Cairnpapple Hill

Trip No.54  Entry No.4  Date Added: 12th Oct 2017
Site Type: Round Cairn Country: Scotland (West Lothian)
Visited: Yes on 30th Sep 2017. My rating: Condition 3 Ambience 4 Access 4

Log Text: Cairnpapple (Chamber), West Lothian: We’d spent quite a lot of time around Cairnpapple and surrounding area, but on this trip had not visited. Andrew had not seen this site before, so we parked and joined the other families visiting in the wind and drizzle, and I managed to buy a guide book and as the other visitors drifted off, went back to talk to the guide. I saw the display showing the cup and cup & ring marked stones in the chamber.

The chamber into the concrete dome was open today, but the ladder was really steep, and even Andrew described it as difficult to get down. After he emerged from taking the first batch of photographs, I took him back into the hut to speak to the guide and he clambered back into the chamber and took some more photos. I confess the photograph in the hut made the cup and ring marks a lot more visible than in reality!

Then onto our last trip of our holiday, and one I was looking forward to – another of the Torphichen Refuge Stones.

Craigmailing Boundary Marker (Torphichen)

Trip No.54  Entry No.5  Date Added: 12th Oct 2017
Site Type: Marker Stone Country: Scotland (West Lothian)
Visited: Yes on 30th Sep 2017. My rating: Condition 3 Ambience 4 Access 3

Log Text: Craigmailing/Witchcraigs Boundary Stone: To find this stone, we parked near to the Little Criagmailling cross base found earlier this week and followed a little-used footpath through the woodland. This footpath joined another wider one, crossing a stile into a little tree-lined lane which followed a trickling stream to our left hand side.

This, very unexpectedly, opened up into an area of grass/heath with a viewpoint. As soon as you sight the viewpoint with its dry stone wall and information boards, the refuge stone is to your right hand side. This is a really rather special place. And being named Witch Crag made it much more atmospheric!

The refuge stone is no longer in the wall, but has been sited at 90 degrees to it.

Boar Stone (Armadale)

Trip No.106  Entry No.7  Date Added: 6th Nov 2018
Site Type: Natural Stone / Erratic / Other Natural Feature Country: Scotland (West Lothian)
Visited: Yes on 28th Oct 2018. My rating: Condition 3 Ambience 4 Access 4

Log Text: The Boar Stone (Barbachlaw), Armadale: This is another site we'd picked up from the Ancient Stones website, and although it's not far from my daughter's house in Amadale, we wouldn't normally drive this road. This stone is clearly visible from the A89. We managed to park in the gateway to another field opposite, crossed the road and had to climb over the gate as it was tied shut with some very tight knots.

The field had been planted and there were some young seedlings showing through. By walking along the edge of the field, then up a tractor track, we managed to reach the stone and walk round it.

Goodness knows how much of this stone is underneath the ground – it was certainly large, and no wonder they hadn’t tried to move it!

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.

Glyn Gath Barrow

Date Added: 28th Aug 2014
Site Type: Round Barrow(s) Country: Wales (Pembrokeshire)
Visited: Yes on 21st Aug 2014. My rating: Condition 2 Ambience 4 Access 5

Log Text: Glyn Garth Ring Cairn, Pembrokeshire: After visiting a series of standing stones on the northern side of the Afon Gwaun river, we headed eastwards back towards the hotel at Gellifawr. We passed directly by the Glyn Garth ring cairn, so stopped to take a look.

Even with a detailed map, without the marker stone, we wouldn’t have been able to easily identify this cairn, but walking into the heather and gorse we could make out the perimeter banks (easier to do this with the eye than demonstrate with the camera – I’ve yet to learn the technique to do this well).

It was an impressive location; With Myndd Dinas behind and Newport Bay to the north, this was a fantastic place to be buried.

On the drive southwards from Glyn Garth to Pontfaen, we were doing double-takes at most field entrances, as the gateposts all seemed (to our novice eyes) to be standing stones which had been perhaps been relocated and recycled.

Also of notes to future visitors, it is well worth popping into the Dyffryn Arms at Pontfaen. It is like walking back into time; the main bar is like small sitting room from the 1930s and the landlady serves ale from jugs from a serving hatch – brilliant!

Pentre Ifan

Date Added: 27th Aug 2014
Site Type: Portal Tomb Country: Wales (Pembrokeshire)
Visited: Yes on 23rd Aug 2014. My rating: Condition 3 Ambience 5 Access 4

Log Text: Pentre Ifan, Pembrokeshire: I was particularly excited to go to the site, as I’d seen many photographs and paintings of Pentre Ifan during our brief visit to Pembrokeshire, together with photographs on the Portal. I was unprepared for the sheer number of visitors who came to see this spectacular burial chamber. However, everyone seemed to respect others need to take photographs and kept out of each other’s way, which was nice. We also got into conversation with a Japanese lady about how they had raised the cap stone.

I was truly amazed at how the cap stone balances on the pointed tips of just three uprights. All around are larger stones which may have been part of the structure in the past.

The views over to Newport sands and the sea are wonderful. I would like to go back to the site at a quieter time and just sit and absorb it.

Trefael

Date Added: 27th Aug 2014
Site Type: Rock Art Country: Wales (Pembrokeshire)
Visited: Saw from a distance on 23rd Aug 2014

Log Text: Trafael Rock Art, Pembrokshire: We were looking forward to seeing this rare example of rock art in Wales, but despite driving up and down the B4582 road twice, we couldn’t find any of the marked footpaths. We could identify from the field pattern from our detailed map exactly where the stone was located. I suggested going to Bayvil church, further down the footpath, and walking back from there. On our second drive-past, we saw a very clear, official notice on the gate to the field saying ‘access to the capstone only with the permission of the landowner’. As we will have to research who the landowner is, we’ll need to save a visit to this rock art for another time.
However, we were well compensated by stumbling upon Nevern church with its stone crosses a few minutes later.

St Gwyndaf Stones

Date Added: 28th Aug 2014
Site Type: Early Christian Sculptured Stone Country: Wales (Pembrokeshire)
Visited: Yes on 22nd Aug 2014. My rating: Condition 3 Ambience 4 Access 4

Log Text: St Gwyndaf’s Church, Llanwnda with stone crosses: Husband, Andrew, and I were both intrigued by Vicky’s description of the St. Gwyndaf Stones on the Portal, so after a busy day exploring the St David’s area, we decided to stop off in Fishguard for dinner, taking a detour to Llanwnda on the way.

Despite having a detailed map, we got lost twice, taking the wrong lane and ending up back on the main road, then taking the left hand turn inside of the right where the road splits within Llanwnda village, and ending up at someone’s house and having to reverse down a particularly narrow, windy single track lane, being watched by a curious local lady who came out to watch.

After that, we found the church easily enough. There were even a few parking spaces just by the path leading down to the church. A very pretty spot, although feeling incredibly remote, overlooking the sea.

The whole of this site has a huge sense of age and heritage. The inside of the church is simple, but impressive. There was no church guide available to look at, but there was a copy of the ‘Saints and Stones’ book telling us something about the church. Page 7 of this books tells us: “on the window-sill near the font is a fragment of a medieval stone showing a bishop administering a blessing and holding a staff; it may have been part of an ancient churchyard and cross. Another stone fragment of the same date can be seen on the first window-sill in the south wall. In the chancel is a case containing a copy of the Welsh ‘Parry’ Bible (1620) [although this is well-used and falling apart – impressive non-the-less] .... No fewer than six 7th-9th century Christian marked stones were also discovered in 1881; five of them are set into the exterior walls of the church. Once part of the larger structures, they were carved by stonemasons working under monastic patronage. The most fascinating of these is set into the east end of the south transept. It shows a rudely incised face surrounded by four parallel lines beneath the cross of St. Andrew; the face may be that of a female, a monk or Christ-as-Procrator. High in the south wall is a stone marked with a double-outline cross and another in the east wall of the chancel is decorated with a Latin cross. A fourth stone in the north wall displays a double Latin cross enclosed by a rounded outline, and low in the south wall to the west of the porch is a stone of later date (probably 10th century) with a moulded cross. The base of a decorated cross lies on the north-west side of the churchyard.”

We spotted the five stones set in the wall and the two on the window-sills, but failed to see the cross in the churchyard.

I’d recommend anyone in the area to take an hour to find this church and the stones – a true sense of history and occasion contained within this tiny building and surrounding church yard.

On the next visit, must ensure to take in the Garnwnda Burial Chamber and nearby standing stone.

Parc y Meirw

Date Added: 28th Aug 2014
Site Type: Stone Row / Alignment Country: Wales (Pembrokeshire)
Visited: Yes on 21st Aug 2014. My rating: Condition 3 Ambience 4 Access 4

Log Text: Parc-y-meiry standing stones, Pembrokeshire: After having visited the Llanllawer Holy Well, we set off eastwards up the road towards Trellwyn farm, where there were two sets of standing stones marked on the southern side of the road.

Driving slowly up this single track lane, trying to look over the tall banks and fences rising above us on either side of the road to spot the stones, a tall standing stone by a field gate suddenly appeared, looming above us from the grass verge – impressive!

We stopped the car in the gate entrance and hopped out to take a look. Only the large stone There was nothing in the field, so we unlatched the field gate to take a closer look.

Unusually, I haven’t been able to find out much about these stones, apart from a short entry on the Royal Commission on the Ancient and Historical Monuments For Wales, where the stones are referenced as SAM PE126.

Trellwyn-fach Stone Pair

Date Added: 28th Aug 2014
Site Type: Standing Stones Country: Wales (Pembrokeshire)
Visited: Yes on 21st Aug 2014. My rating: Condition 3 Ambience 3 Access 4

Log Text: Trewynfach (Tre-llwyn Fawr) Stone Pair, Pembrokeshire: About 400 yards up the road from the Parc-y-meirw stones, just before reaching a house called Trellwyn, is an un-named farm to the south side of the road. On the map there are two standing stones marked, which stand very slightly to the west of the farm. Neither of the stones can be seen from the road. No-one appeared to be at the farm, and as the field gate was open, we walked along the field boundary for about 50 yards to see if we could spot them.

One of the stones has been used as a gatepost, in the field boundary between the farm and the first field to its west; the other is situated in the middle of the farmyard. Presumably the gatepost stone, which stands 1.4 metres high, has been relocated from its original site. The second stone is on private land, but looks taller than the stone being used as the gatepost.

I confess that after the Parc-y-Meirw stones and these, we looked at the gateposts of all the farms as we drove along, wondering if they were ‘recycled’ standing stones.

Trellwyn-fach

Date Added: 28th Aug 2014
Site Type: Standing Stone (Menhir) Country: Wales (Pembrokeshire)
Visited: Yes on 21st Aug 2014. My rating: Condition 3 Ambience 4 Access 3

Log Text: Trellwyn-Fach Standing Stone, Pembrokeshire: [We found more than one standing stone at this site, one of them not marked on the map, so I hope I haven't confused them – if I’ve got it wrong, please let me know so I can correct my entries (thank you!)].

From the Trewllyn-Fach Stone Pair, we walked along the footpath at the other side of the un-named farm (about 100 yards south west of the house called Trellwyn). This is essentially a farm-track and easy walking, past old farm properties which are being renovated. As the track turned a left hand corner just past the farm buildings, I spotted a standing stone in the middle of the field, but this wasn’t marked on the map, so intrigued, we continued onto Trellwyn-Fach.

The footpath went passed the standing stone towards the derelict Trellwyn-fach farmhouse, but there was a well-worn track across to the stone, so we crossed the bank forming the field boundary and followed the track to take a closer look at the stone. On the way, there was also another erratic stone in the field to the left hand side (I’ve not been able to get the grid reference as the images from UK Grid Finder are those of clouds, so I’m unable to make out the ground). The whole area is littered with large stones, possible cairns and what appear to be large erratic stones.

I wasn’t sure if the stone had broken and the broken piece been taken away, or if the rock had been deliberately quarried. This stone does indeed look like a pointing finger and there are good views over the Cwm Gwaun valley.

Tre-llwyn Fawr

Date Added: 28th 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: Trellwyn-Fawr Standing Stone, Pembrokeshire: [We found more than one standing stone at this site, one of them not marked on the map, so I hope I am reporting them correctly – if I’ve confused them, please let me know so I can correct my entries (thank you!)].

On the way back to the road from the Trellwyn-Fach Standing Stone, we stopped off to look at this stone, which we'd first seen on the walk down. This stone stands alone in the middle of the field, with great views over the Cwm Gwaun valley below. It seems to fit the description on the Dyfed Archaeological Site, which describes this stone as 1.4 metres high by 1 metre wide at its base, leaning slightly to the north-north-west. Just to the west, there was another smaller stone poking through the grass.

The views to the north, east and west were blocked by hedges and trees, so it wasn’t really possible to appreciate the location this stone was set in.

Gors Fawr Stone Circle

Date Added: 28th Aug 2014
Site Type: Stone Circle Country: Wales (Pembrokeshire)
Visited: Yes on 23rd Aug 2014. My rating: Condition 4 Ambience 5 Access 4

Log Text: 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.

Gors Fawr Outliers

Date Added: 28th Aug 2014
Site Type: Standing Stones Country: Wales (Pembrokeshire)
Visited: Yes on 23rd Aug 2014. My rating: Condition 3 Ambience 5 Access 4

Log Text: Gors Fawr Outliers, Pembrokeshire: It was an easy walk of about 150 metres or so north-northeast across the moorland to the Gors Fawr Standing Stones/Outliers, which were visible from the stone circle.

Standing at the Outliers looking towards the circle, they do appear to be an entrance. We spotted other shaped stones lying in the grass, which looked like they may have formed part of a stone avenue at some point in the distant past.

One of the Outlier stones was shaped, as if it could be used to sit on. I understand from reading the Ancient Wisdom of Wales web site that this is called ‘the dreaming stone’ and has magnetic qualities.

With the Presili mountains in the background, I certainly had the sense of an ancient landscape with huge meaning for our ancestors, and wished I could tap into their thinking today.

I am interested in finding out about possible alignments between these Outliers, the circle and the Solstice – once I’ve processed all the photographs and notes I’ve taken from this trip!

Garn Turne

Date Added: 28th Aug 2014
Site Type: Chambered Tomb Country: Wales (Pembrokeshire)
Visited: Saw from a distance on 23rd Aug 2014. My rating: Access 1

Log Text: Burial chamber at Garn Turne Rocks, Pembrokeshire: (couldn't find anywhere to access this site): The final sites we wanted to see before hitting the motorway home to Northumberland were the burial chambers at Garn Turne. Having successfully located the field and the footpath nearest to the largest burial chamber, we parked in an extended passing place near the footpath. We met a couple of local ladies with their families picking blackberries in the hedgerows and chatted briefly, telling them where we were going; they didn’t seem to think there would be a problem with access.

Walking to 50 metres or so up the footpath to a gate in the field, we could see no access into the Garn Turne Enclosure. My husband hopped across the gate whilst I took photographs of the very curious cows in the adjacent field who’d come to see what we were up to!

From this footpath, the chamber appeared to be inaccessible – there seemed to be no gates whatsoever. When we looked at the Portal later in the day, there were lots of other photographs of this site, and we are left wondering how they accessed it. Other web sites mention squeezing through hedges, and I don’t like to do this without permission from the farmer. I had to be content with a photograph from a distance.

By way of compensation, we went to see Ogham and Latin inscribed stone at St. Dogwell’s Church (just marked as ‘Stone’ on the map, next to Sealyham Bridge).

However, there was a second chamber on the map, at approximate grid reference SM 98269 26566 (the UK Grid Finder’s images are shrouded in cloud, so can’t get a precise fix). We found the very overgrown footpath that took us closest to the chamber, only to be met by a very aggressive combine harvester driver, who forced us to reverse at least a quarter of a mile, pull over for him, then block our way. At this point we gave up and decided to head for home, only to catch up with said combine harvester and had to follow him at about 15 miles an hour for the next four or five miles (he refused to let us by at any available passing place).