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Bwlch Bach a'r Grib is a prehistoric round cairn situated in Wales. The monument stands upon bedrock of Lower Devonian rocks, a succession of mudstone, siltstone and sandstone formed during the Early Devonian period. These durable sedimentary strata would have provided a stable foundation for the cairn builders and remain visible in the surrounding landscape today.
Round cairns represent one of the most widespread monument types across upland Britain, typically constructed during the Bronze Age as burial structures for cremated remains or inhumations. Built from stone quarried locally, such cairns served both practical and ceremonial functions within prehistoric communities. The construction and use of round cairns often occurred over extended periods, with multiple phases of building and ritual activity recorded at comparable monuments.
The site is recorded under Cadw's heritage protection system as monument BR317, reflecting its archaeological significance within Wales's prehistoric record. Its survival to the present day, despite centuries of exposure to weathering on upland terrain, testifies to the solid construction methods employed by Bronze Age builders. The monument contributes to our understanding of prehistoric settlement patterns and burial practices across the Welsh landscape.
Bwlch Bach a'r Grib, round cairn to SW of is a scheduled monument protected by Cadw under reference BR317. View the official record →
Bwlch Bach a'r Grib is a prehistoric round cairn situated in Wales. It is designated a Scheduled Ancient Monument by Cadw under reference BR317.
Bwlch Bach a'r Grib, round cairn to SW of dates from the prehistoric period, and is classified as a round cairn. It is one of over 32,000 scheduled monuments protected across the UK.
Bwlch Bach a'r Grib, round cairn to SW of is a Scheduled Ancient Monument, legally protected by Cadw — the body responsible for designating and safeguarding heritage sites in Wales. The official designation reference is BR317.
Several scheduled monuments lie within 10 km, including Standing Stone North of Tretower (8.8 km), Pen Cerrig-calch, cairn on NW side of (8.9 km), Roman Fort at Pen y Gaer (8.9 km).
This page is just one thread. A full Aubrey report pulls together 13 strands of Bwlch Bach a'r Grib, round cairn to SW of's history, each drawn from the record and mapped to the exact spot:
Every location is different. Not every section appears for every place, only what the historical record actually holds turns up in a report.
Bwlch Bach a'r Grib, round cairn to SW of stands on Lower Devonian Rocks (Undifferentiated), bedrock that formed in the Early Devonian. The rock here is mudstone, siltstone and sandstone.