Mynydd Y Gelli (SS975942) aka 'Rhondda Stonehenge'
Mynydd Gelli / Rhondda Stonehenge first thoughts are ... Stonehenge it isn't . Not today anyway* .
My journey stars with a four mile mountain bike ride up the Bwlch Mountain from Treorchy . The heavier bike means it's a slog , seeing Graig Fawr up close takes my mind off the gradient . When I reach the top I go to the far side of the car park to the green barrier . Heading up the hill . Thankfully the track levels off after half a mile. . I get on the Mynydd Ton forestry road three miles on this road I stop above Clydach Vale . The site at Mynydd Gelli is a further mile away . Half an hour from the Bwlch . On arrival site I take in the view the upper Rhondda is laid out in front of me , sun is out on a clear day I can even see the Iron Age Settlement at Hendre Mynydd on top of the Rhigos six miles away . After a drink and a snack I am ready to see what Mynydd Y Gelli has to offer...
Graig Fawr
Lone standing stone set below the stone circle . Lots of cairns on these hills . Despite the vast amount of rock/boulders in the land . There aren't many/any Monoliths in the Rhondda . It's a mystery to me ..!
One of a number of small cairns twenty yards west of the stone circle .
Cairn
Mynydd William Merrick left of picture
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Round Barrow outline close to boundary fence .
The stone circle /kerb cairn has nine - two feet high stones . These stones surround a small burial cairn with an open cyst . The cairn is in a poor state*
😒. .
Mynydd Gelli / Rhondda Stonehenge ....
Mynydd Gelli / Rhondda Stonehenge ....
Stonehenge it isn't . Not today anyway* .
On reflection it is astounding there's anything here at all considering the upheaval in the valleys during the past 150 years .
On reflection it is astounding there's anything here at all considering the upheaval in the valleys during the past 150 years .
*Excavation in 1903 showed that the stones were set upon a wall of laid stones, 1m - 1.5m thick. Three 'cyst-like structures' with traces of fire were set against the circle, and within it was a rifled cist 1.1m E-W by 0.8m by 0.6m deep, lined with slabs, now probably represented by a hole about 3.7m S of the centre .
Psychedelic vision ..
Blue stones .
Green cairn/ cyst .
