South Wales Caves

Cwm Dwr Cave Description

Cwm Dwr cave is located in the disused quarry (map) beside the Headquaters of the South Wales Caving Club. This cave entrance leads to the middle section of the Ogof Ffynnon Ddu cave system with the OFD 1 entrance down the hill and OFD 2 entrance up the hill. The entrance is gated for conservation reasons, access details can be found on the Cambrian Caving Council Website. The cave is very extensive with multiple routes to many parts of the cave, this makes description difficult, as too route finding when in the cave. Here the main routes are described, neglecting the minor routes and side passages that can be explored at leisure. The top section of the entrance shaft is lined with concrete pipes and leads to the final section of the climb down the shored shaft. A chamber is entered which closes down quite quickly, the way on being a small passage on the right wall, this leads to a climb down and then a rift passage that soon degererates into a crawl - Dim Dwr with its very flat out section in the middle. This crawl meets a stream for a short distance before popping out though boulders into Cwm Dwr Jama. This large passage leads to a boulder choke on the right, while to the left it proceeds via climb downs at two intersecting passages to eventually meet the boulder choke. The way into the choke is on the right before the passage closes down, the route through is complex, but polished. This navigational obstacle in the cave is often responsible for rescue call outs when cavers cannot find thier way through and exit the cave. Beyond the choke is a sandy passage - with several windows through to Big Shacks on the left. The main route into the cave is a passage on the right, at the first corner in this passage is a steep slope rising upwards that leads to a route into Upper Piccadilly. Following the main passage leads to some traverses and then a junction with another sandy passage leading left and right. To the right leads to the central level of the Smithy, while to the left the passage loops around to bring you out the other side of the Smithy. Descending the Smithy takes you to the lowest level and a small stream passage carrying the Cwm Dwr stream that leads directly to the Confluence with the main OFD streamway. At the main streamway, right leads to Flood Bypass and to the left leads to the First River Chamber, Fault Aven, Marble Showers and then eventually OFD II. Back at the Smithy a passage up on the right leads to Nether Rawl, a large sandy passage that leads to a junction with the vast sized Piccadilly passage. At this junction to the right is a complex of passages carrying a small stream and a pitch can be found that leads up to access Upper Piccadilly. Following the main passage on the left leads downwards through Piccadilly past its impressive waterfall and then to a junction with three ways off. To the left is the other end of Flood Bypass, the Confluence and streamway. To the right is Heol Eira - the Snow Road, a passage that leads to a fine white ascending flow of formation linked to one of the old limekilns on the surface. The central route leads through to the Diver's Pitch and the connection with OFD I.