Standing Stones Brecon Beacons

There are many examples of standing stones in the Brecon Beacons. Indeed we are lucky to have over 250 ancient monuments in the Brecon Beacons National Park. These include hill forts, burial cairns, tombs and stone circles. The area shows evidence of human occupation since the end of the last ice age, approximately 12,000 years ago.

MAEN LLIA

Possibly our most famous standing stone it sits at the head of the Senni Valley. This is a beautiful valley between Fan llia and Fan Nedd.

As with all the standing stones archaeologists can only speculate over they original purpose. One favourite idea is that they are way markers. Indeed Maen Llia is visible from a distance as it is 4 metres high and 3 metres wide. They believe there is at least another 2 metres underground. Consdering this is not local stone it must have been quite a sigificant structure to the people. Sadly the Ogham markings recorded in the 1940’s have disappeared. It could be Neolithic but archaeologists believe more likely from the Bronze Age.

It cannot be by chance that it is aligned exactly north south, and has a precise geometric relationship with other nearby Bronze Age monuments. So another theory is it had religious significance.

Whatever its true significance is a visit at sunset or sunrise is not to be missed.

In July 2020 our guest Mike Callahan took this shot of Comet Neowise over Maem LLia. What an amazing shot on a beautifully clear night.

Aberyscir Standing Stone

You do not need to go far to see another standing stone. We have our very own in Aberyscir. Sitting in a dip in a field just across the river Yscir the stone is far taller than first impressions.

The standing stone probably dates to the Bronze Age (c. 2300 – 800 BC). The stone is 4m high, 1.2m wide and 1m broad and leans slightly to the E. It stands on a long mound which measures 10m long by 5m wide and 1.2m high at the north end, sloping down to 0.25m high at the south end. Small stones are visible around the base of the stone and along the mound.

The monument is of national importance for its potential to enhance our knowledge of prehistoric burial and ritual practices. It is an important relic of a prehistoric funerary and ritual landscape and retains significant archaeological potential. There is a strong probability of the presence of intact burial or ritual deposits, together with environmental and structural evidence. Standing stones are often part of a larger cluster of monuments and their importance can further enhanced by their group value.

Aberyscir Coach House – Brecon Beacons Guide