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Tinkinswood Chambered Tomb

A spectacular feat of prehistoric engineering

This Neolithic (New Stone Age) tomb is topped with one of largest capstones in Britain. Measuring a massive 24ft/7m by 15ft/4.5m and weighing around 40 tons (as much as an articulated lorry), how on earth did the builders get it up there? Experts reckon that at least 200 individuals would have been required to hoist it into place. Excavations have uncovered the remains of over 50 people, along with broken pottery and flint tools.

The site is also associated with a number of legends – it’s said that anyone who spent the night here on the evenings before May Day, St John’s Day (23 June) or Midwinter Day would die, go mad or become a poet.

Opening times & prices

Opening times

1st April - 31st March 10am-4pm

Last admission 30 minutes before closing

Closed 24, 25, 26 December and 1 January

Visitor information

Walking difficulty icon

Walking difficulty

Terrain: Level 3 — Moderate

Drone policy icon

Drone policy

Please read our policy information about flying drones at Cadw monuments: read the guidance

No smoking icon

No smoking

Smoking is not permitted.

Health & Safety icon

Health & Safety

Care and attention must be paid when visiting this monument. It will be regularly exposed to the natural elements and may be slippery or muddy underfoot.

Appropriate footwear for the season and type of monument must be considered prior to your visit. Please only attend during the set opening hours, these have been chosen for your safety i.e. appropriate level of lighting.

Many of our monuments are located at areas of height, attention must also be paid therefore to the surrounding areas, ditches and moats when visiting.

Guardrails have been installed to prevent access to any areas of the site that we have deemed as dangerous or to prevent falls in specific areas. Please do not climb over or through any fixed installation.

Any handrail provided should be used to help you safely navigate historic steps, as these may be uneven and may be of different height.

As with all ancient monuments there is always a risk of stones being dislodged in bad weather, however, we manage this through extensive monitoring. 

Climbing may result in serious injury

There are several wild plants and flowers, although these are great pollinators, they may be poisonous to visitors and animals, we strongly advise you not to touch or allow dogs to eat any vegetation.

There may be shared access or neighbouring farmland that may involve the presence of grazing cattle or farm animals.

Please watch our health & safety film before visiting Cadw sites.

Iechyd a Diogelwch / Health and Safety

Please report any anti-social behaviour such as climbing, setting fires, graffiti etc. to CadwAccidentsReports@gov.wales

The following signs can be found around the site at key areas of risk, please pay attention where appropriate.

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Slippery or uneven surfaces

Directions

Address

Duffryn Lane, St Nicholas, Vale of Glamorgan, CF5 6TA.
Google Map
Road: 0.7m (1.2km) S of St Nicholas, off A48, 6m (9.7km) WSW of Cardiff
Rail: Waungron Park 4.5m (7.2km). For further information, please contact: Traveline Cymru on 0800 464 0000 or National Rail Enquiries on 03457 48 49 50.
Bike: NCN Route No.88 (5.1m/8.2km).

Small car park at entrance to site — please do not block the farm gate. 

what3words: ///magnetic.breached.spires

 

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