Ogod Tarddiad Rhymni
- Thread starter Rhys
- Start date
dudley bug
Member
Based on visits to the area towards the end of last year, the gate across the road at the end of the Trefil village is certainly locked at weekends, which stops everything bar the motorbikes that they were trying to stop...
I assume it is open during weekdays when the Trefil Las quarry is operating. Probably safer parking near the village anyway.
I assume it is open during weekdays when the Trefil Las quarry is operating. Probably safer parking near the village anyway.
Gate at Trefil village end is open during Quarry working hours (i.e. midweek). You can drive beyond it (although you are not really supposed to) but you run the risk of being locked in and possibly wheel-clamped. Safer option is to just bite the bullet and make the long trek up from the village. PM me if you want to find out where to park (also the best way to get to Ap Robert these days).
Tony_B
Member
I took my car and seven or eight classics along there for a photo shoot last year, on a working day. No barriers or signs to say we shouldn't, and no-one hassled us in the several hours we were there. There were others parked along there as well, dog-walking and so on. But probably not worth the risk of getting locked in, if that's the case...
Interesting that you did not see any signs because there used to be an absolutely ginormous one right next to the barrier just after the village, maybe it has been recycled by the locals? When you say there were 'No barriers' I assume you mean none were closed, otherwise that means the barrier has gone as well and this discussion is completely superfluous! Haven't been over there for a while so will take a look next time I'm passing.
I recently (last summer) raised the question of lack of access during an informal meeting with a member of staff of the Brecon Beacons National Park and was told that negotiations were still ongoing and that the situation was complicated by the fact that there are several different landowners involved. Cave exploration in the area is certainly being held back at present as things stand. Personally, I see no reason why cavers (being responsible people) should not have a key for the barrier (in the same way that we do for Herbert's Quarry) and this is what I would like to see happen at some point in the future.
I recently (last summer) raised the question of lack of access during an informal meeting with a member of staff of the Brecon Beacons National Park and was told that negotiations were still ongoing and that the situation was complicated by the fact that there are several different landowners involved. Cave exploration in the area is certainly being held back at present as things stand. Personally, I see no reason why cavers (being responsible people) should not have a key for the barrier (in the same way that we do for Herbert's Quarry) and this is what I would like to see happen at some point in the future.
SpeleoTrog
Member
Interestingly, looking at the latest OS Maps, the first kilometre and a half of road leading out of Trefil has been downgraded to a Bridleway - there's all sorts of motoring offences linked to driving a car on one of those without proper permission, most of which give the police the power to seize your car.
From there on, once the road crosses the boundary into Powys, it still appears to be classified as a road. Nobody can do anything about you driving on that bit. The difficult bit, of course is crossing that first 1.5km or so without getting caught!
From there on, once the road crosses the boundary into Powys, it still appears to be classified as a road. Nobody can do anything about you driving on that bit. The difficult bit, of course is crossing that first 1.5km or so without getting caught!
Martin Laverty
Member
Draft Open Access Maps on the Countryside Commission for Wales' website also suggest that the status of the road has been/ is to be changed (it isn't very clear but it appears to me to be being made open country):
http://www.ccw.gov.uk/enjoying-the-country/open-access-land/open-access-maps.aspx?_dmr=11&_dms=dra&_dmc=SO110130
http://www.ccw.gov.uk/enjoying-the-country/open-access-land/open-access-maps.aspx?_dmr=11&_dms=dra&_dmc=SO110130
dudley bug
Member
I have had a report of rock falling from the quarry face above the entrance this weekend. A visit was aborted due to large rocks falling down as they approached. No doubt due to the recent big freeze. I am not sure of the condition of the entrance at the moment.
bagpuss
Member
Thanks for the post Dudley Bug, you beat me to it, I can't post on UK caving in work and was going to post this evening about the rock fall. There was evidence of debris all over the quarry. Personally I would avoid the whole area at the moment, the rock which fell was enough to cause serious injury if it had hit someone and I only heard the large rock fall (where it fell was out of site) but the sound it made was tremendous. It was hard to tell where the rock fall took place but it was not in front of the cave entrance. Part of the quarry had big ice flows on it which I imagine are defrosting fast due to the thaw. As it was when we left the cave entrance was still open, but we didn't hang around to see if there were other falls.