Clyro Court

Trip No.167  Entry No.1  Date Added: 22nd Jul 2021
Site Type: Chambered Tomb Country: Wales (Powys)
Visited: Saw from a distance on 12th Jul 2021. My rating: Condition 2 Ambience 3 Access 4

Log Text: Clyro Court Chambered Tomb: This tomb, marked on the OS map, lies on private ground behind a cottage. There was no one at home in the cottage, and the gates into the field had been padlocked with the largest padlocks and chains I've seen in a long time! We had to content ourselves with finding a vantage point by the barbed wire fence and photographing the cairn from there. Lumps and bumps vaguely visible. Would have loved to have climbed over for a closer look.

The Monk's Well

Trip No.167  Entry No.2  Date Added: 22nd Jul 2021
Site Type: Holy Well or Sacred Spring Country: Wales (Powys)
Visited: Couldn't find on 12th Jul 2021

Log Text: Monk's Well, Clyro: Despite having the grid reference and the Coflein information, we were unable to find this well, which appears to be on private land.

St Maelog's Cross

Trip No.167  Entry No.3  Date Added: 22nd Jul 2021
Site Type: Ancient Cross Country: Wales (Powys)
Visited: Saw from a distance on 12th Jul 2021

Log Text: St Maelog's Cross: Despite being told the church was open, and going armed with masks and hand sanitiser, the door was very firmly locked. We could see the back of the cross through the windows at the north western corner of the church, but it was impossible to photograph through the tiny, dirty panes. So disappointed. I did spot a sundial in the churchyard, built into a memorial stone, so had to be content with photographing that.

Ffynnon Gynydd

Trip No.167  Entry No.4  Date Added: 22nd Jul 2021
Site Type: Holy Well or Sacred Spring Country: Wales (Powys)
Visited: Yes on 12th Jul 2021. My rating: Condition 3 Ambience 4 Access 5

Log Text: Ffynnon Gynydd/St Cynidr's Well: On the way to this well, we stopped at an earthwork/enclosure just south west of Llowes, on Bryn yr Hydd Common, at SO 17808 41972, but the vegetation, trees and bracken were so high, it was virtually impossible to make out any structures.

But, at last, a site we could access, walk into and appreciate! The well house may be modern-ish, but the water is clear and we could hear it running through the well basin.

The water/spring feeding the well emerges from the fields by the side of a barn at SO 16380 41266, just round the corner, running along a ditch which rounds the corner to the well, down a slight gradient.

Harpton Round Barrows

Trip No.168  Entry No.2  Date Added: 3rd Aug 2021
Site Type: Round Barrow(s) Country: Wales (Powys)
Visited: Yes on 14th Aug 2021. My rating: Condition 2 Access 4

Log Text: Harpton Round Barrows: Not the most exciting of stops, but interesting, never-the-less. Andrew did try and find the nearby Castle Nimble, but the only access seemed to be through private farmland, and as we didn’t want to trespass, gave up and went onto the more exciting four-poster stone circle.

Crossfield Lane Barrow (Kinnerton)

Trip No.168  Entry No.4  Date Added: 4th Aug 2021
Site Type: Round Barrow(s) Country: Wales (Powys)
Visited: Yes on 14th Jul 2021. My rating: Condition 2 Ambience 3 Access 4

Log Text: Crossfield Lane Barrow, near Kinnerton: as this was marked on the OS map, and on our way to Kinnerton, we quickly parked in the field entrance (which was put to pasture) and walked a little way along the edge of the field to take a closer look.

The barrow has been largely lost to ploughing, but a low, circular 'hump' in the field can be made out (easier to see with the naked eye rather than in a photograph).

St Andrew's Church (Presteigne)

Trip No.168  Entry No.6  Date Added: 8th Aug 2021
Site Type: Ancient Cross Country: Wales (Powys)
Visited: Yes on 14th Jul 2021. My rating: Condition 3 Ambience 4 Access 4

Log Text: St Andrew's Churchyard Cross, Presteigne: From the Kinnerton Standing Stone, we drove into New Radnor to try and get some lunch, only to find all the shops, pubs and cafe all shut down, which meant driving onto Presteigne. Andrew was keen to see the c1510 AD Flemish tapestry in the church, but as we walked into the churchyard, found this cross, too.

Crossfoot Farm Standing Stone

Trip No.169  Entry No.5  Date Added: 9th Aug 2021
Site Type: Standing Stone (Menhir) Country: Wales (Powys)
Visited: Couldn't find on 15th Jul 2021. My rating: Ambience 3 Access 4

Log Text: Crossfoot Farm Standing Stone: We tried to find this stone, and even hopped across the gate into the field which the OS map shows it in, but no standing stone was visible.

The field is next to a building site and it looks as if the field was being used to store both materials and rubble, making the field very difficult to walk across.

We think the stone now may have fallen, and may be in an area of unmown grass, so is not visible from the highly chained and padlocked gate into the field.

Twyn-Y-Beddau

Trip No.167  Entry No.6  Date Added: 27th Jul 2021
Site Type: Round Barrow(s) Country: Wales (Powys)
Visited: Yes on 12th Jul 2021. My rating: Condition 3 Ambience 3 Access 5

Log Text: Twyn-y-Beddau: This round barrow is right next to the road, although with the twin tyre tracks leading up and over it, it could be mistaken for part of a 4 x 4 obstacle course, which some idiots presumably have been using it for, hence the stones placed on top.

A lovely evening, with paragliders attempting to set up their kites and take off from just to the south of the barrow, although there wasn't enough wind to enable them to take off.

Quite a few cars passed by, but no-one (apart from us), stopped to look at the barrow. A beautiful view to the west, as the land just drops down, with mountains (big hills, certainly) rising to the south and the east. Well worth a stop.

Neuadd-Glan-Gwy

Trip No.167  Entry No.5  Date Added: 27th Jul 2021
Site Type: Standing Stone (Menhir) Country: Wales (Powys)
Visited: Yes on 12th Jul 2021. My rating: Condition 3 Ambience 4 Access 3

Log Text: Neuadd Glan-Gwy Standing Stone: At first glance, this stone didn't seem very far off the footpath. We couldn't find anyone at the houses at the start of the footpath to ask permission from, so we thought as long as we kept to the very edge of the field of pasture, we would be OK.

The stone is almost at the brow of the hill, with a lively little stream running down in the River Wye below. We both thought we were pretty fit, but by the time we'd plodded up the hill, we were tired, as it was a lot further than it looked on the map, and the grass was calf deep, making it hard work. However, the views were well worth it.

A tall stone, very imposing. At some point it has been stood upright again, as the packed earth (and perhaps some concrete?) around its base testifies.

Pen Y Beacon

Trip No.167  Entry No.7  Date Added: 27th Jul 2021
Site Type: Stone Circle Country: Wales (Powys)
Visited: Yes on 12th Jul 2021. My rating: Condition 2 Ambience 2 Access 4

Log Text: Blaenau Stone Circle (remains of): At first view, there was only one standing stone here, immediately adjacent to the car park park, where people were picnicking in their cars and rubbish all around. Rather than there being a footpath, it was a short walk across the grass to the standing stone.

I was very disappointed, but we got out to explore anyway, and found what appeared to be three other stones lying flat in the grass, and other lumps and bumps around that could have been stones lying under the turf.

We had the Coflein record up on our phones, so tried to trace the 29.8m diameter of the circle, and thought we spotted part of the outer arc of the circle away from the car park.

The one standing stone has a well-worn bench mark on its southern side, almost at ground level.

Old Radnor Church

Trip No.168  Entry No.1  Date Added: 29th Jul 2021
Site Type: Standing Stone (Menhir) Country: Wales (Powys)
Visited: Yes on 14th Jul 2021. My rating: Condition 3 Ambience 4 Access 4

Log Text: Old Radnor Church: Whilst we went to have a look at the standing stone, we spent ages walking around the church, enjoying the peace and quiet and the carvings.

Whilst I was excited to see the standing stone, I was immediately disappointed by the memorial carving on it. This is very reminiscent of the 'standing stone' grave markers in Kensal Green Cemetery, which we researched and were found to be official grave markers, not ancient standing stones.

There was no guide book for sale, but an information leaflet marked 'Leave In the Church', so I photographed a few pages for later references.

There was a very interesting old font, said to be carved from on old standing stone - still to research this one.

Four Stones (Powys)

Trip No.168  Entry No.3  Date Added: 3rd Aug 2021
Site Type: Stone Circle Country: Wales (Powys)
Visited: Yes on 14th Aug 2021. My rating: Condition 3 Access 4

Log Text: Four Stones (Powys): Well worth the stop to see this four-poster. We parked at SO 24562 60871, opposite a small, but complicated road junction, where there was plenty of room for tractors and cars to pass, and walked back to the field.

My first reaction was: "Is this the right place?" on walking into the field, because the grass and weeds were so high, but walking towards the stones, the grass around them had been partly mowed, mostly trodden down by other visitors.

Starting at the southern-most stone, I photographed them all from different angles, in an anti-clockwise direction. Didn't spot any cup marks, but then the grass was still pretty tall around the base of each stone.

Kinnerton

Trip No.168  Entry No.5  Date Added: 4th Aug 2021
Site Type: Standing Stones Country: Wales (Powys)
Visited: Yes on 14th Jul 2021. My rating: Condition 3 Ambience 3 Access 4

Log Text: Kinnerton Court Standing Stones: We'd walked up into the village first, to see if we could locate the old village wells, but were unsuccessful, as they seemed to have been incorporated into the modern water supply or dried up and disappeared. We did walk up to the Kinnerton Castle Mound, which is actually on private land, but can be seen (and photographed) from various vantage points in the village.

The first stone (the recumbent one) we had difficulty spotting as it was buried in tall grass and weeds, but did spot it reasonably quickly. The other is on the opposite side of the road, in a lush field of pasture, and a very pretty spot.

We thought we were on the footpath as we walked up to the stone, but walking back to the field gate, found the sign actually pointed along the field boundary/hedge-line to the west of the still standing stone. Whoops - sorry.

Llanllawer Church

Date Added: 26th Aug 2014
Site Type: Early Christian Sculptured Stone Country: Wales (Pembrokeshire)
Visited: Yes on 21st Aug 2014. My rating: Condition 2 Ambience 3 Access 4

Log Text: The only access to the church is through a gate and a 100 yard walk through the field to the church gate.
This church is not used, and is falling into ruin. It is boarded up and there are slates coming loose from the roof.
It was not possible to get inside, as the door was locked and some of the windows boarded up.
There is a clear view from the edge of the church yard down to the Llanllawer Holy Well.

Hogtivis Stone

Date Added: 28th Aug 2014
Site Type: Early Christian Sculptured Stone Country: Wales (Pembrokeshire)
Visited: Yes on 23rd Aug 2014. My rating: Condition 3 Ambience 4 Access 4

Log Text: Intrigued by just the word ‘Stone’ on the map, we drove from Garnturne burial chamber towards Sealyham Bridge, looking for the church next to ‘The Stone’. There are just a few farms and an outdoor centre here; it is a very pretty little spot. Just before the bridge over the river Afon Anghof, there was a small cark park (surrounded by overhanging trees on three sides) on the right hand side of the road. The church was invisible, being hidden by these trees, so we ended up driving past, turning round and going back. Turning into the car park, the top of the church and the gateway into the church yard immediately became visible.

This was one of the smallest churches I’ve come across. The wrought iron gate to the church spelled out the year 1870, and the church did indeed look relatively modern; but looking closer, there appeared to be a tiny chapel embedded in the larger building which looked much, much older. The church was locked, so sadly we couldn’t get in, as I would have loved to look round the interior of the building, and there was no contact telephone number to call to arrange a visit. Doing some research on arriving home, I found out that the nave and south aisle were separated by Norman arches, which I would love to have seen.

The churchyard was also tiny, largely dominated by wrought iron railings surrounding a large family plot immediately to the south of the church, by the porch. The two bells were rung by ropes coming down the exterior west end of the building.

In the corner of the churchyard, lodged snuggly against the bank between the church yard and the car park, and tucked between two graves, was The Stone. It had obviously been used as a gatepost at some time, with several holes, some still containing metal pins (my immediate reaction was ‘poor thing’). There were obvious signs of carving on the right hand side of the front face of The Stone which looked like Ogham, plus some other possible carving to the left, which the records tell me is a Latin inscription. Funnily enough, the camera was able to pick out the Latin inscription better than my eye, as recorded in the image submitted here.

The Archaeological Data Service record states that the stone is 5th or 6th century, and “was found in 1897 'a few hundred yards' from Little Treffgarne farmhouse. If it was in situ, then it may have been associated with the monastic site of Little Treffgarne”.

This site is only a couple of kilometres from the A40, east of the village of Wolf’s Castle, and 9 miles north of Haverfordwest. The Genuki website saying this parish is traditionally known and the birthplace and burial place of Owain Glyndwr who “is said to have been born at Little Trefgarn and to have been interred at the small village of Wolf’s Castle’.

Bedd Morris

Date Added: 26th Aug 2014
Site Type: Standing Stone (Menhir) Country: Wales (Pembrokeshire)
Visited: Yes on 23rd Aug 2014. My rating: Condition 3 Ambience 3 Access 5

Log Text: I spotted this standing stone by the right hand side of the road as we were driving over the Ffordd Bedd Morris road from the A487 towards Cwm Gwaun, where we were staying for a few days. After an eight hour journey, and with the rain coming down in huge droplets, we drove past and returned on the way back home to take a closer look.

Bedd Morris is very easy to find, being opposite the main car park for walkers at the top of the hill. Whilst impressive, it’s hard to believe this stone is still in its original location. There are professionally carved inscriptions on the stone, leading us to believe it is now being utilised as a boundary marker. Looking this up on the return home, the Bedd Morris record on the Archaeological Data Service web site confirms this stone is used as a marker between the parishes of Llanychlwyddog and Newport.

Their site also goes onto say that the stone fell over and broke, probably after being hit by a vehicle (hence the protective stones either side) and was repaired and re-erected in 2012.

There is also a trig point carved into the front of the stone, next to some graffiti.

We were on our way home, with an 8 hour journey in front of us, and other places we wanted to see, otherwise it would have been really nice to have done some walking in this area – the location just screamed at me to get my walking boots on.

Driving northwards towards Newport, there are splendid views of Dinas Head and Newport Sands from the viewpoint further along the road.

Llanllawer Holy Well

Date Added: 26th Aug 2014
Site Type: Holy Well or Sacred Spring Country: Wales (Pembrokeshire)
Visited: Yes on 21st Aug 2014. My rating: Condition 4 Ambience 3 Access 4

Log Text: Having visited the Pillar Stones, we drove the additional 2km through the village of Llanychaer to the Llanllawer Parish Church and Holy Well. There was a small lay-by opposite the gate to the field leading up to the church, so it was easy to park.

The church, which stands on top of the hill, is very obviously redundant, boarded up, and with loose slates. The only access to the church is through the field from the road.

The well is accessed by walking 50 yards further up the road, turning a left hand corner, where a stile/gate gives access to the Llanllawer Holy (Sainted) Well.

The well was dry when we saw it, but there is a clear channel to take water down hill. The ground was still boggy, although large stones made it easy to cross the channel to look inside the well.

Inside the well there were lots of tea-lights and tokens, and tokens had been hung from the gate to the well. It is clearly a place that is well revered, even today.

The Pillar Stones

Date Added: 27th Aug 2014
Site Type: Early Christian Sculptured Stone Country: Wales (Pembrokeshire)
Visited: Yes on 21st Aug 2014. My rating: Condition 3 Ambience 4 Access 5

Log Text: Pillar Stones, Cwm Gwaun. These stones were the second of the ancient monuments we saw during our visit to Pembrokeshire, and a great start to our trip.

The five pillar stones were visible from the road, in the grounds of a small chapel, so we parked in the driveway to get off the single track road. It was only when we tried to go into the chapel that we realised it had been converted to a private house and the pillar stones were in the garden.

We were able to make our crosses on three of the stones (inscribed on the sides facing away from the chapel, looking east). I wasn’t sure if there was any particular alignment to the stones; they didn’t particularly appear to have been arranged in rows.

There is also an old font under the bell tower of the church.

Trefach

Date Added: 27th Aug 2014
Site Type: Standing Stone (Menhir) Country: Wales (Pembrokeshire)
Visited: Yes on 21st Aug 2014. My rating: Condition 3 Ambience 4 Access 4

Log Text: Trefach, Pembrokeshire. This stone was literally just round the corner from Gellifawr, where we were staying. We parked at the entrance to the field on the corner of the road and walked up to the footpath which leads up to Waun Mawn. There was actually a couple of parking spaces at the bottom of the footpath so we could have driven closer, but after a long car journey, it was nice to put feet to tarmac and grass again.

The footpath rises up a gentle hill, and after a few paces, there was what appeared to be a cairn to the left hand side. Looking up the hill, Trefach became visible on the horizon. There was a clear track leading up to the stone, so we followed this. The stone is surrounded by a low wire fence, presumably to protect it from the stock (in this case a small herd of Welsh ponies, who curiously came to see what we were doing and what food we might have brought!).

The views over the Afon Gwaun Valley to the east were lovely. (as Paul M says in his description of the site: ‘commanding’). To the north west, there were views over crags at what I think is Carn Ingli.

Near the main Trefach stone, there was a fallen stone, which looked as if it might have stood upright. The field was also littered with groups of stones which looked like possible cairns.

This was the start of a couple of hours exploring some pretty interesting sites within the Cwm Gwaun valley.