Winter Solstice 2022

 

                                                                  

Craig-y-Bwlch Bronze Age Cairn SN9419003540

 The weather being what it is this time of the year , chances of going somewhere on a spcefic day / date are kinda slim . Which is why  I went a day early on this years Soltice jaunt , after checking the weather app the day before . The sun was out when I started the hike at 9.30 AM . Having  to endure a couple of heavy showers along the way on what turned out to be a 14 K trek is par for the course  The real soaking came crossing moorland . The round cairn is  situated on top af an escarpment facing the sacred twin peaks of  Corn Du/Pen y Fan  on Mnydd Bwlfa  . Craig -y- Bylch is 1mtre high and a diamater of 12 metres . 

The Weather

 

Stunning view 

Black Mountains away in the distance ..

Return to St Cynog's part 1 The Yew Tree

 

Five thousand year old Yew tree in the graveyard of St Cynog's , Defynnog .

Return to St Cynog's part 2

 

Roman burial marker stone at St Cynog's Church Defynnog , in church porch  . A Latin inscription reads  'RUGNIATIO LIVENDONIO' - 'Rugniatis, son of Vendonius'. 

Ogham script is etched into the stone .

Celtic Cross at the top was dates from the Middle ages .

The Cove , Stanton Drew

 

The Cove

( ST597631) 

 The Cove was constructed during the Iron Age . May have been a chambered tomb . Aligns with Stanton Drew stone circle on other side of wall .

Fallen backstone .

Tyle Bychan (SN93872595) 13/10 /22

 

          One a half metre high Bronze Age Standing Stone near the town of Defynnog . Stone is a few metres in from the road . 

Ysgubor-Wen Cairn 1/8/22 (SN9227013930 )

 

This Cairn is on the opposite side of the field of Gelli Nedd Iron Age Hill Fort  . A hawthorn tree  growing  on the back edge of the grass mound in amongst  the scattered stones  .  

Cwm Ian aka Bwlch y Clawdd Cairn ( SS948948 ) 17/6 /22

 

Round Cairn set on a hill a kilomoter or so east of the Ironage Fort on Mynydd Maendy . All that remains of the cairn is a small pile of stones . The surrounding views take in the Bylch Mountain, the vast expanse of Craig Mawr - West . Mynydd Ty'n-Tyle is across the valley - South West . Seeing the twin peaks of Corn Du and Pen y Fan are away in the distance - North East more than make up for the state of this ancient monument .

Gelli Nedd

 

   Was back in Brecon earlier this week to have a look at Gelli Nedd Iron Age Hillfort (grid ref SN91741400 ) near Ystradfellte . The surrounding  area has large sinkholes with  sections of  massive slabs of lime stone in between  . Slabs of limestone are also prominent on the west side of the fort . The fort is a single three sided fortification built on top a rocky outcrop . The west side is protected by a cliff .  

Limestone slabs inside fort .

Cwm Nant, Ystradfellte

 

                        

Got the push bike out of the shed today . Cycled over the mountain to Brecon National Park to visit a Bronze Age Cairn/ Round Barrow at Cwm Nant, Ystradfellte .. . ..Happy Solstice !

            Cairn is next to the  road ..

Mynydd Ton Cairn no 2

           Mynydd Ton Cairn no 2 (grid ref SS9493094050 )

Last friday morning I hiked to the top of Mnydd Ton visiting two cairns situated  at the top . Heading out at 9 on what turned out to be the hottest day of the year so far . Last October was the last  time I hiked to the top.  The cairn was then hidden off path amongst tall pines . I had to navagate around tree branches to get up close . On Friday much to my surprise the forestry people had cut down  trees obscuring the Cairn . The site is greatly improved by having an unrestricted view . A trig point sits on top of the cairn possibly above the central cyst which was visible when the cairn was excavated in 1902 .

Mynydd y Gelli 

Rhondda Stonehenge below edge of forest '

Mynydd Ton Cairn no 1

 

Mynydd Ton no1 (SS94799395) 

 Ruined Bronze Age cairn set in a gap between trees . A pile of stones sits on top .

Imbolc 2022

The first significant day in the Pagan year cycle . Imbolc marks the beginning of Spring...

Light a fire .. 

Iron Age fort at  Mynydd Maendy yesterday on my travels .

Cae'r-hen-Eglwys

grid ref SS875809

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Cae'r-hen-Eglwys

One and  half metre high Standing Stones located in a hill field at Cae'r-hen-Eglwys ,    between the villages of Cefn Cribwr and Lalestown . The stones are not prehistoric monoliths . They are gateposts and represent all that remains of a 11th Century Medieval Church - ' St Cewydd's Church '  . 

Happy New Year

Happy New Year Everyone...  .. The weather for the last week and more  has been a combination of  grey  skies constant rain and gales  .The rain ceased yesterday morning- New Years Eve -  the sun made an appearance  .  Making the most of the dry day I hiked up in to hills . It turned out to be a false dawn weather wise  . I got absolutely drenched in monsoon type conditions  . Hiking over to Cefn Rhondda  10km there and back.  Trekking over the top of the mountain then along the forest road into intermittent thick fog that hung over the  bronze age site magically transforming  a very wet Saturday into an awesome experience . 

Stay Safe..

Cairn 1 aligned with Cairn no 2 .

Cairn no 2  (( SS99279629)

Birch Polypore 

Cairn 3  ..50 metres  from Cairns 1& 2