South Wales Caves

Eglwys Faen Description

Eglwys Faen is located along the Llangattock tramroad (map) about 1000m to the west of the Chelsea Speleological Societies Cottage Whitewalls. Following the tramroad around the mountain a large bend is encountered with some old quarries on the bend. It is in the rock outcrop on the bend that the numerous entrances to this cave can be found. The largest entrance, high up and to the west leads into the Main Chamber and has long been known, this massive chamber (the Stone Church) giving its name to the cave. The chamber is about 60m long and at at the rear degenerates into a flat out crawl that leads to a squeeze that gives entry to a smaller chamber. At the end of this chamber is a boulder choke, through which on the right hand side is entry to the Warren, a high level series of crawls that are still being dug. From the right hand side of the Main Chamber a passage leads to the Western Series where a concrete dam is found near the Glump Sump, beyond this dam the passage continues to a boulder choke. From the left hand side of the Main Chamber a passage leads to the other entrances to the cave, including the waterfall entrance. The numerous entrances, generally dry cave and lack of serious hazards makes this cave quite popular with beginners.