CC6 Maesycymmer (RVR6) Multi-cache
Write and Mane: Collected cache in line with planned withdrawal from owning remote caches. The cache was in reasonably good condition: sadly the same cannot be said of the owners!
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Difficulty:
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Terrain:
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Size: 
(small)
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This sixth cache of the “Caerphilly Collection” involves a walk of about a mile, with about 300’ of ascent, mainly on paved surfaces: the remainder is on field paths. Two virtual caches ensure that the route to the final regular cache (in a medium sized plastic lunchbox) takes you over the Maesycymmer Viaduct. The trail will take you along part of the Rhymney Valley Ridgeway Footpath.
The Caerphilly Collection is distinguished with a unique CC number and is made up of 50 caches. The caches vary in difficulty and type and usually have other “C” word connections – castle, cheese, coal, canal, etc. There may even be Cryptic Clues for Clever Clogs! The current Caerphilly unitary authority grew out of the former Rhymney Valley and Islwyn Councils and stretches from the outskirts of Cardiff and Newport in the south to the Brecon Beacons, north of Rhymney. Despite a past dominated by coal and heavy industry, it has a diverse history and varied and dramatic scenery. We hope you will enjoy exploring it with us.
Towards the end of the Collection is CC48 The Accumulator, the location of which is given in coded form. The translation details of the code are distributed around the whole Collection, but only about a third of the caches will contain a piece of the code, which is on the back of the Log Book. To do the Accumulator, you will need to keep a note of each piece of code that you find. Unless you are very lucky, you will need to find the majority of the Collection in order to do the Accumulator. The Accumulator cache is hidden in an area of difficult terrain and demanding navigation, with a 5,4½ rating.
CC6 is also the sixth of a subset of the main series around the Rhymney Valley Ridgeway (RVR) Footpath.
In this case, CC could also stand for curving construction or circular creation. The 130’ high, 16 arch Maesycymmer Viaduct was built for the GWR Vale of Neath Branch at a cost of £20,000. The line was opened in 1858 and closed in 1964. The viaduct was declared a listed structure in 1974 and transferred to Sustrans in 1999. It is currently being refurbished at a cost of £1.3 million. Convenient parking is available in the service road at N51 38.680 W003 13.345.
In the following, VC stands for Virtual Cache and RC for Regular Cache.
VC1 is at the coordinates given above for the cache. You need to determine the following (watching the up’s and down’s!):
a = mileage to Crosskeys, rounded down
b = mileage to Pontypridd, rounded down
c = mileage to Taff Trail, rounded down
d = difference in mileage to Crosskeys and Pontypridd, rounded down
e = difference in mileage to Newport and Pontypridd, rounded up
VC2 is at N51 38.abc W003 13.ded.
Early settlers in America would form a circle of wagons if attacked by Indians – but never like this! This landmark sculpture by Andy Hazell celebrates the refurbishment of the viaduct and its incorporation in the National Cycle Network. It commemorates the original haulage companies that operated on this goods line. You now need to determine the following:
One name on the sculpture is reminiscent of the time when much of the map of the world was coloured red.
f = the number of vowels in this name
g = the number dram wheels divided by 3
h = the number of letters in the name of Evans’ partner
j = c - f
k = g - f - h
RC3 is at N51 38.fhj W003 12.gke.
In keeping with our intention to encourage exploration of the RVR Footpath, we would encourage linking this cache with CC5, in a circular walk of 8 or more miles and at least 1000’ of ascent. Better still, go for CC4 as well, requiring a good 13 mile walk. If you can organise transport to both ends, all three caches can be picked up in the 8½ mile (with 1300’ of ascent) section of the RVR Footpath from Maesycymmer to Machen.
Additional Hints
(No hints available.)