Craig y Nos Quarry Cave trip 13/08/2021
Unless otherwise stated, camera, setups, lighting, edits and gallery effects by Tarquin. Modelling and lighting at various points will be Michał Poręba.
Heavily used for adventure group caving, this is ignored by most cavers. However, it is actually a very interesting little cave, with a lot of interesting features. Our visit was for surveying training, so this gallery is intentionally not complete.
View from the middle of the quarry, on the side of Cribarth, where the cave is located. The entrance is on the left, and Craig-y-nos mansion can be seen in the valley on the left, at Glyntawe. The mountains are Fan Hir (761 metres), Fan Gyhirych (725 metres) peering over the ridge, and carreg Cadno (538 metres).
Modelling by Michał, lighting by Tarquin and Michał
The entrance to Craig y Nos Quarry Cave.
Herald moth in the entrance.
Modelling by Pursuivant Henry
Tegenaria silvestris in the entrance to the cave, with a nearby woodlouse for a meal. This is a relative of the giant house spider, but about half the size.
Modelling by Sylvester
Surveying using traditional techniques in the entrance tube, which really helps with understanding the process, and the issues of positioning your head between a station and the instruments.
Modelling by Michał, lighting by Tarquin and Michał
Early corner.
Modelling by Michał, lighting by Tarquin and Michał
At a junction, a side passage heads up-slope into this low chamber.
Modelling by Michał, lighting by Tarquin and Michał
It splits into small tubes and choked passages, which must be very close to the quarry face. Hand for scale.
Modelling by Tarquin
Downhill is the main way on, which starts out walking size. Very little of the cave is tall enough to walk, so this is a rare treat.
Modelling by Michał, lighting by Tarquin and Michał
It lowers to a crawl and ends, but two side crawls lead into the main cave. This is the first crawl, breaking out into the main cave. The main way on on the right here, into a low crawl then down into a tube. There is an aven behind the camera. Below the aven, the downstream passage also reaches the main way on, via more crawling.
Modelling by Michał, lighting by Tarquin and Michał
Into the tube.
Crawling steeply downhill.
Modelling by Michał, lighting by Tarquin and Michał
Walking (yay!) in the keyhole.
Modelling by Michał, lighting by Tarquin and Michał
The keyhole.
Modelling and lighting by Michał
Spreading mass of roots.
Choked side passage, with tree roots (in his hand).
Modelling by Michał, lighting by Tarquin and Michał
The cave has tree root columns instead of formations. Really bizarre.
Modelling by Michał, lighting by Tarquin and Michał
Tree root columns.
The passage continues its steep descent, gaining water from the streams that come in by the tree roots, and the downstream passage rejoining from a low crawl. The inevitable choked sump ends the cave.
Modelling by Michał, lighting by Tarquin and Michał
View from the middle of the quarry, on the side of Cribarth, where the cave is located. The entrance is on the left, and Craig-y-nos mansion can be seen in the valley on the left, at Glyntawe. The mountains are Fan Hir (761 metres), Fan Gyhirych (725 metres) peering over the ridge, and carreg Cadno (538 metres).
Modelling by Michał, lighting by Tarquin and Michał
The entrance to Craig y Nos Quarry Cave.
Herald moth in the entrance.
Modelling by Pursuivant Henry
Tegenaria silvestris in the entrance to the cave, with a nearby woodlouse for a meal. This is a relative of the giant house spider, but about half the size.
Modelling by Sylvester
Surveying using traditional techniques in the entrance tube, which really helps with understanding the process, and the issues of positioning your head between a station and the instruments.
Modelling by Michał, lighting by Tarquin and Michał
Early corner.
Modelling by Michał, lighting by Tarquin and Michał
At a junction, a side passage heads up-slope into this low chamber.
Modelling by Michał, lighting by Tarquin and Michał
It splits into small tubes and choked passages, which must be very close to the quarry face. Hand for scale.
Modelling by Tarquin
Downhill is the main way on, which starts out walking size. Very little of the cave is tall enough to walk, so this is a rare treat.
Modelling by Michał, lighting by Tarquin and Michał
It lowers to a crawl and ends, but two side crawls lead into the main cave. This is the first crawl, breaking out into the main cave. The main way on on the right here, into a low crawl then down into a tube. There is an aven behind the camera. Below the aven, the downstream passage also reaches the main way on, via more crawling.
Modelling by Michał, lighting by Tarquin and Michał
Into the tube.
Crawling steeply downhill.
Modelling by Michał, lighting by Tarquin and Michał
Walking (yay!) in the keyhole.
Modelling by Michał, lighting by Tarquin and Michał
The keyhole.
Modelling and lighting by Michał
Spreading mass of roots.
Choked side passage, with tree roots (in his hand).
Modelling by Michał, lighting by Tarquin and Michał
The cave has tree root columns instead of formations. Really bizarre.
Modelling by Michał, lighting by Tarquin and Michał
Tree root columns.
The passage continues its steep descent, gaining water from the streams that come in by the tree roots, and the downstream passage rejoining from a low crawl. The inevitable choked sump ends the cave.
Modelling by Michał, lighting by Tarquin and Michał