Ogof Ffynnon Ddu little trips 02/02/2025, 23/02/2025 and 05/03/2025
Unless otherwise stated, camera, setups, lighting, edits and gallery effects by Tarquin. Modelling and lighting at various points will be Steph Andrews, Wookey and Carl Ryan.
Just past Skeleton Pit in Pearl Passage, Ogof Ffynnon Ddu I, is a calcite covered climb.
Modelling by partial Steph, lighting by Tarquin and Steph
The stones almost look like cave pearls, but they are just calcited stones. Which is technically what cave pears are.
To continue onwards, you have to crawl through the pool, with dribbles down your back. And this is the nice part of the passage.
The way to Pearl Chamber and Downey's Cave is a very tight duck, renowned for accidentally getting people stuck in a deep spot with their head underwater. Pretty horrific.
Modelling by Steph, lighting by Tarquin and Steph
One of the original pitons put into Bolt Traverse, when it was called Travesty Traverse, in 1952. This is one of the earliest cabled traverses in Britain (beaten by the Maypole Series traverse), and was developed to provide an emergency escape in case the cave flooded, after an infamous rescue.
The new steps that repaced the etrier at Low's Chain, which itself replaced the rope, which in turn replaced the chain. There have been some complaints that this mades the cave too much like a tourist path, and it might set a precedent for pointless fixed aids. But it is an emergency escape for use to escape flood pulses, which can be really severe here, and which damage fixed aids that can move like chains, ropes and etriers.
Modelling by Steph, lighting by Tarquin and Steph
Grotto in White Arch Series, on the way to Speedy Caver and Bedding Chambers.
Lighting by Tarquin and Wookey
Balanced rocks in the passage between Shale Chamber, Speedy Caver and The Brickyard. The big rock is split, and the smaller rock rests on an even smaller rock, which rests on a tiny rock. All of it sits on a rubble covered ledge. Gravity likes to play games.
Modelling by Steph, lighting by Tarquin and Steph
Castell y Geifr (531 metres), Carreg Goch (558 metres), Disgwylfa (544 metres) and Fan Hir (761 metres)
The old quarry tramway cutting by Top Entrance. In the distance are Hirfynydd (481 metres), Mynydd y Drum (297 metres), Mynydd Marchywel (418 metres and 369 metres) and Cribarth (428 metres).
Modelling by Carl
Sunset over Cribarth and Castell y Geifr, with Mynydd Allt-y-grug (338 metres) in the background. The closer buildings and limekilns are the old Penwyllt brickworks, while the one slightly further away is The Stump caving club hut, a former pub.
Just past Skeleton Pit in Pearl Passage, Ogof Ffynnon Ddu I, is a calcite covered climb.
Modelling by partial Steph, lighting by Tarquin and Steph
The stones almost look like cave pearls, but they are just calcited stones. Which is technically what cave pears are.
To continue onwards, you have to crawl through the pool, with dribbles down your back. And this is the nice part of the passage.
The way to Pearl Chamber and Downey's Cave is a very tight duck, renowned for accidentally getting people stuck in a deep spot with their head underwater. Pretty horrific.
Modelling by Steph, lighting by Tarquin and Steph
One of the original pitons put into Bolt Traverse, when it was called Travesty Traverse, in 1952. This is one of the earliest cabled traverses in Britain (beaten by the Maypole Series traverse), and was developed to provide an emergency escape in case the cave flooded, after an infamous rescue.
The new steps that repaced the etrier at Low's Chain, which itself replaced the rope, which in turn replaced the chain. There have been some complaints that this mades the cave too much like a tourist path, and it might set a precedent for pointless fixed aids. But it is an emergency escape for use to escape flood pulses, which can be really severe here, and which damage fixed aids that can move like chains, ropes and etriers.
Modelling by Steph, lighting by Tarquin and Steph
Grotto in White Arch Series, on the way to Speedy Caver and Bedding Chambers.
Lighting by Tarquin and Wookey
Balanced rocks in the passage between Shale Chamber, Speedy Caver and The Brickyard. The big rock is split, and the smaller rock rests on an even smaller rock, which rests on a tiny rock. All of it sits on a rubble covered ledge. Gravity likes to play games.
Modelling by Steph, lighting by Tarquin and Steph
Castell y Geifr (531 metres), Carreg Goch (558 metres), Disgwylfa (544 metres) and Fan Hir (761 metres)
The old quarry tramway cutting by Top Entrance. In the distance are Hirfynydd (481 metres), Mynydd y Drum (297 metres), Mynydd Marchywel (418 metres and 369 metres) and Cribarth (428 metres).
Modelling by Carl
Sunset over Cribarth and Castell y Geifr, with Mynydd Allt-y-grug (338 metres) in the background. The closer buildings and limekilns are the old Penwyllt brickworks, while the one slightly further away is The Stump caving club hut, a former pub.