road on which I shouldnt have been on, it was my first day driving left hand on t’other side of the road. The talaiot was on what looked like very private land so I took a quick piccie over the wall

This Talaiot was even nearer to our apartment so we went here after the” bonus talaiot” . Not much parking room and really cloce to santa monica erm ..farm?. I jumped the wall at its lowest point and found a well worn path through another higher wall and straight to the talaiot. A chamber was built into its southern side, the top was a jumble of those large holed stones and awkward to walk on, I didnt stay long as this was just the stones I saw before breakfast.

I came looking for Sant Agusti vell and for some reason assumed this was it , untill now. Its not far from the small car park but it is rough going. I came here first because it was nearest to where we were staying ,Sant Thomas two miles south. The cave on the northern side of the Talaiot has an entrance that is made smaller by stone walling, a ramp leads to the top and through the entrance. From here you can see half of menorca, El Toro on the horizon and down into the gorge where a bit further south there is the Cova des Colums a really big cave with huge columns, (hence the name ) with prehistoric connections . A beautiful place and a beautiful morning, a good start to a weeks stone hunting.

I parked in the entrance to Lindsaig farm, and jumped the gate opposite, over the field down and up a deep wide stream gully and you can see the stone lurking behind the field wall .
As I approached the gate to get the other side of the wall I scared a deer and watched keenly as it bounded away turning to see if I was following. The stone is very Maen Llia like as in diamond shaped and about 8ft tall two barrows can be seen just 50 yds away to the N.W and N.E. A good looking stone with trees half obscuring the view of the Loch.

Travelling south on the B8000, turn right up steep lane towards Corr Mheall and Inveryne farm, then turn left at the old tennis court through one gate then round the back of some woods and park at a large muddy area. The gate was locked but a sort of stile reaches over the low fence, once over, the single standing stone turns in profile revealing the other two.
The stones are low, this is no Ballochroy but the stones are very beguiling , marred only by the giant digger parked just 10 ft away even so i wanted to stay a while. Unfortunatly I couldnt stay long, the impression that i was tresspassing played a bit on my mind and with other places to see I had to go.

Just north west of Low stillaig standing stone is this strange pair of stones, one large and leaning about 9ft tall and one tiny flat topped about 1.5ft tall, possibly broken but absurdly cleanly cut.. Fantastic views over loch fyne to the mountains beyond and the Tarbert ferry coming and going, and turning round the mountains of Arran loom large on the near horizon. I stayed here longer than i intended, the entire scene was breathtaking.

Starting in Millhouse head south east on thin lane after Stillaig farm turn left down rough track. after failing to see a chapel on your right the stone will appear on your right. About 6-7ft tall and unhappily next to an area used by cows. Good views over to Loch Fyne and across the small moor you can just see the tall standing stone of Stillaig.

Right at the southern extreme of Ardlamont point, next to the lane and past Point farm is this large boulder with brilliant views of the Arran mountains.
There isnt any where to park except on the lane or at the farm, so a short visit was necessary. I could see the cupmarks easy enough of which I counted 15 but only a few definate rings, with the mountains so near on the horizon a link with moon rise/setting could be suggested.

Access from the north, passed Ty Mawr standing stone is still blocked but is ok from the south. What is happening here is very sad as if the duel carriage way and steel work wasn’t bad enough, the work site on the other side is a godawful mess, a much more busy road has been built and the tall menhir Ty Mawr has dissapeared from view completely and is almost unvisitable .

I parked by the little chapel at the foot of the hill and from there we scrambled through the bushes and into the hillfort. It’s a big one,not high up or impressive earthworks but it does cover a large area. Fantastic views south of the Menai straight and mountains east over Puffin island to Llandudno west across the beach and island and north is across the sea. I think I even found Arthurs table with seats but I couldn’t find the entrance.

It’s a long walk from everywhere this one, I came from by the Cae Coch farm and menhir to the south-west. Looking at the map the fort is on the left of the footpath, but the fort and its small hill is so assimilated into it’s surroundings that I walked past it and on to the highest point around, from there I could see it quite clearly. You might be better coming from the other side after parking by the old church and spring.
It isn’t a large fort but it is in a great place overlooking the entire river valley below(presuming they utilised the two other higher hilltops nearby). The ditch is mainly on the western side and is at least 7ft from top to bottom. Inside that bank and ditch is the remains of the stone built wall just the scraps of which are left, amongst the wall rubble are some large boulders were they here already or moved into place to stregnthen the wall.
Which brings us to the strangely out of place long boulder, it must have been placed there i’m sure, it’s right in the middle of the fort and carries an air of usefullness.(if thats possible)

In the fierce wind and stingy rain it was a bit arduous getting here , I walked within yards of it and only found it after giving up and heading back. I’m almost certain this is the cairn but some doubt exists in my mind, It is in exactly the right place with a settlement just to the north west, coflein give it’s dimensions as 8m across and 0.6m high which it was, but they also say its a level platform which it isn’t nor is the discription of the cist a match either. But there was nothing else in the vicinity and I checked all gatherings of stones which is when I found the settlement. If anyone else has been or knows any better let us know.

About a hundred metres east from the stone circle Coflein simply states;
A cairn, 21m in diameter and 2.5m high, impinged on by an OS triangulation pillar and a sheepfold
But neglects to mention the stupendous 360 degree wonderview.

On top of a hill in the middle of no-where is this stone circle so it’s a given that it’s not dead easy to get to, but it doesn’t have to be too hard. Presuming that you’ve got an OS map and can see the circle on it, firstly the narrow rough and bumpy track is navigable a good distance, when the track makes a 90 degree left turn park by the gate and footpath stile and head east making for the trig point on a barrow, go down hill avoiding marshy area then back up and its away to the left through the gate. A good circle with one heck of a view, eight stones stand mostly on the western edge of a circle twenty metres across. Not far to the east on the highest point is a barrow with a trig point on it. On the way back to the car I found what looked like another circle, more ruined, with smaller stones, Aubrey Burl doesn’t mention it and niether does coflein (though the latter does mention a fallen menhir close to this suspect circle).
A good circle and relatively easy to get to for those with a care free attitude to their cars underside.

There was no good parking place so I carelessly blocked a gate to the field and we dashed over, disturbing a flock of geese on the pond , it only takes five minutes to walk to it so we didnt get in anyones way. It’s a good stone, I liked it a lot, sure it’s waist high to a six year old but it seemed perfectly formed, like it had been born to be a menhir, and the view is superb even on a damp misty morning like today.

I read the two misc notes and became determined to find this stone at all costs, Shropshire traveller was miles away it’s not in any field, I think he really did see a tree trunk, Kammer was so close that I had to smile to myself as I stood next to the stone. He guessed it was in someones garden but it’s actually right on the edge of the road. Almost ironically the place both Kammer and the shroppy traveller parked is right next to the stone, so close but so far.

It still took me longer to find the stone than it should have, I had the map, looked on Coflein, but the size of the stone and it’s unexpected nearness to the road didnt help much. Both me and Eric felt the stone was sunk further in the ground than it used to be, maybe for road safety, or perhaps it’s just a little one, either way a good one to find.

As the four stones are only down the road why not come see these two standing stones. True they’re not huge stones this one is the taller of the two and the easiest to find,

rdavymed was a little too dissmissive if you ask me, theres one chamber left, it’s not dead impressive but niether is it completley destroyed.
The farmer has left a wide area unploughed and the chamber is at one end at the other is a few small boulders possibly remnants of another chamber. located amid a maze of small lanes, when the lane forks around a nice house the chamber is behind the house, I parked on the left fork mostly on a grass verge, the farmer pulled up and shouted over I called back “I’m just checking out the stones if thats alright “....it was.

A long walk with wet feet finds this little complex of ruined stone circle numerous cairns and a cist...Tryfan.!. About fifty metres up a gentle slope from the stone and cairn on the edge of dry and wet ground...Tryfan !.!The four side stones are evident with the roof slab resting on a side slab, the two long stones are aligned on the tall sharp mountain whose name escapes me at the moment....Tryyyfaaaan!!!

A very long wet walk from the road with great potential for not finding owt. Fortunately I had plenty of time to wander about a bit. The footpath goes steadily uphill past a house and behind one till it gets to an attractive megalithic bridge. You can see where the standing stone is from here, look up to the mountain and come back down to a large brown bit and its there. Not much help, maybe, just follow the river with it on your left about thirty metres away or so and it’ll take you straight there.
The stone is waist high with a rock pool on one side, the cairn is very close to it, and with some furtling about two or three fallen stones can be picked out. I’m inclined to beleive it was a circle, with awsome Tryfan as it’s focus, perhaps when complete looking very similar to Hafodty stone circle some miles to the north east. A great place to enjoy Snowdonia, though maybe in a drought next time ‘cause Welsh mountains are 50% water.

It’s a real long walk from the road with wet feet a given, trying to stay on the path was impossible, and after a long detour around the weir I eventually spotted the standing stone .....and the cairn, whilst definatly smaller than it’s discription, is identifiable. Magnificent views of Tryfan and surrounding mountains.

Seeing as I only live forty minutes away and this is my nearest ancient place I will come here several times every year, almost as if expecting to see something new,so far I’m not doing bad Once I came at sunset , next it had been snowing, this time I climbed a tree to look down on it slightly.Sometimes there is a big Rottwieller dog just ten metres from the chamber but he was elsewhere today and all was quiet. The only bad thing about this visit was the bushes were ever so slightly closer to the side of the chamber, the whole lot should be ruthlessly chopped leaving only the mature trees, somtimes there’s not even enough room to stretch ones imagination. I leaned the fallen information board against a tree said goodbye to the stones (as you do) and walked back to the car.

We parked by a small bay called Porth Cwyfan right opposite a motor racing circuit and for the whole time we were there the sound of screaming motor bikes fought with the sound of breaking waves, niether won but I know which sound I prefered. Although it was a nice walk by the sea to the cairn it was by far the longest route, further back along the road was a turning and sign for a footpath and a warning not to go any further by car. As we walked down to it there was two cars and plenty of places to park, no houses, nothing to get in the way, of so damn them and drive practiaclly down to the sea. The cairn was excavated 31 years ago because of coastal erosion, but the cairn is well above the crashing waves so I’m a bit nonplussed. Only five stones are above ground and there is a dip in the centre of the cairn. This place is entirely about the place, the beaches, the rolling waves, the seabirds the mountains over to the east a whole afternoon could be spent here. If you do come don’t leave your camera on show in the car as it’s a ten minute hard run back to the carpark.

Din Dryfol is sign posted from the road, so presuming you successfully navigated the small warren of lanes, park somewhat precariously by the sign and walk down the driveway to the farm. Further signs take you through two gates and a stile, then across one field heading towards the tiny mountain and more specifically the information board, and your there.
The majority of this burial chamber is gone but it’s in such a lovely place and there remains just enough to stay for several hours. A small dolmen and two standing stones one of which is huge, a long rocky outcrop runs parrallel to the stones and was used as a curb for the cairn material (or so I read somewhere)The hill or tiny mountain as my kids called it is the highest ground for some distance and is surely the reason the burial chamber is here, if your coming why not climb it for a good all round view, also keep your eyes open for a Cokin ND Grad camera filter which inexplicably broke free from me and refused to be found, Darn it !

Pillsbury hills castle is a Norman non stone walled castle/fort/settlement, best approached from the south-east. Rght next to the earthworks is this tall leaning stone it does have a hole through it so could have been used in modern times, but the stone isn’t part of a wall nor does it look like it ever did. Not on the map or TMP. Anyone know owt about it?

To the east of Errwood and Fernilee reservoirs a small road leads over to Bollington and Rainow, when the forest ends park in the carpark on the left and go through the gate on to the footpath. The stone can be seen from here, a short walk up the hill. The stone leans a lot to the west (I think) and is maybe three and a half feet tall.

At the end of a long thin lane coming off the A53
is Brand end house, plenty of parking and a short walk to the stones. The tall squarish stone with a tapered top is about 7-8ft tall and seems to have packing stones, (unless its sighted on an old cairn or just dumped there) about thirty feet away is the smaller stone. Great views over to Hollins hill not so great is the view of Brand end house with its cronky old vans.
The two stones are just intervisible because the wall stops with only a foot to spare.
Because the site wasn’t on here before I’m a little suspect (surely Stubob would’ve come here) the square profile of the stone is also suspicous but the smaller one is very reminiscent of other Peak district stones like the Murder stone, also it looks down upon Hollins hill with it’s becairned summit .

We parked by the Pant Madog barrow and walked the mile or so over the almost barren moor to the circles. First into view comes the hill called Y Pigwyn with its roman camps, and in the distance at the foot of the hill from the path we can just make out the stones. It was cold and windy but the sun was shining and with the step ladders (inspired by Cope at Ardblair)we brought some good pictures were due. The large stone circle was almost perfect, at its southern side there are two stones one a pointy chair and the other a flat topped boulder I thought male and female maybe ?
The other smaller stone circle is only thirty yards away but its remaining stones are larger than its niegbours though only numbering four, with the other stones gone the last four make it look like an intentional four poster. Fifty yards to the south west is a prostrate stone nearly eight feet long, Coflein says it could have when standing marked the winter solstice from the large stone circle.
All in all a fantastic morning out, a long walk but well worth it
Thanks for carrying the ladders Dave

At the end of the lane south-west of Trecastle along the roman road is a carpark, It marks the ‘start walking’ point for the lovely Y Pigwn stone circles and is also fifty yards from this barrow. Ten metres across and one metre high with a trig point on top . Good views on a clear day.

North of Tretower and within sight of the ruined castle there is this seven and a half foot whopper, failing miserably to hide in a hedge, easily seen driving north on the A759. As we walked over to the stone a red fox ran past stopping momentarily to keep an eye on us. The ‘sacred hill’ Cribarth is to the south.

The last time I came here it was high summer with T-shirts, so seeing as I was in the vicinity I thought I’d pop in. The best thing about a winter visit is the big stone is not covered by the tree next to it. The big stone is almost half buried inside the church yard and its true size is only apparent on the outside. If this was a stone circle and I believe it was, then the Christianizers didn’t do a good job (see Grey Yauds stone circle – you cant ‘cause it’s completely gone).

Even though I had seen Kammer’s picture of the chamber (with dad for scale) I was still surprised at how dinky it was, also those dastardly black crap bags are still there obviously the local farmer hasn’t got an artists eye, or just doesn’t appreciate where he lives. If you don’t mind a bit of rough ground there are two places to park. The cairn is still fairly big and the chamber capstone looks really precarious propped up on a pile of stones thats squiffy to say the least, I wouldn’t be getting into it for a minute never mind a whole night even if it did make me a poet, the dolmen on Tal y fan boasts similar and is much roomier. A climb up the hill right next to the cairn is worth it with great views out to the coast.

One of three Maen Llwyds in the area, the other two are further east. I liked this one, if only to sit next to it and watch the curtains twitching. There can’t be many standing stones you can see from the living room, I think I’ll move here.

Only a short walk from the car, follow the footpath through a farm, once your in a field the stone is in the next door field, but a fence must be jumped. The stone leans to the south-west and is maybe three feet tall, it isn’t on top of the hill or it would have terrific views, only the western horizon is visible.

I parked with room to spare by the footpath next to Cwm cottage farm. Heading north, amongst the trees was nice, then came the hills proper but with neatly cropped grass, then it got swampy and the gorse and dead bracken really hampered me , I decided to just go to the nearest hill top, I stepped over a low fence and there were the stones, without knowing exactly where it was I had almost unswervingly walked straight to it. Cool.... This is a really nice little stone circle with what looked to me to be an entrance at the north of the circle, The two outer rings are nearly all gone leaving not even an impression of their former selves. Good views to the north when it’s not raining, a nice place to revisit in better weather, like the man Greywether said before easter (but not in the rain)

The hillfort is a lot easier to find than the nearby stone circle and can be seen for miles around. Easy to get to as it is near two lanes to the northwest and the south east but not so easy to get up. It had rained fairly constantly all morning but stopped whilst I was exposed on top of the hill. The main entrance was apparently the most northern of the two with earthworks extending beyond the walls. The southern entrance is however now the most visually impressive with a small room between the entrance and the ditch, the bank and ditch running north from here is also in good condition six feet between ditch botttom and bank top. Coflein hints that it might be an example of a vitrified fort.

I parked the car by the bridge to the south, and walked across three soggy fields following the river. As I approached where I thought it would be I just couldn’t see it, But then I saw it above me amongst the trees on private property, it looked to be quite big . I took a couple of photos across the muddy flood water and squelched back to the car.