Images (7)
Miscellaneous (1)

Images

Image of Llyn yr Adar (Cist) by thesweetcheat

Llyn yr Adar and Cnicht, with misty Moel Hebog far right. From Ysgafell Wen north top.

Image credit: A. Brookes (12.9.2015)

thesweetcheat Oct 2, 2015

With mist-covered Moelwyn Mawr and Cnicht as the backdrop.

Image credit: A. Brookes (12.9.2015)

thesweetcheat Oct 1, 2015

Llyn yr Adar from Craig Llyn-llagi to the northwest.

Image credit: A. Brookes (12.9.2015)

thesweetcheat Oct 1, 2015

The tiny islet, site of reported standing stone.

Image credit: A. Brookes (12.9.2015)

thesweetcheat Oct 1, 2015

Llyn yr Adar from the southwest, as we finally left the mist on Cnicht. The islet with the possible fallen stone is clearly visible. The hut circle (or cist) would be over to the right.

Image credit: A. Brookes (12.9.2015)

thesweetcheat Oct 1, 2015

Looking across the placid surface to the summits of Ysgafell Wen. The cist is (apparently) sited beneath the crag to far right; the ‘islet’, with the possible fallen monolith, is approx centre far right [scan of archive print].

Image credit: Robert Gladstone

GLADMAN Jan 24, 2013

To be honest the traveller doesn’t really need any more than the tranquility to be had here.... but I’ll be well impressed by any member posting images of the cist [scan of archive print].

Image credit: Robert Gladstone

GLADMAN Jan 24, 2013

Articles

Llyn yr Adar

Cist

GLADMAN Jan 24, 2013

Located to the north of the wondrous Y Cnicht... so named because it was said to resemble a knight’s helmet from a certain angle... this, the ‘Bird Lake’, is arguably one of the most ‘vibey’ upland llyns in all Snowdonia, set at an altitude of 1,886ft. Travellers are – to my knowledge – few and far between here, only the occasional ‘loner’ heading toward the even more splendid Llyn Edno, where seagulls are, it seems, apt to ‘dive bomb’ visitors venturing too close to the nest. This man, however, is not as ‘enlightened ’ as he may like to think... sure, the vision of the multiple summits of Ysgafell Wen rising above the far shore, the latter reflected in the still waters, brings a lump to my throat. But nevertheless I am ignorant of the existance of a cist beneath the far crag across the placid surface; not to mention that of an (apparent) monolith – now fallen – upon the minature islet set within the lake. Yeah, by all accounts there are local ‘eye witness reports’ affirming it once stood erect. There is even an apparent hut circle to the east at SH66604810. ‘OK, but since you blundered past like a tit in a trance, overwhelmed by the landscape, where is the evidence?’, you might quite rightly ask. Well, as usual, our friends at the Gwynedd Archaelogical Trust have been out and about... PRNs 3985, 3986 and 3988 are the relevant records here.

Sources for the cist and hut circle are:

Smith, G., 1998, Hut Circle Settlement Survey.
Sherriff, A., 1983, PRN 3990,

With regards the (possible) standing stone:

‘The island is a very small hummock although grassed over. Only the west side could be seen from the shore and there was no standing stone visible and the island is so small it would be unlikely to be anywhere except on the summit. There is a slab lying there which if seen close up might be seen as a fallen standing stone but from a distance could not be identified as such. Possibly it was standing when first observed. The original informant was contacted, who said the stone was easily visible, so must now have fallen, or been pushed over.....‘

Sources:
Smith, G., 2003 , Prehistoric Funerary and Ritual Monument Survey: West Gwynedd & Anglesey.
Sherriff, A., 1983, PRN 3990.

As inferred above, Llyn yr Adar is a relatively obscure, isolated location, certainly not an easy visit for the average person (normal mountain rules apply). However if this sounds your bag, take the minor road heading steeply for Blaen Nanmor at Bethania Bridge, that is between the beautiful lakes of Llyn Gwynant and Llyn Dinas. There is parking available beside the entrance to the dwelling at Gelli Iago, from where a soggy track ascends to the excellent Llyn Llagi cradled beneath a fine cliff-line. Venture further up the path to the left and the ‘Bird Lake’ will be yours. And most probably only yours. Needless to say I wasn’t aware what treasures our forebears had left behind at this exquisite spot. Hopefully you are better informed.