Ogof Craig a Ffynnon

Ogof Craig a Ffynnon is a cave in Monmouthshire, Wales. It lies at the foot of a quarried rock face in the Clydach Gorge, where water drains from Llangatwg Mountain and reappears as a spring. The entrance sits in the old Daren Ddu Quarry, reached by a track from the Rock and Fountain Inn. Discovered in 1976 by Jeff Hill, John Parker and Bill Gascoine, the cave was long suspected because of the water that surfaces nearby. Its name in Welsh means Cave of the Rock and Spring, matching the features above and below ground. The cave stretches about seven kilometres and is one of Wales’s best-decorated. Early sections include tight crawls and a difficult boulder choke before opening into large chambers rich in mud and calcite formations. The Hall of the Mountain King is a striking cavern lined with flowstone, while the Promised Land offers a long passage with a small stream. Beyond these decorated parts, the cave continues through low, winding passages that may one day link to the Llangattwg system. Visitors find a cave that demands care and equipment. The entrance is barred to prevent unauthorised entry, and a key is needed to pass through. Fixed ladders help at two choke points, but cavers must bring their own gear for the rest. The route to the Hall of the Mountain King takes about two and a half hours, while the Promised Land requires a full six-hour round trip. Flooding can block parts of the cave, turning sections into sumps after heavy rain.