<< Our Photo Pages >> Gors Fawr Stone Circle - Stone Circle in Wales in Pembrokeshire

Submitted by Andy B on Wednesday, 05 March 2025  Page Views: 42766

Neolithic and Bronze AgeSite Name: Gors Fawr Stone Circle
Country: Wales County: Pembrokeshire Type: Stone Circle
Nearest Town: Cardigan  Nearest Village: Crymych
Map Ref: SN13462938  Landranger Map Number: 145
Latitude: 51.931588N  Longitude: 4.714677W
Condition:
5Perfect
4Almost Perfect
3Reasonable but with some damage
2Ruined but still recognisable as an ancient site
1Pretty much destroyed, possibly visible as crop marks
0No data.
-1Completely destroyed
 4 Ambience:
5Superb
4Good
3Ordinary
2Not Good
1Awful
0No data.
 4 Access:
5Can be driven to, probably with disabled access
4Short walk on a footpath
3Requiring a bit more of a walk
2A long walk
1In the middle of nowhere, a nightmare to find
0No data.
 4 Accuracy:
5co-ordinates taken by GPS or official recorded co-ordinates
4co-ordinates scaled from a detailed map
3co-ordinates scaled from a bad map
2co-ordinates of the nearest village
1co-ordinates of the nearest town
0no data
 4

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I have visited· I would like to visit

ethelpugh SumDoood would like to visit

rhodct visited on 25th May 2024 - their rating: Cond: 3 Amb: 4 Access: 4

woodini254 visited on 1st Jan 2021 - their rating: Cond: 5 Amb: 5 Access: 4 A quote from a previous visit. "A small but very impressive stone circle situated not far from a road with parking for one or two vehicles. The stone circle is probably best visited in the winter when the vegetation is low."

SandyG visited on 3rd Feb 2016 - their rating: Cond: 4 Amb: 4 Access: 4

Anne T visited on 23rd Aug 2014 - their rating: Cond: 4 Amb: 5 Access: 4 Gors Fawr Stone Circle, Pembrokeshire: After stopping off at St. Brynach’s church in Nevern to see the stone crosses, we started on our long journey home to Northumberland. We’d identified a number of ancient sites we wanted to see on our way back, including the Gors Fawr Stone Circle. My husband had hoped to see the site in the Presili Hills where they’d quarried the stones for Stonehenge, but time (and my horror of precipices and steep drops) wouldn’t allow – on our next trip, we’ll need to allow another month at least to see all the things we want to in the area! Following the A478 and turning off towards Mynacholog-ddu at the village of Crymych, it was easy to find the little gem of Gors Fawr. Again, I hadn’t realised what a tourist attraction this was. There was a small lay-by across from the house ‘Pen-rhos’, and an easy walk across the field to the circle. It was much smaller than I imagined from the photographs I’d seen on the Portal, but if I’m allowed to, I'd use the word ‘cute’ as the most accurate description that comes to mind. One of the first things I saw almost in the middle of the circle was a small Wiccan altar, made of small rounded blue pebbles, with its apex pointing towards the Gors Fawr Outliers. Walking just outside the perimeter of the circle, we became aware of smaller stones buried in the grass at regular intervals about 3-4 metres outside the main circle, and wondered if there was an outer circle (but then there were so many other stones in the field that we let our imaginations run a little riot with ideas of stone avenues and tumuli). Since I've been home, I've read on the Ancient Wisdom of Wales web site that a survey had been done, and nothing found. But what a place to build a circle – on a wide, flat plateau of moorland, with the Presili hills rising to the north. This stone circle seeming to lie in the centre of the graceful bowl formed by the hills, which rose up blue and misty in the distance. The circle somehow seemed to me to capture the essence and magnificence of the landscape. There was a small, constant stream of other visitors. I got into conversation with a family who said they’d had trouble finding the circle, and had stopped by the Outliers and walked back. The man told us about the apparent alignments between the Outliers and the Circle at Solstice, so I’ll need to check this out. I didn't have the courage to ask him if he was another Portal user (but next time I won't be so shy!). I would have loved to have stayed until sunset.

Landsker visited on 31st Aug 2013 - their rating: Cond: 5 Amb: 4 Access: 5

woodini254 visited on 30th May 2011 - their rating: Cond: 5 Amb: 5 Access: 4 A small but very impressive stone circle situated not far from a road with parking for one or two vehicles. The stone circle is probably best visited in the winter when the vegetation is low.

BolshieBoris visited on 1st Aug 1993 - their rating: Cond: 5 Amb: 5 Access: 4

coldrum visited - their rating: Cond: 3 Amb: 5 Access: 4

JCBH visited - their rating: Cond: 3 Amb: 4 Access: 4 Gors Fawr Stone Circle. Visited many times. Easily accessed from the road.

Bladup PAB AngieLake mrcrow have visited here

Average ratings for this site from all visit loggers: Condition: 4.11 Ambience: 4.56 Access: 4.11

Gors Fawr Stone Circle
Gors Fawr Stone Circle submitted by CoralJackz : A shot from above with the Preselis in the background.. (Vote or comment on this photo)
The only real stone circle left in the region, Gors Fawr stands on a moor close to the village of Mynachlog-ddu in the shadow of the Preseli Mountains. The circle of 16 (mostly) blue stones form an egg-shaped ring and antiquarian reports indicate that there was once an avenue leading to the two outliers, which are found to the north-north-east.

The ring is best visited in the winter as in the summer it lives up to its name and is usually covered in gorse! (although in Welsh gors fawr actually means a 'big area of boggy land' and has nothing to do with gorse bushes) The stone circle is easily accessible on a public footpath with parking in a nearby lay-by.
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Gors Fawr Stone Circle
Gors Fawr Stone Circle submitted by Horatio : Summer Solstice 2021 Return to Gors Fawr. You know, spine tingling standing at this circle in anticipation of the sunrise and when those rays finally come through the stones from low on the horizon and light you up and you feel the warmth of the sun, whilst birds are singing and the cuckoo in the distance is calling and life is awakening for the longest day of the year it TRULY is a magical e... (6 comments - Vote or comment on this photo)

Gors Fawr Stone Circle
Gors Fawr Stone Circle submitted by Horatio : Summer Solstice sunrise at Gors Fawr 2019. Taken on my phone. As I stood behind everyone I thought 'just how many people over the thousands of years have stood in my place and watched this and how many more to come in the following years to replace me' It was a truly moving, 'spiritual' experience. It was a long day yesterday (not just because the hours of sunlight) as sunrise here, ... (3 comments - Vote or comment on this photo)

Gors Fawr Stone Circle
Gors Fawr Stone Circle submitted by Bladup : Gors Fawr Stone Circle in lovely Pembrokeshire. This Original Artwork in a glass frame is £39.99 + Postage (Just whatever it costs), and is 16 and a half cm x 11 and a half cm. A limited (to a 100) edition print in a 8" x 10" glass frame would be £19.99 + £2.90 postage, E-mail me at [email protected] if interested. (Vote or comment on this photo)

Gors Fawr Stone Circle
Gors Fawr Stone Circle submitted by PaulM : Gors Fawr in the snow on New Year's Eve 2001. (7 comments - Vote or comment on this photo)

Gors Fawr Stone Circle
Gors Fawr Stone Circle submitted by pab : Gors Fawr Stone Circle, serene in the Autumn sunshine. Photo: 15 October 2013 (1 comment - Vote or comment on this photo)

Gors Fawr Stone Circle
Gors Fawr Stone Circle submitted by pab : Gors Fawr Circle, looking particularly beautiful today - and the vegetation is currently low enough to make out & avoid the worst of the boggy stuff! Photo, 15 October 2013

Gors Fawr Stone Circle
Gors Fawr Stone Circle submitted by PaulM : Another of Gors Fawr in the snow on New Year's Eve 2001. (2 comments)

Gors Fawr Stone Circle
Gors Fawr Stone Circle submitted by woodini254 : One of the pair of outlier standing stones which is a part of Gors Fawr stone circle.

Gors Fawr Stone Circle
Gors Fawr Stone Circle submitted by muscipula : Taken with my friend Alistair's drone. Gors Fawr a stone circle estimated 6000 BC. It seems we now have a good use for these devices. I have some movies of this if you want me to upload. Andrue (1 comment)

Gors Fawr Stone Circle
Gors Fawr Stone Circle submitted by Postman : I hope this fits.

Gors Fawr Stone Circle
Gors Fawr Stone Circle submitted by Bladup : Gors Fawr Stone Circle with Carn Menyn and Co in the background and if you look closely you can see the 2 big outliers below it.

Gors Fawr Stone Circle
Gors Fawr Stone Circle submitted by Bladup : A lovely blue sky at the equally lovely Gors Fawr Stone Circle. (2 comments)

Gors Fawr Stone Circle
Gors Fawr Stone Circle submitted by Bladup : Gors Fawr Stone Circle.

Gors Fawr Stone Circle
Gors Fawr Stone Circle submitted by rocknroll : Taken on the 1st of December 2006. It had been raining which has lent something to the photo I think. (1 comment)

Gors Fawr Stone Circle
Gors Fawr Stone Circle submitted by thebeer : Gors Fawr by moonlight.

Gors Fawr Stone Circle
Gors Fawr Stone Circle submitted by thebeer : An early evening view of the site.

Gors Fawr Stone Circle
Gors Fawr Stone Circle submitted by enkidu41 : A circle of 16 stones in an almost perfect circle of 73’ diameter.

Gors Fawr Stone Circle
Gors Fawr Stone Circle submitted by enkidu41

Gors Fawr Stone Circle
Gors Fawr Stone Circle submitted by Horatio : A close up over head of the circle and just checked, yep 16 stones alright.

Gors Fawr Stone Circle
Gors Fawr Stone Circle submitted by Horatio : This really shows the imposing height of these stones! (see my other pic for comments) 16 stones in a 22metre diameter circle, eight of these stones being of spotted dolerite (the famous Bluestone), I do love a bit of my 'local' stone (ethically sourced obviously).

Gors Fawr Stone Circle
Gors Fawr Stone Circle submitted by Horatio : Early start this morning to get the sunrise, I wont be here to get it at Summer Solstice this year. Any way, this is the view of the circle looking north west with the Preseli ridge in the background. This is looking towards the Cwm between the two slight peaks of Foel Cymcerwen on the left (highest point in the Preseli Hills) and Carn Sian on the right. The cwm between facing is Cwm-garw (trans...

Gors Fawr Stone Circle
Gors Fawr Stone Circle submitted by woodini254 : Gors Fawr outlier standing stones.

Gors Fawr Stone Circle
Gors Fawr Stone Circle submitted by Postman : Yup, best seen in the winter.

Gors Fawr Stone Circle
Gors Fawr Stone Circle submitted by Bladup : Gors Fawr Stone Circle.

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Nearby sites listing. In the following links * = Image available
 130m NNE 20° Gors Fawr Outliers* Standing Stones (SN13512950)
 891m N 2° Waldo Memorial* Modern Stone Circle etc (SN13523027)
 1.0km N 2° Bluestones Monument* Modern Stone Circle etc (SN13533038)
 1.1km N 356° Mynachlog-ddu stones* Standing Stones (SN13433049)
 1.9km N 353° Craig Talfynedd Ancient Village or Settlement (SN133313)
 2.0km SW 224° Llangolman Round Barrow(s) (SN1228)
 2.2km NNW 344° Carn Sian Cairn* Not Known (by us) (SN1294231474)
 2.2km WSW 247° Penmorgan* Standing Stone (Menhir) (SN114286)
 2.2km WSW 247° Rhosfach Stone Standing Stone (Menhir) (SN114286)
 2.2km NNW 342° Carn Sian Linear feature* Stone Row / Alignment (SN1286831525)
 2.2km NNW 341° Carn Sian - unknown* Cairn (SN1282431539)
 2.3km WNW 298° Glynsaithmaen* Standing Stones (SN115305)
 2.3km NW 313° Cwm Garw* Standing Stones (SN11823102)
 2.4km NNE 21° Carn Menyn (Gate Post?)* Standing Stone (Menhir) (SN1438131557)
 2.4km WSW 241° Parc Maen Barrow Round Barrow(s) (SN113283)
 2.4km WSW 241° Parc Maen Stone* Standing Stone (Menhir) (SN113283)
 2.4km WNW 288° Glynsaithmaen SW* Standing Stone (Menhir) (SN11173021)
 2.5km WNW 290° Gate Standing Stone* Standing Stone (Menhir) (SN11143033)
 2.5km ENE 74° Foel Dyrch, Pentre Galar Cairn (SN159300)
 2.6km SSE 153° Glandymawr* Cairn (SN14562702)
 2.8km SE 126° Carn Besi* Chambered Tomb (SN15632768)
 2.8km SSE 151° Castell Garw* Ancient Village or Settlement (SN147269)
 2.8km SSE 168° Yr Allor* Standing Stones (SN13952661)
 2.8km S 170° Eisteddfa Brynber Round Barrow(s) (SN13842659)
 2.9km N 356° Carn Arthur* Natural Stone / Erratic / Other Natural Feature (SN1337532232)
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"Gors Fawr Stone Circle" | Login/Create an Account | 18 News and Comments
  
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Re: Gors Fawr Stone Circle by CoralJackz on Monday, 03 March 2025
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Here is a page on our website where we'll be regularly adding records and other information regarding Gors Fawr.
https://thathistorycouple.co.uk/2025/03/03/gors-fawr-stone-circle/
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Stone Rows of the Preseli Hills - Solar, Lunar alignments and tri-stones by Andy B on Wednesday, 06 February 2019
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An extract from Stone Rows of the Preseli Hills by David A. Fisher:

Five sites, each comprising of a pair of stones, were investigated by means of site visits and 3D computer modelling to investigate any possible orientations, to either the Hills themselves or celestial events, during the period of suspected construction - the Mid-Neolithic to early Bronze age. The resultant investigation determined that not only do the sites have potential orientations toward the lunar minor and major limits, but concur with the concept of duality as proposed by Lionel Sims (2016)

If Gors Fawr demonstrated only one orientation toward the Sun then this could be considered coincidental, but with 2 demonstrable orientations by two individual stones then a more deliberate intent may be concluded. Six orientations to the major lunar limits are informative but seven orientations toward the minor lunar limits across three sites is a revelation and quite enlightening. It is the almost isosceles triangular shaped stones at PenParke and Gors Fawr that provide these primary orientations to the minor limits which suggests deliberate shaping and not serendipitous selection.

The sites to the south and east of the Preseli Hills, Gors Fawr and Dolau Maen, show a preference to the major lunar rising and setting; whereas, those to the west, northwest, PenParke and Tafarn-Y-Bwlch, have a prevalence toward the minor rising and setting of the Moon.

If we consider that it is these triangular shaped stones at PenParke and Gors Fawr that provide the opposites in orientations and that those triangular stones reside on opposing sides of the Preseli Hills then this leads to two hypotheses...

Read more in Stone Rows of the Preseli Hills by David A. Fisher
http://maajournal.com/Issues/2018/Vol18-4/19_Fisher%2018(4).pdf

From Mediterranean Archaeology and Archaeometry, Vol. 18, No 4, (2018)
Selected Papers of the INSAP X – Oxford XI – SEAC 25th Joint Conference
‘Road to the Stars’, held in Santiago de Compostela, Spain, 18th–22nd September 2017. Open Access Journal
http://www.maajournal.com/Issues2018d.php
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A flyover Gors Fawr by muscipula on Monday, 17 September 2018
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A drones view of Gors Fawr Stone Circle by muscipula on Monday, 17 September 2018
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Gors Fawr two from muscipula on Vimeo.

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Re: Gors Fawr - Aubrey Burl's description in Circles of Stone by AngieLake on Tuesday, 26 March 2013
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I was looking back at some holiday photos of Gors Fawr from a bitterly cold April evening in 2012 and checking out 'Circles of Stone' [1999], in which Burl describes the site. He also provides drawn outlines* of every site layout in the book, which is beautifully illustrated by Max Milligan's photographs.

This description was interesting in that it compares Gors Fawr with Fernworthy circle [or Froggymeade] on Dartmoor in Devon:

“Gors Fawr Carmarthen, Dyfed. SN 134 294. 3¼ miles ENE of Maenclochog.

This ring, “the great heath”, stands soggily in the foothills of the Preseli Mountains, from which the bluestones of Stonehenge came. Locally the ring is known as Cylch y Trallwyn, “the circle of troubles”.

The sixteen much-weathered stones of local doleritic rock noticeably rise in height towards the south, where the tallest is 4 feet 6 inches high. The ring is some 73 feet in diameter. Its grading and size suggest an affinity with the circle at Fernworthy on Dartmoor, a hundred miles SE across the Bristol Channel.

A quarter of a mile to NNE are two tall outlying stones about 46 feet apart, set at a slight tangent to the ring and arranged NE to SW. Because of the greater height of the horizon to the east the line gives slightly different declinations to the SW and midwinter sunset and the rising midsummer sun to the NE.”

* A comment posted on site page asks if anyone knows where they may find a plan of the circle.
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Street View by coldrum on Friday, 19 March 2010
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View Larger Map
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Re: Gors Fawr Stone Circle by Anonymous on Monday, 07 September 2009
Just wanted to point out that, as a welsh speaker, Gors fawr, means a 'big area of boggy land' and it has absolutely nothing at all to do with the English word gorse/gorse bushes as was suggested on an earlier comment.
thanks.
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    Re: Gors Fawr Stone Circle by muscipula on Saturday, 03 April 2021
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    And it is also pronounced Gor[z] but without the zzzzz

    Andrew
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    Re: Gors Fawr Stone Circle by Anonymous on Friday, 05 January 2024
    Just came here to say this. Also they are not all blue stones. Can we amend the introduction please?
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Re: Gors Fawr Stone Circle by coldrum on Thursday, 22 January 2009
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RCAHMW links:

http://www.coflein.gov.uk/en/site/300422/details/GORS+FAWR+STONE+CIRCLE/

http://www.coflein.gov.uk/en/collection/60883/details/RCAHMW+Colour+Oblique+Aerial+Photographs/

http://www.coflein.gov.uk/en/collection/419481/details/RCAHMW+Colour+Oblique+Aerial+Photographs/

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Re: Gors Fawr Stone Circle by ddraigdu on Saturday, 22 March 2008
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A beautiful sone circle complete with a bit of an avenue. If you are into energies then this is well worth a visit. The wild energy of the stones, the marsh and mountains all combine to be somerthing very powerful. If you are interested in Stonehenge or Archaeology then again this is well worth a visit. The stone circle is said to be made of the bluestones which were also used at Stonehenge, though Burl in one book states that he belives only one of the stones is a bluestone. Gors means marsh so be aware that this area does get very wet and is slippery underfoot. Access is great from a layby opposite a cottage, the sign is hard to see if coming from the south, but easier to spot when coming from the north.
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    Re: Gors Fawr Stone Circle by Anonymous on Monday, 10 August 2020
    I agree the energy is amazing, one of the best we have experienced in.all the stone circles we have visited.
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Re: Gors Fawr Stone Circle by ddraigdu on Saturday, 22 March 2008
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Condition:4
Ambience:5
Access:4
Accuracy:
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Re: Gors Fawr by coldrum on Friday, 24 March 2006
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These people might help.You can send a query in about sites.

http://www.rcahmw.gov.uk/aboutus.shtml
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Re: Gors Fawr by PaulM on Wednesday, 10 August 2005
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The place I have found one on line is here:

http://www.stonedowser.com/

If you scroll down there is a list of stone circles and Gors Fawr is in there somewhere. The plan is from a dowsers perspective but the location of the stones looks right.

Paul
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    Re: Gors Fawr by Anonymous on Wednesday, 10 August 2005
    Paul
    Thanks. I'll check this site out.

    I'm living in the South of France (near Spanish border) and am planning to set up a replica circle for healing purposes (based on work done by Jack Temple which in turn is based on the Gors Fawr circle).

    I guess the question is a bit odd as a circle is a circle but I just wondered if there were ancilliary stones associated with the site.
    anyway thanks again

    Pete Spencer
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Re: Gors Fawr by Anonymous on Monday, 08 August 2005
Vicky

Where can I find a "plan" view/diagram of gors fawr? I've cheecked the web but all I find are phot taken and ground level and nothing either photographic or drawn to show the layout from a birds eye view.

Tnks in advance
Pete Spencer
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Re: Gors Fawr by ozric on Thursday, 02 May 2002
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We spent a week at a cottage just by this sone circle and had a great time visiting all the sites. As a celtic artist I also found some great inspiration there, when I learn how to scan pictures I 'll add a few that we took. Its at its best in the mist or at sunset. Mind you its a bit boggy after any rainfall.You need some good boots, but its wrth it
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