PWLL DWFN
(Pronounced "Pooth Dwoofen")
Craig-y-Nos, Tawe Valley, South Wales
Grid Ref SN 83321:16494 (GPS)
Altitude approx 1700’, Vertical Range (surveyed) 305’
Description by Steve King, SBSS
LOCATION
Situated on the west side of the Tawe Valley approximately ½ mile north of Craig-y-Nos on the A4067. Follow signs for the Dan-yr-Ogof showcaves. After leaving the main road the private road forks; left to the visitors car park and right to the picnic area and camping site. Take the right fork. The showcave management do not place any special restrictions on bone fide cavers providing that they change discreetly and do not do so in the visitors car park. Vehicles are best left in the visitors car park if possible.
From the northern end of the picnic site follow the obvious steeply rising track to the left between two large boulders. Cross the stile and follow the now less obvious path leading off at about 11 O’clock and which passes above the sheep pens. This is soon joined at an oblique T-junction by another path coming in from the north-east. Turn left. The gradient steepens dramatically. Follow this path, which parallels a drystone wall below and to your left, up and through a zig-zag (right then left). As you leave the steep part of the climb behind you fork out away from the path at about 2 O’clock (there is a sort of narrow trail) and head due East towards the craggy outcrop in the distance. The hillock you pass to your right contains the top entrance to Tunnel (Cathedral) Cave. The way on becomes boggy in places and passes between some reedy surface depressions. Head for the left side of the aforementioned outcrop and ascend the slope. About 200 yards further on a reedy stream valley strewn with frost shattered rocks will be seen. The cave entrance lies just below and to the left of the small rocky hillock straight ahead. The entrance is a small hole almost plugged by a rock. It is not marked, but lies just a few paces from a large erratic boulder liberally decorated with quartz inclusions.
Be warned, the nearest public telephone is ½ mile south of Craig-y-Nos, not far from the Penwyllt turning on the A4067 and about 150 yards from the "Ancient Britain" public house. In the event of an accident this could take well over half an hour to reach.
DESCRIPTION
1st Pitch
The entrance is an awkward 6 ft drop (much harder on the return!) into a steeply sloping passage which soon arrives at the head of the 1st pitch. Just before there is a P-bolt in the left wall. The pitch is best rigged as a shared hang from 3 bolts - one in the left wall just before the pitch, and two (one left and one right) at the same height and within an arms reach out over the pitch - or as a Y-hang from the latter two bolts. (There is also a second set of bolts out over the pitch but at a slightly lower level; these tend to make the ascent harder). An approximately 30 ft descent close to the rockface lands on a steep boulder slope. Rebelay to a bolt at shoulder height on the left wall (as you face out from the rockface) about 8 ft back from the lip of the 2nd pitch.
2nd Pitch
The second pitch may be rigged by two routes; the "wet route" and the technically, more-demanding "dry route".
The "dry route" starts with the rebelay at the foot of the 1st pitch and continues out along the left wall, initially as two P-bolts. These are followed by two bolts for a Y-hang an arms length away out over the pitch, where the rockface curves away from the rigger. Long arms and a sense of balance are required! (The locations of the hang bolts are best discovered from the righthand side of the boulder slope beforehand). Following a rebelay at -8 ft this route provides a fine free-hanging descent of some 40 ft. There is a bolt for a deviation at -15 ft which avoids a small shower.
The "wet route" is rigged from two bolts just below foot level in the (almost) sheer right wall and are about 6 ft out over the pitch. These also require long arms! (Note: If using this route the rebelay at the foot of the 1st pitch can be substituted by any one of a number of bolts at foot level in the right wall at the lip of the pitch). The 2nd pitch is then a fine, though "damp", free-hanging descent of around 30 ft to a level floor.
At the bottom of the pitch a 10 ft narrow rift ("Tight Rift") leads down to the slippery head of the 3rd pitch. This pitch is best approached using the rope from the 2nd pitch for protection. The rope may be rebelayed to a bolt at knee height in the right wall at the entrance to the rift, or at shoulder height in the left wall just before the head of the 3rd pitch, depending on the availability of rope.
3rd Pitch
A full descent of the 3rd pitch is unnecessary since the way on is under a small overhang in the left wall (as you stand at the pitch head) about 30 ft down. At the pitch head there is a P-bolt and a bolt at head height in the left wall and at least 4 boltholes in the right wall (one a couple of feet higher than the other three). The continuation may be achieved either by first rebelaying in the left wall at -20 ft, or by making a pendulum move into the continuation passage, a descending rift. Rebelay to another bolt about 4 ft in on the right wall of the rift. The way on is then down and along a narrow sloping rift ("Hard Rift") which is best protected by a traverse line. This can be further anchored to a bolt in the right wall about half way along. About 35 ft into the rift from its start there is a short drop. This can be free-climbed by two P-bolts, one in each wall, are present. Shortly after the rift ends at the head of the 4th pitch.
4th Pitch
The 4th pitch may be rigged from 2 bolts in the left wall or from one bolt in either wall. The pitch head is however rather exposed and so the rigger is best protected by a traverse line anchored back in the rift. Initially constricted the pitch soon opens out to provide a fine free-hanging descent of some 70 ft with a rebelay at about -25 ft.
The last 20 ft or so catch spray as the water encountered on the 2nd pitch re-emerges. So, rope length permitting, about 10 ft further down traverse round to the right (as you face out) and pick up the bolt (or natural thread) in the A-shaped roof of the gully and deviate from it. This deviation is very hard to find. If it cannot be located, the previous rebelay can be substituted by a deviation (though this would be a less than ideal alternative in wet weather).
Continue decending to the point where a 15 ft drop leads off from the bottom of the main shaft you have just descended. Here a narrow ledge provides access to a bolthole about 6 ft up which may be used to anchor a new rope or to rebelay the existing rope. From the bottom of the short drop (which is claimed to be free-climable…) scramble down the boulder slope. At the bottom two routes through a boulder pile (which should be treated with respect) on the left lead down another boulder slope to a large chamber. Belay a rope to a bolt in the left wall a little above the obvious continuation and descend with caution to the 5th pitch.
5th Pitch
The 5th pitch is a gaping hole in the floor. Rebelay to a bolt in the large rock behind you (as you gape at the pitch!) and using a protection traverse line get the person with the longest arms to rig a Y-hang from the bolt holes either side of the centre of the pitch (these are present at two heights!). Then either:
Wet Option - Descend from the Y-hang. This is a descent of about 35 ft against the rock wall.
Drier Option - About 10 ft down from the Y-hang is a ledge. Descend until level with it, then reach across and take hold (the handholds are quite good). Pull up onto the ledge. Traverse around to the left (facing out) and locate the obvious in-situ hanger at head height. Deviate from this with a short sling. (This is an awkward deviation to pass - use the ledge! - but well worth it when the spray is bad). Continue the descent.
You land in a chamber displaying some remarkable fossil coral. To the left from the base of the pitch a short climb into an awkward rift leads after 20 ft to a large sump pool.
SUMMARY
The first three pitches (via the "wet route") can be rigged with a single 200 ft rope and 13 bolts, the 4th pitch (and drop) with 108 ft of rope and 4 bolts and the 5th pitch (including the protection line) with a 100 ft rope and 4 bolts. A protection traverse line of at least 50 ft is useful in Hard Rift.
Alternatively, for those who prefer metric measurements:
Entrance Climb - normally free-climbed
1st Pitch + 2nd Pitch ("wet") - 41 m + 7 bolts
1st Pitch + 2nd Pitch ("dry") - 55 m + 8 bolts (rope length is estimate; 66 m was too long)
"Tight Rift" + 3rd Pitch - 20 m + 3 bolts
"Hard Rift" - 17 m + 2 bolts
4th Pitch - 35 m + 5 bolts (bottom 4 m can be free-climbed by the confident)
5th Pitch - 22 m + 4 bolts (+ short sling)
DISCLAIMER Whilst every care has been taken in the compilation of this description, neither the author nor his fellow cavers can accept any responsibility for any loss or injury arising from errors, omissions or inaccuracies.
Last updated: 31-July-2000 by Steve King, s.m.king@rl.ac.uk