Merthyr Marathon MM3 - Crypt with a View Multi-cache
Write and Mane: Collected cache in line with planned withdrawal from owning remote caches. The cache was in good condition: sadly the same cannot be said of the owners! Just retrieving the cache was a reminder of why it is time to withdraw!
Merthyr Marathon MM3 - Crypt with a View
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Difficulty:
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Terrain:
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Size: 
(regular)
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This is the third in a series of caches aimed at exploring Merthyr Tydfil. You will need to have picked up the answers to questions on the first two to do this three part cache. The first two stages are virtual caches, the third is a medium sized plastic container. The four star rating reflects a rough, rocky terrain around the final cache and the difficulty in finding a way to it. Good map reading and navigation skills are essential. Allow at least a couple of hours to do this cache.
Limestone, iron and coal were found at surface level around Morlais. This and its strategic position on a historic north-south route led to the development of many railways and tramroads. The combination of minerals in Merthyr attracted Anthony Bacon, the first ironmaster in Merthyr. The location given above is the car park of a visitor attraction which you may wish to experience while you are in the area. Provided that you make use of the facilities at the attraction, even if it is only the tea room, there should be no objection to leaving your car here while doing the cache. This cache lends itself to being done as a circular 3 mile walk. Even if you make maximum use of a car, you should still expect to walk a mile over rough ground - but the reward is a quite unexpected room and magnificent views.
THERE IS A "WHEELCHAIR FRIENDLY" CONVERSION AVAILABLE FOR THE FIRST EIGHT OF THE MERTHYR MARATHON SERIES. PLEASE CONTACT US BY EMAIL IF YOU WANT DETAILS.
The letter/number code used in MM1 and MM2 no longer applies.
Virtual Cache 1 N 51 bc.bdf W 003 fh.cce where:-
b = (letters in name of restoration operation in MM2) - (letters in answer 4 of MM1)
c = (letters in answer 3 of MM1) - (letters in answer 4 of MM1)
d = (letters in answer 2 of MM1) - (letters in answer 1 of MM1)
e = (letters in answer 4 of MM1) + (letters in answer 5 of MM1)
f = (letters in answer 1 of MM1) - (letters in answer 4 of MM1)
h = (letters in answer 3 of MM1) - (letters in answer 2 of MM1)
You should be at the gates of a large enclosure which, unusually, contains a significant portion of leaning stones. Question 1. What epidemic struck in 1849?
Virtual Cache 2 N 51 bc.bcj W 003 fh.ceb where:-
j = (letters in answer 1 above)- (b+d)
This watering hole commemorates the Welsh Chieftain who took daring action to recover stolen land in hhie. Question 2: What was the surname of the Lord of Glamorgan? The Brecon and Merthyr railway ran just behind this building for about 100 years until Dr Beeching wielded his axe.
Regular Cache 3 N 51 bc.ige W 003 ff.aia where:-
a = (letters in answer 1 above)
g = (letters in answer 2 above)
i = (letters in answer 2 above) - b
There is no general access across the golf course to the east of this cache site. However, there is one useful waymarked (though rather poorly!) permissive path across the course to the south. This starts close to the car park location given. Immediately to the west of the cache site is a disused limestone quarry, while a little to the north is an arc of further quarries. For this reason the recommended approach is from the south, but there is no clearly defined path across rough and rocky ground.
If you have not noticed the room by the time you find the cache, head for the highest point, 0.019 minutes due east.
Morlais Castle was built in the 1280's by Gilbert de Clare, Lord of Glamorgan. However, a dispute over ownership of the land with Lord Humphrey de Bohun resulted in the Battle of Maes Faenor in 1291. The battlesite is north of the castle on the opposite side of the Taf Fechan River.
To complete a circular walk back to the suggested car park, you need to find the old tramroad below the castle site on the west side (but don't forget to go around the quarry!). Head north on the tramroad and follow the waymarked trail generally eastwards through the quarries.
Additional Hints
(Decrypt)
Gur Zbeynvf Genvy yrnsyrg, bar bs n frg bs gra ninvynoyr ng ybpny vasbezngvba bssvprf, bssref nqivpr ba gur pvephyne jnyx naq ubj gb trg gb Zbeynvf Pnfgyr sebz vg.