St Lythans Burial Chamber
Overview
Lonely Neolithic tomb with links to Arthurian legend
This bare and imposing Neolithic (New Stone Age) tomb stands alone in the centre a field on the outskirts of Cardiff. While it was originally covered by an earthen mound around 90ft/27m in length, only traces of this now remain, leaving its huge stones fully exposed to the skies.
The largest is the massive capstone, still supported by three unusually tall uprights. Excavations in 2012 demonstrated that originally the burial chamber was buried within a large cairn of stones 30m long and 12m wide. The chamber itself has never been excavated, so who or what is buried here remains a mystery.
Despite its Neolithic origins, the site’s name may derive from the Arthurian legend of Culhwch and Olwen, which appears in two 14th-century texts.
Opening times
Daily 10am–4pm
Last admission 30 minutes before closing
Closed 24, 25, 26 December and 1 January
Prices
| Category | Price |
|---|---|
| Admission |
Free
|
Facilities
Cadw do not allow drone flying from or over its guardianship sites, except by contractors commissioned for a specific purpose, who satisfy stringent CAA criteria, have the correct insurances and are operating under controlled conditions.
Smoking is not permitted.
Directions
1 1/2m (2.4km) S of St Nicholas, off A48, 6m (9.7km) SW of Cardiff
Waungron Park 41/2m (7.2km)
For further information, please contact: Traveline Cymru on 0871 200 2233 or National Rail Enquiries on 08457 48 49 50
