South Wales trips 16-17/12/2021 and 22-23/01/2022
Unless otherwise stated, camera, setups, lighting, edits and gallery effects by Tarquin. Modelling and lighting at various points will be Gwenllian Tawy, Kristian Brook, Josh Bratchley, Rob Watson, Jules Carter and Josh Henry.
These were a series of trips, to give Gwenllian a taster of the wide range of caves in South Wales, as despite being Welsh, very little of her caving had been in Wales. All of these are routes I have visited several times before, so there are not many pictures compared with my usual. The gallery will also be a little disjointed as a result, since the pictures are only intended to complement my existing ones from these caves.
Our first cave was Ogof Draenen, longest cave in Wales.
Entrance crawl.
Traversing over Lost Crusade pitch in Indiana Highway.
Modelling by Josh Bratchley, lighting by Tarquin and Josh Bratchley
The loose pillar of poised rocks in Sugar Cube Chamber. That wall must be treated with respect.
Modelling by Gwenllian and hints of Kristian, lighting by Tarquin and Kristian
Medusa's Children, one of the best grottos in the cave, with one of the largest expanses of aragonite helictites.
Modelling by Gwenllian and Kristian's oversuit, lighting by Tarquin and Kristian
In a field of helictites.
Modelling by Gwenllian and Kristian's knee pad, lighting by Tarquin and Kristian
Overlapping bands of rock that appear to be chert, in Luck Of The Draw.
Selenite needle in Needle Passage (but not the main group of The Needles).
Modelling by Josh Bratchley's pointer, lighting by the rest of Josh Bratchley
The first part of Nicola's Grotto.
Modelling by Gwenllian, lighting by Tarquin and Josh Bratchley
Our second trip was the classic Ogof Ffynnon Ddu through trip from OFD I to Top, via the superb OFD I Main Streamway.
Modelling by Gwenllian, lighting by Tarquin, Gwenllian and Josh Bratchley
Clambering around the cascades in OFD I.
Setup by Josh Bratchley, modelling by Gwenllian and Kristian, lighting by Tarquin, Josh Bratchley, Kristian and Rob
Climbing up into Letter Box, using the chain, in OFD 1½.
Modelling by Gwenllian, lighting by Tarquin and Gwenllian
Posting yourself into the Letter Box.
Modelling by Gwenllian, lighting by Tarquin and Gwenllian
Descending the Divers' Pitch into OFD II.
Modelling by Kristian, lighting by Tarquin, Gwenllian, Kristian and Rob
OFD II Main Streamway, known as Nant Newydd in Welsh (one of the very few parts of the cave to have a Welsh name).
Modelling by Kristian, lighting by Tarquin and Kristian
Nant Newydd, still from a video. This cascade is a very noisy one, just downstream from Great Oxbow. Gwenllian had been unable to reach far enough to traverse over several of the pools in the river, and had had to swim and jump over them instead. The rest of us had had an easy ride, by comparison, and two had even managed to traverse past the big pool on the corner without swimming.
Modelling by Gwenllian, lighting by Tarquin and Gwenllian
Without a doubt, this is my favourite picture from this entire set. Striding up the river, crossing the deep pools. Bravely terrified. This picture, incidentally, is what happens when the photographer pretends to be videoing, waits for you to cross one very deep pool, then just as you step over the second one, yells at you to stop while you are hoping to be allowed to get somewhere easier to stand. All while having a light blazing in your face. That water under her feet is deep enough to go completely under. Thanks for being such a good sport!
Modelling by Gwenllian, lighting by Tarquin and Kristian
Dolomite cascade in OFD II.
Modelling by Josh Bratchley, lighting by Tarquin and Rob
Bypassing the cascade.
Modelling by Gwenllian and Kristian, lighting by Tarquin, Rob, Gwenllian and Kristian
Our third trip was into Dan yr Ogof, with the pictures starting here at the helictites on the wall of Flabbergasm Oxbow.
Modelling by Gwenllian
The straws in Flabbergasm are some of the longest in the country (surpassed by those in Otter Hole).
Modelling by Gwenllian
And my favourite picture from this cave; with the best of the Flabbergasm straws. These have heavy, pendulum-like ends, and don't seem like they should be able to support their own weight.
Modelling by Gwenllian, lighting by Tarquin and Gwenllian
The mushroom and iconic straw column at the end of Flabbergasm Oxbow.
Modelling by Gwenllian
The famous window in Cloud Chamber.
Modelling by Gwenllian, lighting by Tarquin, Jules and Josh Henry
Curtains in The Meanders, below the formations in North Bypass.
Modelling by Josh Henry, lighting by Tarquin, Gwenllian and Josh Henry
Fossilised tree fern bark in Far North.
Modelling by Josh Henry's gloves
Vitruvian Man at the end of Bakerloo Straight.
Modelling by Josh Henry, lighting by Gwenllian
Our fourth trip was into Agen Allwedd, via the usual Ogof Gam entrance.
At Keyhole Chamber, one of my preferred footholds had deteriorated, and I paid a rather hasty visit to the bottom 7 metres below, with a brief reorientation at the ledge 3 metres down. Nothing more than a muscle ache later, I scrambled back up and decided that the rope really is needed now.
Formations in Turkey Streamway, a reminder that Aggy does in fact have some formations, if you know where to look.
Lighting by Tarquin and Gwenllian
This set has one very odd formation that looks like a hanging dead bird. Is this the fabled Turkey?
Lighting by Tarquin and Gwenllian
Or perhaps this one is the turkey. I don't know.
Lighting by Tarquin and Gwenllian
Josh striding over Turkey Pool, making it look very easy. The challenge is to get across while keeping your feet dry. Failing that, trying to keep your bum dry. In the worst case, it can be waded, but is at least chest deep.
Modelling by Josh Henry, lighting by Tarquin, Josh and Gwenllian
On Gwenllian, it would be about chest deep (with a few deeper spots), and she made an admirable effort to avoid a dunking. However, there are no footholds above water, so keeping your feet dry requires a very firm foot placement and constant outwards pressure to keep above water. It is made harder by someone videoing you instead of handing you the rope when you need it (video still).
Modelling by Gwenllian, lighting by Tarquin, Josh and Gwenllian
Turning to face the opposite wall at the end, almost always a foot soaker or faceplant location.
Modelling by Gwenllian, lighting by Tarquin, Josh and Gwenllian
Success! Not a wet bum in sight. Well ... at least until the way out, eh?
Modelling by Gwenllian, lighting by Tarquin and Gwenllian
The Swiss Village, the set of mud hoodoos in Swiss Passage. Sadly, our attempts to photograph the Dome Of Saint Paul's with a wide angle lens proved fruitless, so this is where the gallery ends, and we are left with just the memories of watching a dragon hatch from the ceiling.
Modelling by Josh
Our first cave was Ogof Draenen, longest cave in Wales.
Entrance crawl.
Traversing over Lost Crusade pitch in Indiana Highway.
Modelling by Josh Bratchley, lighting by Tarquin and Josh Bratchley
The loose pillar of poised rocks in Sugar Cube Chamber. That wall must be treated with respect.
Modelling by Gwenllian and hints of Kristian, lighting by Tarquin and Kristian
Medusa's Children, one of the best grottos in the cave, with one of the largest expanses of aragonite helictites.
Modelling by Gwenllian and Kristian's oversuit, lighting by Tarquin and Kristian
In a field of helictites.
Modelling by Gwenllian and Kristian's knee pad, lighting by Tarquin and Kristian
Overlapping bands of rock that appear to be chert, in Luck Of The Draw.
Selenite needle in Needle Passage (but not the main group of The Needles).
Modelling by Josh Bratchley's pointer, lighting by the rest of Josh Bratchley
The first part of Nicola's Grotto.
Modelling by Gwenllian, lighting by Tarquin and Josh Bratchley
Our second trip was the classic Ogof Ffynnon Ddu through trip from OFD I to Top, via the superb OFD I Main Streamway.
Modelling by Gwenllian, lighting by Tarquin, Gwenllian and Josh Bratchley
Clambering around the cascades in OFD I.
Setup by Josh Bratchley, modelling by Gwenllian and Kristian, lighting by Tarquin, Josh Bratchley, Kristian and Rob
Climbing up into Letter Box, using the chain, in OFD 1½.
Modelling by Gwenllian, lighting by Tarquin and Gwenllian
Posting yourself into the Letter Box.
Modelling by Gwenllian, lighting by Tarquin and Gwenllian
Descending the Divers' Pitch into OFD II.
Modelling by Kristian, lighting by Tarquin, Gwenllian, Kristian and Rob
OFD II Main Streamway, known as Nant Newydd in Welsh (one of the very few parts of the cave to have a Welsh name).
Modelling by Kristian, lighting by Tarquin and Kristian
Nant Newydd, still from a video. This cascade is a very noisy one, just downstream from Great Oxbow. Gwenllian had been unable to reach far enough to traverse over several of the pools in the river, and had had to swim and jump over them instead. The rest of us had had an easy ride, by comparison, and two had even managed to traverse past the big pool on the corner without swimming.
Modelling by Gwenllian, lighting by Tarquin and Gwenllian
Without a doubt, this is my favourite picture from this entire set. Striding up the river, crossing the deep pools. Bravely terrified. This picture, incidentally, is what happens when the photographer pretends to be videoing, waits for you to cross one very deep pool, then just as you step over the second one, yells at you to stop while you are hoping to be allowed to get somewhere easier to stand. All while having a light blazing in your face. That water under her feet is deep enough to go completely under. Thanks for being such a good sport!
Modelling by Gwenllian, lighting by Tarquin and Kristian
Dolomite cascade in OFD II.
Modelling by Josh Bratchley, lighting by Tarquin and Rob
Bypassing the cascade.
Modelling by Gwenllian and Kristian, lighting by Tarquin, Rob, Gwenllian and Kristian
Our third trip was into Dan yr Ogof, with the pictures starting here at the helictites on the wall of Flabbergasm Oxbow.
Modelling by Gwenllian
The straws in Flabbergasm are some of the longest in the country (surpassed by those in Otter Hole).
Modelling by Gwenllian
And my favourite picture from this cave; with the best of the Flabbergasm straws. These have heavy, pendulum-like ends, and don't seem like they should be able to support their own weight.
Modelling by Gwenllian, lighting by Tarquin and Gwenllian
The mushroom and iconic straw column at the end of Flabbergasm Oxbow.
Modelling by Gwenllian
The famous window in Cloud Chamber.
Modelling by Gwenllian, lighting by Tarquin, Jules and Josh Henry
Curtains in The Meanders, below the formations in North Bypass.
Modelling by Josh Henry, lighting by Tarquin, Gwenllian and Josh Henry
Fossilised tree fern bark in Far North.
Modelling by Josh Henry's gloves
Vitruvian Man at the end of Bakerloo Straight.
Modelling by Josh Henry, lighting by Gwenllian
Our fourth trip was into Agen Allwedd, via the usual Ogof Gam entrance.
At Keyhole Chamber, one of my preferred footholds had deteriorated, and I paid a rather hasty visit to the bottom 7 metres below, with a brief reorientation at the ledge 3 metres down. Nothing more than a muscle ache later, I scrambled back up and decided that the rope really is needed now.
Formations in Turkey Streamway, a reminder that Aggy does in fact have some formations, if you know where to look.
Lighting by Tarquin and Gwenllian
This set has one very odd formation that looks like a hanging dead bird. Is this the fabled Turkey?
Lighting by Tarquin and Gwenllian
Or perhaps this one is the turkey. I don't know.
Lighting by Tarquin and Gwenllian
Josh striding over Turkey Pool, making it look very easy. The challenge is to get across while keeping your feet dry. Failing that, trying to keep your bum dry. In the worst case, it can be waded, but is at least chest deep.
Modelling by Josh Henry, lighting by Tarquin, Josh and Gwenllian
On Gwenllian, it would be about chest deep (with a few deeper spots), and she made an admirable effort to avoid a dunking. However, there are no footholds above water, so keeping your feet dry requires a very firm foot placement and constant outwards pressure to keep above water. It is made harder by someone videoing you instead of handing you the rope when you need it (video still).
Modelling by Gwenllian, lighting by Tarquin, Josh and Gwenllian
Turning to face the opposite wall at the end, almost always a foot soaker or faceplant location.
Modelling by Gwenllian, lighting by Tarquin, Josh and Gwenllian
Success! Not a wet bum in sight. Well ... at least until the way out, eh?
Modelling by Gwenllian, lighting by Tarquin and Gwenllian
The Swiss Village, the set of mud hoodoos in Swiss Passage. Sadly, our attempts to photograph the Dome Of Saint Paul's with a wide angle lens proved fruitless, so this is where the gallery ends, and we are left with just the memories of watching a dragon hatch from the ceiling.
Modelling by Josh