Ogof Ffynnon Ddu Nyth Brân trip 31/12/2022
Unless otherwise stated, camera, setups, lighting, edits and gallery effects by Tarquin. Modelling and lighting at various points will be Jules Carter and Liam Wright.
Stal above the start of Creek Alley.
Lighting by Tarquin and Jules
Creek Alley is the main way into Nyth Brân Series, as it is the only route that does not require impossible climbs or pitches. However, it instead has wide traverses that test the limits of your legspan.
Modelling by Liam, lighting by Tarquin and Jules
Column in Creek Alley.
One of the traverses is over a 20 metre deep hole (hidden on the right), followed by a very tricky shimmy up the rift. Instead, the easiest way onwards is to take a smaller side passage to the left, to reach the next parallel rift.
Modelling by Jules and Liam, lighting by Tarquin, Jules and Liam
The smaller passage reaches a stream in the middle parallel.
Modelling by Liam, lighting by Tarquin and Liam
Inlet that brings the water from the western side of the series into the middle parallel.
Modelling by Liam
The second largest chamber in the series, which is a messy junction of phreatic maze routes, joining the western and middle parallels.
Modelling by Liam and Jules, lighting by Tarquin, Liam and Jules
Canal on the route to Boulder Chamber. The water is just over welly depth, and while it is possible to traverse, a mistake can earn a proper soaking.
Modelling by Liam, lighting by Tarquin and Liam
Boulder Chamber, the largest chamber in the series, with the way in on the right edge of the picture. All routes leading off from here fizzle out into tiny passages, except the one ahead-right, which leads over traverses into Creek Alley.
Modelling by Liam and Jules, lighting by Tarquin, Liam and Jules
Immature helictites in West Passage, a narrow rift off the side of Creek Alley. Rather confusingly, it is at the eastern edge of the series, at the eastern edge of the cave, heading northwards. Its name seems to be a joke.
Grill of stal in West Passage. Beyond here, the passage gets smaller and muddier, without any reward.
False floor and helictites in the inlet at the westen edge of the series.
Decomposing moonmilk floor in Nant Bach.
Decomposing moonmilk.
Nant Bach where the stream joins from the middle parallel. Nant Bach is the western parallel.
Modelling by Liam and Jules, lighting by Tarquin, Liam and Jules
Curtains.
The lower end of Nant Bach, after passing through a choke, and dropping down some climbs. The survey shows a connection to the bottom of the Poached Egg climb here, but all we found was a dig with signs of capping.
Modelling by Jules, lighting by Tarquin and Jules
Instead, we returned to the middle parallel. After a climb that can only be done while heading south, needing a handline, we took the upper level. This cannot be followed northwards due to a pitch (not shown on the survey), so we followed it south. These rich formations are in the traverse above the first branch.
The first branch leads to the junction with the roof passages of The Chasm. This is the infamous Wall Of Death, a route leading over a 27 metre deep pitch into The Chasm. Cavers would run from the passage on the right here, keeping up enough momentum to remain on the sloping ledge leading around to the left, then leap into the passage where the camera is. This insanity was once a major route leading into The Chasm (via Nyth Brân), instead of the Timo's Table route.
Modelling by Jules, lighting by Tarquin and Jules
Totem pole colum in a side passage.
The other branch has a very slippery slope up into the highest levels.
Modelling by Liam and Jules, lighting by Tarquin, Liam and Jules
The upper passages end at a 17 metre drop down into The Chasm.
Modelling by Liam, lighting by Tarquin, Jules and Liam
The middle parallel ends at Bhowani Junction, with this side passage leading into Straw Gallery.
Modelling by Jules, lighting by Tarquin and Jules
Straw Gallery.
Modelling by Liam and Jules, lighting by Tarquin and Jules
Straws.
Straws and helictites.
Crystal pool.
Stal in the ceiling of Bhowani Junction.
Stal above the start of Creek Alley.
Lighting by Tarquin and Jules
Creek Alley is the main way into Nyth Brân Series, as it is the only route that does not require impossible climbs or pitches. However, it instead has wide traverses that test the limits of your legspan.
Modelling by Liam, lighting by Tarquin and Jules
Column in Creek Alley.
One of the traverses is over a 20 metre deep hole (hidden on the right), followed by a very tricky shimmy up the rift. Instead, the easiest way onwards is to take a smaller side passage to the left, to reach the next parallel rift.
Modelling by Jules and Liam, lighting by Tarquin, Jules and Liam
The smaller passage reaches a stream in the middle parallel.
Modelling by Liam, lighting by Tarquin and Liam
Inlet that brings the water from the western side of the series into the middle parallel.
Modelling by Liam
The second largest chamber in the series, which is a messy junction of phreatic maze routes, joining the western and middle parallels.
Modelling by Liam and Jules, lighting by Tarquin, Liam and Jules
Canal on the route to Boulder Chamber. The water is just over welly depth, and while it is possible to traverse, a mistake can earn a proper soaking.
Modelling by Liam, lighting by Tarquin and Liam
Boulder Chamber, the largest chamber in the series, with the way in on the right edge of the picture. All routes leading off from here fizzle out into tiny passages, except the one ahead-right, which leads over traverses into Creek Alley.
Modelling by Liam and Jules, lighting by Tarquin, Liam and Jules
Immature helictites in West Passage, a narrow rift off the side of Creek Alley. Rather confusingly, it is at the eastern edge of the series, at the eastern edge of the cave, heading northwards. Its name seems to be a joke.
Grill of stal in West Passage. Beyond here, the passage gets smaller and muddier, without any reward.
False floor and helictites in the inlet at the westen edge of the series.
Decomposing moonmilk floor in Nant Bach.
Decomposing moonmilk.
Nant Bach where the stream joins from the middle parallel. Nant Bach is the western parallel.
Modelling by Liam and Jules, lighting by Tarquin, Liam and Jules
Curtains.
The lower end of Nant Bach, after passing through a choke, and dropping down some climbs. The survey shows a connection to the bottom of the Poached Egg climb here, but all we found was a dig with signs of capping.
Modelling by Jules, lighting by Tarquin and Jules
Instead, we returned to the middle parallel. After a climb that can only be done while heading south, needing a handline, we took the upper level. This cannot be followed northwards due to a pitch (not shown on the survey), so we followed it south. These rich formations are in the traverse above the first branch.
The first branch leads to the junction with the roof passages of The Chasm. This is the infamous Wall Of Death, a route leading over a 27 metre deep pitch into The Chasm. Cavers would run from the passage on the right here, keeping up enough momentum to remain on the sloping ledge leading around to the left, then leap into the passage where the camera is. This insanity was once a major route leading into The Chasm (via Nyth Brân), instead of the Timo's Table route.
Modelling by Jules, lighting by Tarquin and Jules
Totem pole colum in a side passage.
The other branch has a very slippery slope up into the highest levels.
Modelling by Liam and Jules, lighting by Tarquin, Liam and Jules
The upper passages end at a 17 metre drop down into The Chasm.
Modelling by Liam, lighting by Tarquin, Jules and Liam
The middle parallel ends at Bhowani Junction, with this side passage leading into Straw Gallery.
Modelling by Jules, lighting by Tarquin and Jules
Straw Gallery.
Modelling by Liam and Jules, lighting by Tarquin and Jules
Straws.
Straws and helictites.
Crystal pool.
Stal in the ceiling of Bhowani Junction.