From an article published on the BBC News web site on 5th December 2005:
The remains of a skeleton found underneath a medieval ship discovered buried in the banks of the River Usk in Newport are that of an Iron age man... continues...
Whilst running a Lifesaving course at the adjacent Craig-Y-Parc School I couldn't help but check out this site during a lunch break. There is a path which runs from the School entrance and through the woods directly to the enclosure – 5 minute walk. You will however have to ignore the several 'Private property. Trespassers will be prosecuted' signs. As I was on 'official business' at the school it was nice not to have to worry about such things – for a change!
The enclosure itself is surprisingly not at the top of the hill and all that remains of it now is a shallow bank / ditch – about 0.5 metre high. In the centre of the enclosure (which is heavily wooded) are two convenient picnic benches.
There is little to recommend a visit other than it being a nice stroll through the woods.
COFLEIN lists the site as being possibly Iron Age, stating:
'the oval platform measures 45m x 38m, protected on the NE end by a hood bank with outer ditch and elsewhere by a outward facing scarps averaging 0.8 metres high. No evidence of habitation'.
I've added two diagrams from 'Archaeologia Cambrensis' of a purported cupmarked stone in the area. http://www.archive.org/stream/archaeologiacam21assogoog#page/n277/mode/1up
Mr Thomas doesn't really give away the location, he mentions 'an old enclosure' but I don't know if it could be this fort. But it's not on Coflein as far as I can see. Dunno what people think or if they know more. Or maybe they are genuine and hiding under some turf somewhere.
I enclose a sketch of what seems to be a cup-marked stone which I observed yesterday near Rhiwderin, Monmouth. Unless there be some operation which simulates such markings with which I am unacquainted, I take the specimen to add an instance of these mysterious prehistoric remains to the very short list given for Wales by Mr. Romilly Allen, and to be the first reported for South Wales.
The stone displaying the cup-markings is a mass of millstone grit, earth-fast, the slanting surface appearing above the turf being about a yard wide, and 4 feet long. Upon the upper half of the surface is a group of twelve cups from 1 1/2 to 2 ins. in diameter, and about 1 in. deep. On first noticing the cups they were taken for holes out of which quartz pebbles, abundant in the local millstone grit, had been weathered, but examination of the block showed that no pebbles of large size exist, or had existed in it, and the conclusion was arrived at that the cups are artificial. On turning back some of the turf covering the base of the slope of the stone, no other cups were discovered.
The stone lies within an old enclosure, as shown by wild apple-trees and an abundance of daffodils, and still more clearly by ruins, which seem those of a cottage or small farm near by. This contiguity to a habitation which does not seem to have been abandoned more than a century, made me suspect some medieval or more recent origin for the markings. I cannot, however, account for them otherwise than by supposing them to be cup-markings in the technical archaeological sense.
Visited 22.4.11
On the way home from visiting the Barrows on Garth hill/mountain I took the opportunity to have a look at this Hillfort. Heading south along a minor road there is a turning on your left which is sign posted as being a dead end. You can drive right the way up the hill and there is just room enough to squeeze in at the metal field gate on your left at the top of the hill.
The field in question is oval shaped and the boundary fence seems to follow the outline of the Hillfort? The remains of the rampart only stand about 1 metre high.
Not much to recommend a visit I'm afraid although the bluebells were pretty!
Coflein describes the site:
Hillfort with damaged and partly destroyed defences originally comprising two ramparts and ditches enclosing an egg-shaped area (0.4ha) measuring 85m (NE-SW) by 60m with the entrance at the smaller (SW) end. Outer circuit largely obliterated. Bank height 2.5m max. above ditch bottom.
Visited 22.4.11
I last visited this site a couple of years ago when the weather was awful with mist and rain swirling all around. I have been meaning to re-visit the Garth on a nice day ever since then but had never got around to it – until today!
Despite arriving at the small parking area near to Dan Y Graig house at 7.30am I only just managed to squeeze in on the end – I thought I was the only one mad enough to come up here at this time of day – apparently not! (Including a bare chested jogger!!!)
A 10 minute walk takes you from the parking area to the main Barrow which has the information board in front of it – just follow the obvious 'path' up the hill.
There are 5 Barrows on Garth Hill – as indicated on the information board:
1. The main Barrow is approx 5 metres high and 25 metres wide – a trig point is on top.
2. A very small Barrow in immediately to the right of the main one – approx 1 metre x 5 metres. It appears to have been dug into.
3. The Barrow to the west is approx 1.5 metres x 5 metres wide – dug into.
4. The Barrow to the east of the main one is the hardest to spot – ruined and only approx 1 metre high x 10 metres – overgrown.
5. The one furthest away to the east is quite large – approx 3 metres high x 20 metres wide which has also been dug into.
All in all a very worthwhile place to visit with superb views all around – at least it would have been had it not been for the early morning haze which hadn't burnt off yet.
Oh, and yes, it is always windy up here!!
'Visited' 18.2.11
An 'ad hoc' visit on my home from work. There was no rush for me to get home, the nights are starting to draw out a bit and I happened to have my O/S map in the car – reason enough to visit a new site!
It took me a lot longer than expected to find the right place to stop along the maze of country lanes to the north east or Cardiff. The lanes are narrow, have few parking places and have hedges both sides which must be about 10ft high! At this time of year it was just possible to see through the leafless hedges – you would have no chance in the summer. I eventually parked in a small passing place near the entrance to Cefn Porth Farm (on Graig Llywn road). When I walked to the entrance of the farm (which looked to be the only way to get access to the site) I was stopped by a padlocked gate which had signs on it stating 'Private' and 'Warning – loose dogs'. Looking at the O/S map what remains there are of the 'fort' appear to be at the northern end of the field. I couldn't see anything of note at the southern end nearest the lane.
By now it was getting dark and starting to rain. To be honest I didn't fancy climbing over the gate and possibly being bit on the bum by a 'loose dog'.
I decided to go home and have my tea instead!
Visited 29.1.11
As its Dafydd's birthday next week and there was quite a bit of 'pre-party' preparation to be done I was confined to a 'local visit' this week. This gave me the chance to re-visit a site less than 10 miles from home. See previous notes for directions.
The last time I visited it was in the summer with vegetation high so it was not so easy to spot the ramparts/ditches etc. No problem with that this time of year although on the negative side it was bitterly cold, with a biting wind and the ground frozen underneath. The lovely Karen wisely decided to stay in the car with the sleeping Dafydd and little Sophie.
Going through the kissing gate I noticed a sign stating that this was an ancient site and that (amongst other things) there was to be no littering or fires. Unfortunately it appears that some of the local inhabitants are unable to read as this has been ignored. Since the turn of the year I have taken a plastic bag out with me to pick up any litter I see at sites but I would have needed a skip to clear this amount of rubbish! Why do people do this? I also saw evidence of at least two fires.
Anyway, onto more positive things. There are at least three banks/ditches, all of whom are well above head height (when standing in the ditch) and these were very easily seen due to the fallen ferns/bracken. The central part of the site appears to be a raised area? There are unexpectedly cracking views to be had up the Sirhowy Valley to the north and Twmbarlwm Hillfort easily seen on the nearby hilltop.
After 20 minutes or so I retreated back to the car to escape the cold wind. All in all, a nice little visit but I wish some people would take more care / pride of their heritage.
Visited 16.12.10
After two weeks on paternity leave (and all that entails!) I had an hour or two 'window of opportunity' to get out of the house and stretch the legs. I therefore decided to make the short 7 mile trip to re-visit my nearest Hillfort. Just as well I chose that day to visit as the following day I awoke to nearly a foot of snow! There has been a few letters recently in the local paper by campaigners trying to stop development of the area around the Hillfort – more power to them!
This Hillfort is easy enough to access but finding it in the first place is a bit tricky.
If you are travelling north east off the Culverhouse Cross roundabout into central Cardiff you will see a sign to the right for the Ely Distribution Centre (there is no sign coming the other way). Turn right and keep an eye out on your right for the turning into Church Road. Once on Church Road look out for a Post Office and Greenmont GP surgery on your left. Just a bit further on you will see a rather run down children's play area on your right, on a slope above the road – park here.
Follow the tarmac path which runs up past the play area and up to the trees. You will then see a car bonnet nailed to a tree with a sign on it which states 'Private – no bikers, metal detectors or guns' – I kid you not! All you then need to do is follow the short but steep muddy path up through the trees and you soon arrive at the ramparts of the Hillfort.
There are surprisingly decent views from the top and a rather sad, derelict church ruins. The graveyard is completely overgrown and much neglected – great shame.
Around the northern side of the Hillfort is a double ditch/rampart with a smaller central enclosure with banks approximately 2 metres high in places.
The sky by now was grey and brooding and starting to rain so I cut my visit short and headed home. After all, I did promise Karen I wouldn't be out too long as I am sure she could do with some help with Dafydd and now little Sophie.
Visited 28.11.10
I pass this site twice a day, driving back and fore to work. Every day driving home I quickly glance up and see the stones through the seasons, in all kinds of weather and in kinds of lighting – it is surprising how different they can appear. I had planned to make a proper visit for a long time and at last, today was the day! I chose a Sunday as I thought it would be easier to park in the industrial site car park and to my delight the place was deserted (I suppose the artic weather conditions helped!)
Walking up the farm track to the left of the car park you soon cross over the motorway and immediately afterwards there is a gap in the fence to the left. (At this point a Land Rover came down the track and I thought 'here we go' but they just drove on) Through the gap in the fence and a brisk walk through the knee height snow across the field heading towards the trees. The chamber is visible from this point. You then have to clamber over a barbed wire fence, through the trees and up to the stones. This may sound like a bit of a hike but it is only a 10 minute walk from the car park.
This is the first time I have (I think) visited a site in the snow and it is surprising how much difference it makes. To coin a phrase the snow lay 'deep and crisp and even' and it was a lovely sight to see the dark stones sticking out above the white snow.
I counted 6 large stones and several sticking out of the grass/snow. The traffic from the quieter than usual M4 whizzed past nearby but it did not detract from the moment. The sky was blue, the snow was glistening in the sunlight and I had the place to myself – wonderful. It wasn't too long before the cold set in (it was well below zero) and I gave each stone a pat before bidding my farewells. As I was returning across the field about 20 cows came running across – they obviously have better hearing than me as soon after a tractor arrived with a huge bale of hay. At this point I darted back into the trees to retrace my steps – I don't think the farmer saw me?
I returned home so glad that I decided to go out for a couple of hours despite the snow. It really does give a different feeling to a site. One I would highly recommend.