Nant y Glais and Pontsarn 2009
Valleys and caves in the south of the Brecon Beacons.
Nant y Glais is a small river feeding the major Taf Fechan, at the south edge of the middle of the Brecon Beacons National Park. In its lower half is a small gorge, starting with this lovely waterfall. Er. Yeah. The valley is home to several caves, of which the largest are Ogof Rhyd Sych, and Ogof-y-Ci. Except in flood, the entire stream disappears underground, and the waterfall is left dry. The undercut on the left is the entrance to the short Ogof Dŵr Dwfn, and another short cave is tucked under the boulders near the top of the waterfall on the right.
The head of the gorge. I strategically moved a rusting barrel and plastic container that had washed down here in flood.
The entrance to Ogof Rhyd Sych, where the river returns to the surface.
Traversing the knee deep pools into the cave. If the pose looks odd, it's because there are two people in the shot, one with legs too short to span the stream. Granted; it's a crazy way to go caving, but where's the fun in always doing things properly, eh?
Flowstone just inside the entrance.
Early passage. An awkward corner with deeper-than-walking-boots water.
The largest part of the entrance passage. Looks promising, and doesn't even give the slightest hint of what is to follow.
The last chamber in the entrance passage.
Stal on one side.
Stal on the other.
The water enters through a low passage, and the real caving starts with this intimidating duck. Just in case you thought it couldn't get worse than a duck, the next 250 metres or so are some of the lowest and tightest bedding planes on offer in South Wales caving. Not to mention the abrasive surface, and flooding risk. After that, it suddenly enlarges to much greater proportions, and is very well decorated. But it certainly makes you work for it first.
Final stal by the duck.
The beautifully secluded gorge downstream of Ogof Rhyd Sych.
Striped fungus on a log. Incidentally, the name Nant y Glais means 'The Stripe Stream' (or potentially 'The Bruise Stream'). Perhaps that is appropriate.
Sapwood on a fallen log.
Mossed trees.
Light on the river bed.
Now down in the beautiful Taf Fechan valley, where it is crossed by the impressive Pontsarn Viaduct, 139 metres long, 28 metres high, built in 1866. Still in perfect condition, though not used by trains any more, but used instead as part of the Taff Trail cycle route.
Cascades at Pontsarn on the Taff Fechan.
The Blue Pool and its waterfall. This lies on the very edge of the national park, with the boundary running through the middle of the river. Nonetheless, it manages to be in the Taf Fechan Local Nature Reserve, the Cwm Taf Fechan Woodlands Site of Special Scientific Interest, and the Brecon Beacons National Park. Something worth preserving, it seems
One of the small gorges in the bottom of the Taf Fechan gorge.
Cwm Taf Fechan Woodlands.
Nant y Glais is a small river feeding the major Taf Fechan, at the south edge of the middle of the Brecon Beacons National Park. In its lower half is a small gorge, starting with this lovely waterfall. Er. Yeah. The valley is home to several caves, of which the largest are Ogof Rhyd Sych, and Ogof-y-Ci. Except in flood, the entire stream disappears underground, and the waterfall is left dry. The undercut on the left is the entrance to the short Ogof Dŵr Dwfn, and another short cave is tucked under the boulders near the top of the waterfall on the right.
The head of the gorge. I strategically moved a rusting barrel and plastic container that had washed down here in flood.
The entrance to Ogof Rhyd Sych, where the river returns to the surface.
Traversing the knee deep pools into the cave. If the pose looks odd, it's because there are two people in the shot, one with legs too short to span the stream. Granted; it's a crazy way to go caving, but where's the fun in always doing things properly, eh?
Flowstone just inside the entrance.
Early passage. An awkward corner with deeper-than-walking-boots water.
The largest part of the entrance passage. Looks promising, and doesn't even give the slightest hint of what is to follow.
The last chamber in the entrance passage.
Stal on one side.
Stal on the other.
The water enters through a low passage, and the real caving starts with this intimidating duck. Just in case you thought it couldn't get worse than a duck, the next 250 metres or so are some of the lowest and tightest bedding planes on offer in South Wales caving. Not to mention the abrasive surface, and flooding risk. After that, it suddenly enlarges to much greater proportions, and is very well decorated. But it certainly makes you work for it first.
Final stal by the duck.
The beautifully secluded gorge downstream of Ogof Rhyd Sych.
Striped fungus on a log. Incidentally, the name Nant y Glais means 'The Stripe Stream' (or potentially 'The Bruise Stream'). Perhaps that is appropriate.
Sapwood on a fallen log.
Mossed trees.
Light on the river bed.
Now down in the beautiful Taf Fechan valley, where it is crossed by the impressive Pontsarn Viaduct, 139 metres long, 28 metres high, built in 1866. Still in perfect condition, though not used by trains any more, but used instead as part of the Taff Trail cycle route.
Cascades at Pontsarn on the Taff Fechan.
The Blue Pool and its waterfall. This lies on the very edge of the national park, with the boundary running through the middle of the river. Nonetheless, it manages to be in the Taf Fechan Local Nature Reserve, the Cwm Taf Fechan Woodlands Site of Special Scientific Interest, and the Brecon Beacons National Park. Something worth preserving, it seems
One of the small gorges in the bottom of the Taf Fechan gorge.
Cwm Taf Fechan Woodlands.