St Lythans Chambered Tomb

St Lythans Chambered Tomb - Cadw Historic Site in Vale of Glamorgan | Trust Quest

About

St Lythans Chambered Tomb, Beddrod Siambr Llwyneliddon, also known as Gwal y Filiast, is a bare and imposing Neolithic tomb standing alone in the middle of a field on the outskirts of Cardiff. Originally covered by an earthen mound about 90 feet long, of which only traces remain, its huge stones are now fully exposed: the largest is the massive capstone, still supported by three unusually tall uprights. Excavation showed the chamber was buried within a cairn 30 metres long and 12 wide; the chamber itself has never been dug, so who lies here remains a mystery. Legend says the capstone spins three times on midsummer eve and that the field is haunted. Reviewers find it peaceful and well kept, a short walk up the field through a kissing gate from a lay-by for two cars, and pair it with Tinkinswood a mile away. Dogs on short leads are welcome, and Vale Trail 7, the Haunted Field Walk, links both tombs from St Nicholas.

Open in daylightFrom Cadw's published times

Open any reasonable time in daylight

Opening times may change at short notice.

Open all year during reasonable daylight hours; no admission charge. Cadw asks visitors to keep pets on leads and not to approach the livestock that may graze the field, especially in spring and summer, and may close monuments at short notice in extreme weather.

Terrain level 3, moderate: steps and a kissing gate at the field entrance, then uneven grass that is muddy and slippery when wet; do not climb on the stones. No toilets or facilities; the nearest are at Dyffryn Gardens. Drones are not permitted.

Dogs: Dogs are welcome on leads at the tomb; keep them on a short lead and away from any livestock in the field. The open field around the tomb is the whole visit and is open to dogs on a lead; livestock may graze. The site is free. Vale Trail 7 across the surrounding fields asks for dogs on a lead because of livestock.

Photo: The lichen-covered capstone of St Lythans burial chamber on its three tall uprights, open to the east, in a grass field with trees beyond. M J Roscoe, CC BY-SA 2.0. Source: https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Gwal_y_Filiast,_St_Lythans_-_geograph.org.uk_-_5896721.jpg. Licence: https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/2.0. Resized and cropped for display; derivatives retain the source licence.

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Walking routes1 route

Vale Trail 7: Haunted Field Walk (Visit the Vale, Vale of Glamorgan Council)

12 km3hr30

Dogs, with restrictions

7.5 miles (12 km), about 3.5 hours, or a 3.5-mile (5.5 km) option taking in both burial chambers; mainly level field paths and woodland tracks with gentle hills, some stiles and muddy areas; starts at St Nicholas church (grid reference ST090743), with limited roadside parking there and in a lay-by on Dyffryn Lane; the route turns through the kissing gate into the haunted field to the tomb; no refreshments or toilets on the main route (cafe and toilets at Dyffryn Gardens off route). Free.

St Lythans Chambered Tomb

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