This page gives the descriptions for several minor caves, mostly those that I wrote to be included in Tony Oldham's book; The Caves of Clydach. None of these are important enough to deserve their own page, so are collected together here. Unless otherwise stated, no control is placed over access.
Last updated: 13-Oct-2007
Located in the Gilwern Hill quarry, on the edge of Blaen Dyar, Clydach Gorge, South Wales, U.K. There are six caves in the quarry, four of which were already in the book, and the following two of which I added:
Located at the Dynas rock on Llanelly Hill, South Wales, U.K.
An active sink heading south from the Nant Maelor stream behind the layby about 100 metres down the valley from the Nant Maelor reservoir, near Abersychan, South Wales, U.K. A blasted crawl leads to where an inlet enters from ahead, and the combined streams flow off to the right. Dye traced to Snatchwood Bridge Resurgences.
Located in Pontnewynydd, South Wales, U.K., enclosed under a pumphouse next to the Pontnewynydd block of flats. The resurgence for Ogof Draenen's Beyond A Choke Streamway (dye traced 100 hours for 8 km), as well as many other of its streamways, hydrologically linked to Snatchwood Bridge Rising and Ogof Ysbyty Pontypwl. The main rising is accessed through a service tunnel in the pumphouse. The tunnel ends in a chamber with water (6 million litres per day) rising through sand and gravel. A bottomless(!) flooded 10 metre diameter shaft exists under the nearby block of flats, and is being pumped.
Located downstream of the Devil's Bridge in the Clydach Gorge, South Wales, U.K. Entrance 2 is located in the base of a small cliff beside the path on the south bank of the Clydach. Entrance 1 is located in the right side of an inlet gulley a little further downstream, directly opposite the much more obvious fairy castle entrance of Shakespeare's cave. Entrance 1 is a series of oxbows to the nearby riverlet, although one takes water. This can be followed through a dig to emerge on the path between the Devil's bridge and Shakespeare's Cave, at entrance 2.
The stream bank above this cave has now collapsed into it. The cave is situated 50 metres east of the main Llanelly Quarry on Llanelly Hill, South Wales, U.K., in the bed of the stream just upstream of the waterfalls. The cave consisted of a 2.5 metre climb into a chamber. From here there was a too tight, shattered passage heading back under the stream. The cave used to take a considerable stream in flood, which sank in the floor and was assumed to flow to Llanelly Quarry Pot. Digging (including removal of several large boulders) may produce an alternative route into the cave.
In Cwm Llanwenarth, in a steep sided valley north from Pwll Du, South Wales, U.K., near Keepers Pond. There are two resurgences on either side of the main stream about 500 metres downstream from Keepers Pond. Tumble Resurgence Cave is the one on the west bank. The water resurges from a 2 inch wide crack, and the entrance is a couple of metres above this. The entrance leads into a small chamber carrying a stream. 25 metres of small but attractive streamway leads to Sump 1, which is short, and leads to sump 2. The sump is roomy and descends steeply to two flooded rifts.
The other resurgence is blocked by loose boulders, and has a pipe coming from the base of the pile, issuing a large stream.
Whilst every care has been taken in the compilation of these cave descriptions, neither the author nor his fellow cavers can accept responsibility for loss or injury arising from any errors, omissions or inaccuracies in these cave descriptions.
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