Carn Gilfach

Also known as:
Carn Gyllych, Gillfach Goch and Gyllwch
Nearest town:
Fishguard (5km E)
OS reference:
SM909390
OS sheet:
157
Latitude:
52° 0' 34.17 N
Longitude:
5° 2' 49.73 W
Added to TMA by

Images

Image of Carn Gilfach (Chambered Tomb) by postman

Even Yoda would have to get on his knees to get in here.

Image credit: Chris Bickerton
postman
postman Apr 14, 2012
Image of Carn Gilfach (Chambered Tomb) by postman

Some burial chambers make you bow as you enter, here we must prostrate ourselves.

Image credit: Chris Bickerton
postman
postman Sep 23, 2009
Image of Carn Gilfach (Chambered Tomb) by postman

Nowhere does the capstone touch the ground, show you I will.

Image credit: Chris Bickerton
postman
postman Sep 23, 2009

Articles

Mysterious markings on neolithic megalith – Garn Gilfach

In this video we explore this beautiful site as well as cover all the known history and archaeology.

CoralJackz
CoralJackz Oct 12, 2024

Carn Gilfach

CoralJackz
CoralJackz Oct 12, 2024

This Neolithic cromlech on Strumble Head is quite unique with its interesting markings on the capstone. Of course, they are likely to be natural.. However, the reasoning as to why this stone was chosen for the monument has interested explorers and antiquarians for centuries.

Richard Fenton’s account from ‘A Historical Tour Through Pembrokeshire’ written in 1810, is as follows:
“The side to the west of Carn Culhwch seemed to have been appropriated to druidical ceremonies from the many Cromlechs, some overturned, and some in their original position.

There is one more remarkable than the rest; a large unshapen mass of serpentine, fifteen feet by eight, and two and a half average thickness; under the edges of it are placed nine or ten small pointed upright stones, imbedded in a strong pavement, extending for some way round. These small supporters are fixed without any regard to their height, as only two or three bear the whole weight of the incumbent stone, one of which is so pressed by it, as to have become almost incorporated with it.

On the upper surface of the Cromlech are three considerable excavations near the centre, probably intended to have received the blood of the victim, or waters for purification, if (as it is the most general opinion) they were used as altars... this stone has a small inclination to the north-east. Its height from the ground is very inconsiderable, being scarce one foot high on the lowest side; and on the other only high enough to admit of a person creeping under it, though once entered, the space enlarges from the upper stone having a considerable concavity.

The earth below is rich and black. ..(I have since learned that the blackness I refer to, appears to have been chiefly the effect of fire, as many bits of charcoal and rude pottery have been picked up there.”

While modern science suggests they are likely the result of natural processes, the question remains: why did our ancestors choose this particular stone? What significance did they see in these markings that we might never fully understand?

We have covered this site in full over on our Youtube channel if you’d like to learn more – CoralJackz

Carn Gilfach

postman
postman Apr 14, 2012

My first visit was hampered by deep impenetrable fog, thankfully I’d left Garnwnda and the Lady gate stone out so this was the return visit eighteen months in the making.
I parked in the same place as before, and walked through the same farm , barked at by the same dogs probably and walked up the same path, the sign pointing out the cromlech is still there but the abundant plant growth and slugs were absent, glee !

The giant capstone was easier to define from the ground without the high grasses, and the strange triangles on the upper surface of the capstone still look freaky, are they man made or natural, I don’t know but they are stained reddish as though from iron or something. Once more I climb the rocks just a few feet from the chamber and look down upon the mighty stone, held only just aloft by its small orthostats. Then I let my gaze wander around, I can’t see the Lady gate standing stone from here the crest of the hill hides it from view, just like Garnwnda does with Parc Hen standing stone, the rocks of Garn Folch hides Garnwnda and it’s chamber from me too, a complicated game of hide and seek are afoot, but i’m not sure of it’s rules or it’s meaning, if there is one. But the forts around and on Garn Fawr are highly visible, but they’re not playing the same game.
I bid the chamber adieu and set off for the elusive Lady stone, but i’ll be back soon enough.

Carn Gilfach

postman
postman Sep 23, 2009

I parked on the road by Gilfach farm entrance and walked up the drive, its also the course of the footpath so I waved at the farmer in his kitchen with the air of someone who’s aloud to be there.
Through a gate is the half overgrown path straight as an arrow up the hillside, a helpful signpost points further on and tells us Cromlech 150m....Awsome
But very very wet and you havent seen this many slugs anywhere I promise you.
I had no idea what the cromlech would look like but the word cromlech always conjures pictures of Maen y Bard on Tal y Fan for me which was very unhelpful as it looks nothing like what I found.
Beneath the first rock outcrop you come to is a large flat stone, this is it.
On such a misty morning there was no view at all so there was no choice but to get in and have a look round. The capstone is completely elavated from the earth, held up by orthostats 18” high and smaller chock stones. Inside was two feet high, quite dry and comfy but my squirming for pictures of the orthostats got me filthy, angry wife filthy.
The capstone if you can call it that, is immense, on its upper surface are two triangular depressions and a straight line. I thought nature abhors straight lines, but its not the first Ive seen today.
On a beautiful summers evening this would be a  perfect place to be, but wet cold and dirty with slugs on top isnt the perfect equinox.

Folklore

Carn Gilfach
Chambered Tomb
CoralJackz
CoralJackz Oct 12, 2024

This Neolithic cromlech on Strumble Head is quite unique with its interesting markings on the capstone. Of course, they are likely to be natural.. However, the reasoning as to why this stone was chosen for the monument has interested explorers and antiquarians for centuries.

Richard Fenton’s account from ‘A Historical Tour Through Pembrokeshire’ written in 1810, is as follows:
“The side to the west of Carn Culhwch seemed to have been appropriated to druidical ceremonies from the many Cromlechs, some overturned, and some in their original position.

There is one more remarkable than the rest; a large unshapen mass of serpentine, fifteen feet by eight, and two and a half average thickness; under the edges of it are placed nine or ten small pointed upright stones, imbedded in a strong pavement, extending for some way round. These small supporters are fixed without any regard to their height, as only two or three bear the whole weight of the incumbent stone, one of which is so pressed by it, as to have become almost incorporated with it.

On the upper surface of the Cromlech are three considerable excavations near the centre, probably intended to have received the blood of the victim, or waters for purification, if (as it is the most general opinion) they were used as altars... this stone has a small inclination to the north-east. Its height from the ground is very inconsiderable, being scarce one foot high on the lowest side; and on the other only high enough to admit of a person creeping under it, though once entered, the space enlarges from the upper stone having a considerable concavity.

The earth below is rich and black. ..(I have since learned that the blackness I refer to, appears to have been chiefly the effect of fire, as many bits of charcoal and rude pottery have been picked up there.”

While modern science suggests they are likely the result of natural processes, the question remains: why did our ancestors choose this particular stone? What significance did they see in these markings that we might never fully understand?

We have covered this site in full over on our Youtube channel if you’d like to learn more – CoralJackz

Miscellaneous

Carn Gilfach
Chambered Tomb
Merrick
Merrick Sep 7, 2004

Barber & Williams (1989) say it’s a biggy, 13 and a half feet long capstone on four uprights.

Children & Nash (1997) say it’s a very low cromlech – a few centimetres above the ground – cut into the rock, and at a distance almost indistinguishable from the natural forms. It’s a sub-megalithic tomb, with the sunken chamber being part above and part below ground level. They also assert that there’s no evidence of a covering mound, and indeed that the ledge is probably too narrow to have ever had one.

GE Daniel (1950) suggests the capstone could be in its natural place, with it being underpinned whilst the chamber was cut underneath it.

CT Barker (1992) suggests that what appears to be remnants of other uprights are in fact remains of drystone walling.

Richard Fenton (1811) records charcoal and pottery being recovered from the site in 1800.

Miscellaneous

Carn Gilfach
Chambered Tomb
Merrick
Merrick Sep 7, 2004

Like Garnwnda, Carn Wen, Ffynnon Druidion and Penrhiw cromlechs, this is clearly oriented on an adjacent rock outcrop, which in itself may have been the proto-temple, in the same way Cnoc an Tursa is at Calanais.

However, we utterly failed to find the exact location of this cromlech. The hilltop is awash with aggressive and punishing gorse, and as we couldn’t see where the monument was among it we gave up.

nearly visited 21 Aug 04

Miscellaneous

Carn Gilfach
Chambered Tomb
Rhiannon
Rhiannon Jun 17, 2004

According to the information on Coflein, Carn Gilfach has a huge capstone 13’6” long, 8’ wide and 3’ thick. It is supported by orthostats 18” high underneath – it was probably made by undercutting a natural boulder. In the 19th century, charcoal, pottery and flint were found inside. It was once thought that another tomb lay close by, but this is probably a natural feature. Which of course doesn’t rule it out as being used as a tomb, one assumes..

Sites within 20km of Carn Gilfach

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