Welsh Adventure

4th September 2014
It's holiday time !!!! So we are off to Dublin to catch the 02:15 ferry to Holyhead. We get some sleep on the ferry but are still tired at the other end...... so where better to grab a few hours kip , than at the top of the Great Orme. We lived in Llandudno for a little while, before moving to Ireland and The Orme was always a favourite.
We are woken by the sound of Choughs calling nearby and a pair of Ravens "grock grocking" overhead and a flock of around 150 Goldfinches feed on the thistle down.

Llety'r Filiast

A quick look in the shop at the Gt Orme mine before heading down St Beuno's Road and then Cromlech Road. A stile at the end of the small road, leads into a field, where, on your right sits -  Llety'r Filiast (Lair of the Greyhound bitch). The  remains of a burial chamber. There is still a trace of the mound, but much of what you see is a natural hillock. The chamber has four remaining  uprights, but the capstone is broken and only part of it is still in situ. The rest having fallen inside, with another part leaning against the uprights.
There always used to be a pair of Donkeys in the field, but unfortunately they aren't here any more.

It's turning into a lovely warm and sunny day, as we head down to Llyn Ogwen and grab a cup of tea and a pasty,enjoying them against the backdrop of The Carneddau and The Glyderau (This has got to be one of the most spectacular valleys in the whole of the UK), before heading over towards Harlech. There is a quick stop at the church in Maentwrog to have a look at the standing stone in the churchyard - a small rounded stone, nothing too spectacular.

Maentwrog

Maentwrog

The next stop is up in the hills. We pass through Talsarnau and turn off the main road and up through the lanes to Eisingrug, before taking a steep, narrow lane Westward to the cattle grid at the track to Moel Y Geifr farm. There is room for a few cars to park here.
Getting out of the car, there are birds everywhere. A pair of Yellowhammers, a family group of Mistle Thrushes and a Greater Spotted Woodpecker (a bird that you don't see in West Cork !). Meadow Pipits, Skylarks, Stonechats and even a fly by Sparrowhawk looking for an easy meal!
From here, it's on foot, through the enclosures of Moel Y Geifr in a direct line (roughly West) to pick up the track that leads to Bryn Y Cader Faner.There is a more defined (if you prefer), but longer  track on the right, which loops away South before coming around in a North Easterly direction. I come back this way and It's definitely more straightforward, but it's also a good deal muddier and wet too.

ruins at Moel Y Geifr

Old gateway at Moel Y Geifr

This magnificent ring cairn has been on my "must see" list for ages and it's certainly no disappointment. After a good mile and a half trek and passing several small cairns and the remains of  some round houses, the prize comes into sight, nestling on a small natural hill. The cairn has a diameter of c8.5m (28ft) but what stands out are the fifteen stones which lean out from the cairn, giving it it's "crown of thorns" appearance. Apparently there were originally around thirty stones, but several were destroyed by the army on manouevres back in 1939 ! The setting and the views are simply terrific. This really is a must visit site and I will definitely be back one day.

Bryn Y Cader Faner

Bryn Y Cader Faner

Bryn Y Cader Faner

Bryn Y Cader Faner

Cairns on the route to Bryn Y Cader Faner

Having trekked back to the car, we head back down the land to Eisingrug, then follow the road past Moel Goedog where there are several standing stones within easy reach of the roadside.

Fonlief Hir D

Fonlief Hir D

Fonlief Hir D

The first group are the Moel Goedog stones (1-3). Three in total, they mark the ancient trackway called Fonlief Hir, which ran from Moel Goedog. Then come the five Fonlief Hir stones (A-E but not necessarily in that order).D on the left hand side - height 0.9 x 0.6 x 0.5m. C on the right hand side of the road is 1m high x 0.5 x 0.18.  E on the left hand side stands at 0.8 x 0.34 x 0.3. Then comes A, which is in the field on the right. This one is also called Moel Y Sensigl and at 2.2m in height is the tallest od the group. It's guarded by a rather large White Bull today, so I admire it from the gate ! Last up is B on the left hand side. This one is also known as Carreg and is 1.8m x 0.6 x 0.3.

Fonlief Hir C

Fonlief Hir C

Fonlief Hir E

Fonlief Hir E

Fonlief Hir E

The road carries on to a crossroads, where a right takes you down into Harlech with it's Castle dominating the small town.
We have to make a stop at the station to pick up my Daughter, her Husband and our Grandson, before driving off to Rhuddlan for my Brothers wedding tomorrow !

Moel Y Sensigl with attendant Bull

Carreg

Carreg

Carreg