Stumbled across this place today. My best guess is that it's an old Ice House given the fact that it's built into the ground and the stone roof is insulated with turf. Few drips on the inside but it was solid enough and would certainly protect you from a storm ... it's also right in the middle of nowhere.

Is this the same bit of middle of nowhere where we may be venturing next week?

Is this the same bit of middle of nowhere where we may be venturing next week?

No, it's a different one ... but I suppose, as the crow flies it's not a million miles away, although as the average cyclist trudges it might as well be on another continent

thats pretty cool

Don't ice houses usually extend below ground level?
There's one near here with a grill across the entrance. Mrs VeganGraham can remember when it was open and there was nothing to stop anyone crawling in and falling down the hole.
Maybe that one's been filled in for safety.

It's built into the banking so sort of is below ground level. The vaulted stone ceiling / roof looks very similar to all the others I've seen ... but who knows?

That looks a nice shelter for a winter sandwich and brew stop, where is it?

I also thought icehouses were lower, by havibg steps down you prevent cord air pouring out each time you open the door? Also is there a house nearbye?

Looks like a ceremonial sacrifice room.

Don't go up there at night on a full moon.

Am I the first to suggest that as it's an ice house, it'll be bloody cold?!?

It's the secret rear entrance to the dwarf kingdom.

AlasdairMc wrote:Am I the first to suggest that as it's an ice house, it'll be bloody cold?!?

Never thought of that!

voodoo_simon wrote:

AlasdairMc wrote:Am I the first to suggest that as it's an ice house, it'll be bloody cold?!?

Never thought of that!

Not necessarily... be about minimizing the temp change from outside to in, not making it colder.

That said, it doesn't look overly toastie in there, though windbreak and out of elements etc looks better than caught out in a downpour...

But beware of the Dwarves...

So, are we allowed to know where it is?

I like a good game of guess the location of the photo, but there's not a lot to go on here

I like a good game of guess the location of the photo, but there's not a lot to go on here

Okay, first clue ... it's within 1km of an old 'named' bridge.

SH 627238

If that grid ref is correct, I know what the feature is used for.

Stu, was it near to any old mines or quarries? Wondering if it could be blast shelter? Ive seen similair up in north wales thats all. Its in very good condition

just looked at ians grid. would make sense as the ruins there on the junction used to be an old drovers inn, so they would prob need somewhere to store cold stuff??

I'm pretty sure its not an ice house it looks like alot of sun is hitting that entrance which would be a terrible plan having the least insulated side exposed to the warmth of the sun.

adding to that the lack of ability to prevent the cold pouring out...

and the lack of evidence a door/door frame (no holes are cracked rock from rust expansion of pins etc.

of course it might just be a rubbish ice house....

shepherds refuge?

SH 627238

Nope.

Second clue.

was it near to any old mines or quarries?

Yes

Nope, not getting it. How far off was I with the bridge?

There are many named bridges in Wales, but not many "in the middle of nowhere" and to near mines and quarries.

Im sticking with my guess that its a blast shelter then. Theres one near Penmachno thats in need of some repair and would make a fantastic bothy shelter its flush with the ground so u cant see it until u stand by the door. As for the location of this one hmmmmm may take some more clues stu. Im sure ian will get it first though

At the moment I can't get anything within 1 km of a named bridge, and certainly not a named bridge near a quarry/ mine (assuming said quarry/ mine appears on an OS map)

Are we allowed to know a rough bearing on which it lies from bb towers.
Is this named bridge marked on the map 1:50 or 1:25k ?
Im also gonna have a stab at it being somewhere in the pumlumon fawr range? As this is probably the most remote area id say.....in the vicinity of ur gaff? There also seams like a few mines around.

Could it be the storage room for quarrying explosives? There used to be one on the moors near me, from what I can gather it was quite similar