United Cavers Exploration Team

Hi Miles,

Yes, I know what you mean. I don't think that there is a great deal of mine passage accessible as such, but then again i'm not sure as to how much effort has gone into pushing that side of things since I think the cave links have been the focus over the years.

I think it's Park Western that had a huge concrete tube put in to stablise the shaft top, therefore any workings and passage accessible will only be lower down.

There are a few other shafts accessible on the tops, and then of course the likes of Ogof Dydd Byraf which was entered via mining. I think the whole Minera Lead Mines system needs a good amount of work too, as I think there's still a lot to be found down Cabin and the likes.

Hi Gaz

Thanks so much for the message. I shall indeed drop Charlie an email!

Take care

Miles

Right OK - thanks Tom that's very helpful. I've done some googling on the name you've given me, it does fit the description. The principle interest in the mine seems to simply be that it connects to a major cave system, which is cool but as a mine person this benefit is wasted on me. I wonder how much of the mine itself can be accessed.

I did see the shaft was given as around 100m, feels about right, but I'd be surprised if there were not levels connecting at a shallower horizon. Hopefully NWCC can sort their access and then they might be willing to loan a key for it so I could have a better look.

I'll be there   

UCET Trip Advisor 12th June 2025- Poachers Cave

Hello all,

Here are the details for our next Thursday trip:

This week we will be heading to Poachers Cave/ Ogof Hen Ffynhonnau in Cilcain. Thought to be over 500,00 years old, the cave is full of interesting passages and formations, including the 'big boss' chandelier chamber, a very rare iscosceles passage, and much more

The trip is ideal as an introduction to caving for anyone interested in giving it a go. You will get muddy and wet. Please let us know in advance if you need to borrow any equipment.


Location : Poachers cave (ogof hen ffynhonnau)
Meet Place : Cilcain bridge
Meet Date : 12/06/25
Meet Time : 18:30 - 18.45
Suitability : Novice. Perfect first caving trip for beginners.
Requirements : Wellies, overalls, helmet, lamp, gloves, optional belt or harness for short entrance lifeline. Any equipment can be borrowed from the club if needed.
Link to Parking; https://maps.app.goo.gl/R4cxXBT3x4vBDK2E6

Please let us know on the forum if you are planning on being there

Here is a link to the forum thread:


Thanks,
Jacob

I have your arrow marked down as Park Western Shaft, which is NWCC. This would explain the lock, as it links into Ogof Llyn Ddu (ish) via a 100m or so shaft.

At the moment, there are no access permissions, but I believe that is in the process of being sorted.

Tom

Brilliant video Ian, nice work. Is that a phone line running through it?

I think that's a different shaft. Same GCC cap design and no doubt in the same general area but it doesn't seem to match. I made a very short and basic video looking down the shaft on my phone, which is in no way suitable for that kind of work but it's all I had. It wouldn't even focus properly but it does look like the sides of the shaft, at least around the collar, are smooth concrete.

Unlisted Video here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OGeoLjvSMr4

Also, I dropped a few small stones down just for a listen to try to gauge a rough depth. If you listen carefully for the third stone fall, with your computer sound turned right up, you can hear a very distant and faint boom after a fairly alarming amount of air time. It's clearly quite a deep shaft, got to be at least 300 feet but I'd probably put it more like 400+, using my very unscientific method.

Hi Miles,
Great to hear from you! We have met a few of times in Cwmorthin and at NWCRO training sessions.

You'll be more than welcome to join the Club, just drop our membership secretary Charlie an email at Membership@ucet.org.uk.

Hopefully see you on a trip soon

Gaz
Ucet Chairman

I have had a look through the club knowledge bank and can't find anything on it.

However, I did find a video that I made 15 years ago which is just slightly better than utterly useless.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tlZpCXZeEkA

Skip the first minute and kill the sound to shut the annoying music off.

It's not very helpful I am afraid. The lad with me would only go down so far, so when I reached what appeared to be the bottom I was faced with a crawl passage which I was reluctant to take on my own.

 

Ian

Thanks Ian, not surprised you had a look down there yourself. Did you drop right to the bottom? I suppose it must go somewhere if they have bothered to put a proper lid on it? But doesn't look like anyone has for a long time. I've no idea if GCC are still about these days, or what their willingness is like to lend keys to explorers who want to have a look down holes in the ground.

Years ago when I followed that drainage adit at valley-floor level, leading under the mountain towards Park Mine (and this shaft) I do remember the level eventually reaching a big shaft leading up, but it was quite choked, it wasn't possible to actually get in the shaft but its presence was obvious from the sound of the roaring water coming down it. So it was certainly a very wet shaft, this one yesterday looked quite dry and no water could be heard from the top, so probably not the same one. I remember in the drainage level where it met the shaft, there was some kind of old dig project there, I guess to try to clear the landing but it wasn't broken through at that time. Maybe someone picked up the dig since, but I don't know anything about it, this was years ago.

I'd be interested to learn anything about it or any of the others in the area. It looks to me like a lot was going on in the mountain at some point.

Thanks Ian