Caving 26th-29th Of November

[Stevo]

Hello,

A bunch of us are planning to go from Ireland down to South Wales for the 26th to the 29th of November. It turns out that most of our contacts are heading north to Yorkshire so we need a bit of help.
Our plan is to do Daren Cilau possibly on the Saturday but that leaves us Friday, Sunday and a short day on Monday to go caving.

What I'd like to know is
a) Where the best place to stay (and who to contact to stay there)?
b) Is there any suggestions of caves to do without a leader (unless there's someone out there who would be free to go caving with us - we would be willing to do a long trip and can help with digging projects if necessary). Is it possible to get keys at short notice?

Stephen

 

[dunc]

If you're doing Daren then the closest place to stay is Whitewalls (Chelsea SS) - stayed there a few times and it does the job! Handy for Daren, Aggy, Draenen, Craig a Ffynnon.. None of them require a leader, just a key (apart from Daren, unless you go in via Ogof Cwnc entrance)

 

[Stevo]

If you're doing Daren then the closest place to stay is Whitewalls (Chelsea SS) - stayed there a few times and it does the job! Handy for Daren, Aggy, Draenen, Craig a Ffynnon.. None of them require a leader, just a key (apart from Daren, unless you go in via Ogof Cwnc entrance)

Thanks for that Dunc. The question now is where you get the key for Aggy or Draenen?

 

[damian]

Sorry for not replying to this thread sooner, Stevo. I had assumed a local might come on, encourage you to stay at their club hut and offer some leaders ... seems not.

The caves in S. Wales that you are most likely to want to visit are largely clustered in two areas, one to the East and one to the West. Where you stay, in my view, should depend on where you intend to do most of your caving, as it's a good 40 mins to drive (each way) from one to the other. The eastern end (Aggy, Daren, Craig a Ffynnon, Draenen) is best visited by staying at Whitewalls (as Dunc suggests), while the western end (OFD, Dan yr Ogof, Pant Mawr, Little Neath) is best done by staying at one of South Wales Caving Club, Croydon CC, or Westminster CG. My personal preference is SWCC for ease, or the WSG or Croydon for character.

As for keys etc, all you need is on the excellent Cambrian website. Fortunately a lot of your caves can be done by e-mail, so you could well still be in luck.

I'm afraid I can't show you around that weekend, as I'm in the Dales. Have a good trip!

 

[Broken Chris]

Stevo,

I'd definitely recommend Draenen if you've got time - doesn't require a leader but does need a key/permission (depends if the new gate is on). Depending on how good you think you are at route finding, then you could try and do the round trip - there's a good description on the web, PM me if you want me to send you a link. If you do stay at Whitewalls (Chelsea) , then I'd recommend you get a key for both Craig A Ffynnon and Ogof Capel. Both are relatively short and easy but full of pretties and make for great "sunday" trips - they're right next to each other, so you could probably do both. Afraid I'm not sure what the access arrangements are - they're both keyed but I'm reasonably sure that someone will post you a key.

Llanelly Quarry Pot at that end of the country is also worth a look as a Sunday alternative - less well decorated but a fun little tirp. No access restrictions on this one.

Not sure what your plans are for Daren, but the through-trip out of Price's dig gives a relatively nice and easy trip - you can probably do it in under 5 hours and get to see the white company, the antlers, urchin oxbow and have the fun of the entrance and exit crawls.

Enjoy!

 

[NigR]

I'd definitely recommend Draenen if you've got time - doesn't require a leader but does need a key/permission (depends if the new gate is on). Depending on how good you think you are at route finding, then you could try and do the round trip......

Personally, I would not suggest attempting the Draenen Round Trip if you have never been in the cave before. But, as Broken Chris says, it depends on how good you are at route finding and how much of a challenge you are looking for.

If you do stay at Whitewalls (Chelsea) , then I'd recommend you get a key for both Craig A Ffynnon and Ogof Capel. Both are relatively short and easy but full of pretties and make for great "sunday" trips - they're right next to each other, so you could probably do both. Afraid I'm not sure what the access arrangements are - they're both keyed but I'm reasonably sure that someone will post you a key.

Craig-a-Fynnon can be short and easy or long and hard. Depends where you go and what you do really.

Ogof Capel access arrangements are currently being modified. Best to wait for the official announcement for precise details but it would be safe to assume that the key will no longer be as readily available as it has been.

Not sure what your plans are for Daren, but the through-trip out of Price's dig gives a relatively nice and easy trip - you can probably do it in under 5 hours and get to see the white company, the antlers, urchin oxbow and have the fun of the entrance and exit crawls.

If you've never been in at either end then the through trip is fairly ambitious. Several awkward rope climbs en route require respect. Be careful not to overshoot the connecting passage to Prices's Dig as the main route carries on a fair way further.

 

[Broken Chris]

Craig-a-Fynnon can be short and easy or long and hard. Depends where you go and what you do really.

Yep - fair point NigR. We usually tend to do it as a Sunday trip on our way back to the M4 and just stick to seeing the early pretty stuff.... I've probably missed out!

Ogof Capel access arrangements are currently being modified. Best to wait for the official announcement for precise details but it would be safe to assume that the key will no longer be as readily available as it has been.

Oh, OK - didn't realise. Still, when the access is sorted I would put it down on a to do list any day.

 

[NigR]

Craig-a-Fynnon can be short and easy or long and hard. Depends where you go and what you do really.

Yep - fair point NigR. We usually tend to do it as a Sunday trip on our way back to the M4 and just stick to seeing the early pretty stuff.... I've probably missed out!

Well worth going further in, loads to see and plenty of potential if you are that way inclined.

Ogof Capel access arrangements are currently being modified. Best to wait for the official announcement for precise details but it would be safe to assume that the key will no longer be as readily available as it has been.

Oh, OK - didn't realise. Still, when the access is sorted I would put it down on a to do list any day.

I agree, it's a very pleasant cave. Just a bit of a shame that it's going to be so much more difficult for people to visit in the future.

 

[Les W]

...get a key for both Craig A Ffynnon and Ogof Capel.

I wouldn't describe Craig A Ffynnon as a short trip. I suppose if you are only going to the Hall of the Mountain King then you may do it in and out in around 2 to 3 hours (normal caving speed, no photos) but if you are going to the end of the Promised Land it is not a trivial trip.

 

[NigR]

I wouldn't describe Craig A Ffynnon as a short trip. I suppose if you are only going to the Hall of the Mountain King then you may do it in and out in around 2 to 3 hours (normal caving speed, no photos) but if you are going to the end of the Promised Land it is not a trivial trip.

I totally agree. A trip to the end of the Promised Land and back, taking in some of the more interesting side passages on the way, would most certainly provide you with a full day excursion (8 or 9 hours I would say). I once took a visiting (ex-SWCC, now living in NZ) caver and his friend there on a 12 hour digging trip and they were most impressed (with the cave that is, not so sure about their opinion of the dig).