Side view of St. Lythans showing the remains of the earth mound

Front view of the chamber

Only a mile or so from Tinkinswood, St Lythans chambered long barrow looks from a distance like it has been built from childrens building blocks. An almost perfect arrangement of what turns out on close inspection to be 3 large upright mudstone blocks supporting a huge flat capstone standing on the remains of an earthen mound. This mound would probably have been around 27 metres long, and the chamber would have stood at its eastern end. St Lythans, also known as Maes y Felin, and sometimes Gwal-y-Filiart (the greyhound bitch's kennel) dates from the Neolithic and the only finds from the site are a few human remains together with a handful of pottery sherds.
Like so many other sites, there are several legends and stories attached to the stones. It is said that they will grant any wish whispered to them on Halloween, and that the capstone spins round 3 times and goes with the other stones down to the river to bathe on Midsummer's Eve.
The field this monument stands has traditionally been known as the Accursed Field, a reference to its supposed lack of fertility. Julian Cope however suggests the name may be a corruption of 'Field O'Koeur'.

360 Degree Panorama

Side and rear view of the chamber