From last summer when the valley was green and lush . I made tracks up the mountain behind the house to Tarren Maerdy a place I have visited dozens of times and in all that time I have not seen a single person .
To celebrate this years winter Solstice I went to see a ring cairn on Mynydd Baran in the Swansea Valley near Pontardawe . Knowing the area fairly well was a bonus I didn't spend too much time getting lost . We parked the car fairly close to the site .The seasonal squall made an apperance as I set off accross a muddy field like a man on a mission not bothered by muck and rain .
This ancient site is on the west side on the mountain summit . The Ring Cairn ((SN69730627 ) has a large burial cyst ringed by 25 remaining stones . Persumably there would have been structure or earth mound covering the burial cyst .
The large cyst is thought to be the largest in Wales . It definitley the largest I have seen on my travels so far .
The Capstone has been removed , smashed to bits possibly .
Collapsed Chambered Tomb is 50 metres NW below the ring cairn .
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