The Winter Solstice at Stonehenge 2004

Tinkinswood is a chambered burial chamber near Cardiff. The monument is also known as Castell Carrigan (Witch's castle), Llech-y-Filiast, Maes-y-Filiast and Gwal-y-Filiast. The north-east facing entrance is made between the portal stones, through a well-placed stone - 'a stumble' - forming a type of ancient doorway. This is a sizeable chambered cairn - about 30 feet long and 18 feet long with an enormous 50 ton capstone - 24ft x 15ft (the largest in Britain).

The ancient burial chamber was excavated in 1914. The remains of around 50 people were discovered along with other items that suggest that the chamber was used until 2000 B.C.

There is a stone sided pit behind the chamber, which may have been used as part of the burial process.

Tinkinswood legend

Local legend tells that if you sleep there on May Day Eve, St Johns Eve or Midwinter's Eve you will either die, go mad or become a poet.

This is a popular Welsh myth that also relates to other locations including: the standing stones at St. Nicholas, Glamorgan, the stone chair on the summit of Cader Idris (Gwynedd), and other Welsh Cairns, such as Bedd Taliesin (Taliesin's Grave) in Llanfihangel, Dyfed.

A group of boulders outside and to the south of the chamber are believed to be women turned to stone for dancing on the Sabbath

General view of Tinkinswood from the East showing the huge capstone and the low retaining walls