Overview
Ogof Craig A Ffynnon is a resurgence for some of the water from Llangattock Mountain, the spring lending its name to both the Inn below and the cave. This finely decorated cave is gated to preserve the formations and offers a range trips from gentle photographic forays to longer and more sporty trips to the Promised Land at the end of the system.Length 8,000m
Altitude 259m
Grid SO 22011 12873
History
The cave was discovered in 1976 by Jeff Hill, John Parker and Bill Gascoine following years of persistent digging.
Location
This cave is located in the Clydach Gorge, off the old Heads of the Valleys road behind the old Rock and Fountain Inn. Up the road from the old Rock and Fountain Inn is a blocked off laybay beside some old lime kilns. An old tramroad is followed from the lime kilns up to the disused Daren Ddu quarry. A section of large passage can be seen on the left in the lower quarry face. Climbing up to this passage gains the entrance portal where a steel gate is found in the walled up passage. Clydach Gorge map showing the location of Ogof Craig A Ffynnon.
Access
The cave is gated for conservation reasons. The access is managed through the Mynnydd Llangattwg Cave Management / Advisory Committee
Description
Once through the gate a low passage with walls of stacked deads leads to a small chamber where a log book is found and should be filled in by all visiting parties. From this chamber a phreatic passage leads to a well decorated second chamber with gour pools in the floor and a profusion of straws in the ceiling. Dropping back down to the stream the phreatic passage is followed to the bottom of the First Boulder Choke. A wet climb up an iron ladder (not fixed) leads up into a chamber above the choke. Although the climb through the choke is spacious please take care as water flowing through chokes can cause instability. A high level passage from the chamber leads up to a small chamber and some draughting rifts that are too tight. Back in the floor of the chamber the route is to follow the taped path, where following the water the passage height decreases until a low gravel floored hands and knees crawl in water - Gasoline Alley is encountered. This section of passage can rapidly flood to the roof after heavy rain and ends at a junction.To the left is North West Inlet where a small airspace is found above some deep water. Following this passage, the depth of water decreases and the airspace gradually increases. After 5m a larger passage is encountered with the route left closing down after 10m, the way on being to the right. The passage continues with deep water for some distance until it increases in width and height and after 500m a boulder choke is found. A long term dig was made in this choke, some 70m in length with a railway installed for spoil removal.
Back at the junction with North West Inlet the route ahead leads past a sump and follows a low calcite crawl uphill to reach the bottom of the climb up to the Second Boulder Choke. A fixed iron ladder takes you up the first 7m of ascent to a ledge where the final 8m climb can be made. A handline on this section assists the climb up the fissure to reach the head of the pitch. Hangers at the head of the pitch allow for the rigging of ladder or additional tackle to assist the final section of the climb. A short distance ahead the entrance to the Second Boulder Choke is encountered, a quite long and tortuous route is followed before you finally emerge into the top of a muddy floored chamber. Descending down the slope you enter a section of large muddy floored passage that is low in places and has many deep muddy sections. This passes some areas of magnificent straws before emerging in the top of Travertine Passage. The view from here is of a magnificent calcite floored passage heading off in into the distance. The taped path on the left leads down a steep slope to reach a series of gour pools that are passed as the passage leads you past impressive formations. The taped path leads you around the perimeter of the Hall of the Mountain King. This passes a passage on the right, which closes down after about 100m. The taped path reaches the Third Boulder Choke with the low entrance to Hurricane Highway, a low tight calcite floored crawl to it's right. After an initial very tight squeeze the passage continues as a hands and knees crawl for about 250m before increasing in size to become the Severn Tunnel. This is followed for another 250m to reach a right angled junction with passages also leading of to the left and ahead. The passages ahead and to the left close down, while the main way is to follow the passage to the right. At this junction a route down in the floor leads into the Blaen Elin Streamway. The passage passes a choke on the right and enters a large section of passage with fine mud banks. On the left a small passage drops down a climb to reach a crawl into a small chamber and the complex Lower Series. Ahead the Fourth Boulder Choke is encountered, where a climb up boulders on the left leads to a drop down and the route through the choke. Care should be taken here as boulders have been known to move. This leads through into a small chamber with a further short crawl to lead you to the top of a boulder slope down into a further section of massive passage. The route through this section passes a passage on the left that leads down to the top of a pitch down into the Promised Land. Beyond the route to the Promised Land the passage continues large for 200m before reaching the fifth and final choke. On the right before reaching the Fifth Choke is the entrance to Helictite Passage. This has some fine formations and should only be visited by two people at a time to avoid damage to the formations. At the bottom of the short but awkward to rig pitch into the Promised Land the route to the left ends after a short distance at a calcited choke and the impressive Pagoda formation. The main way on is to the right following a small streamway and can be followed for 900m. In one section the stream passage is too tight and an oxbow on the right provides a route back into the passage an the way deeper into the system. A passage is passed on the left that ends as a draughting rift, quite close to Antler Passage in Daren Cilau. Beyond this side passage the stream makes a sharp right angled bend and leads for a further 100m before ending in an area of boulder chokes and high avens.
Tackle
Climb up to the second boulder choke - 8 metresPromised Land Pitch - 8 metres
References
Cambrian Cave Registry entry for Ogof Craig A Ffynnon Video of Ogof Craig A Ffynnon by Keith Edwards
Caves of South Wales - Tim Stratford
An Exploration Journal of Llangattwg Mountain - Chelsea Speleological Society Records Volume 19
Caves of Clydach - Tony Oldham.
Warnings
Gasoline Alley floods to the roof following heavy rain. Also the first 5m of North West Inlet will sump in wet weather.
Disclaimer
The photographs and information of this page has been provided to help cavers planning trips. Caving can be a dangerous activity, if you are interested in exploring caves please join a caving club so you can enjoy a safe introduction to this sport. Local caving clubs are listed on the links page or you can visit try caving for more options.If you feel that any of the information is incorrect or should be updated please contact us.
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