CC20 Nant Hafod Tudor Traditional Geocache
Write and Mane: Retrieved cache in line with planned run down of our owned caches. Cache was still in excellent condition, with original log book - it is the owners who are no longer fit for purpose!
Sadly, the paths to the cache have deteriorated, so it was probably time to go anyway.
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Difficulty:
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Terrain:
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Size: 
(small)
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This is the twentieth of a series, the “Caerphilly Collection”, that will explore the whole Borough Council area. The Nant Hafod Tudor valley has been untouched by industrial activity. The cache is in a medium sized plastic lunch box. From the suggested parking spot, expect an overall walk of about 3 miles with 1000’ of ascent, steep in parts and sometimes wet and muddy. A less strenuous option is suggested.
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.
CC20 is at the head of the steep sided valley of the Nant Hafod Tudor. To fully appreciate the location, a parking spot near the bottom of the valley, at Wattsville, is suggested (N 51 36.808 W 003 09.123) – but you need to turn north (!!) off the main road to get to it. The parking area is close to the old Penllwyn Tramroad Bridge over the River Sirhowy. It would be possible to combine this cache with some or all of CC15, CC16 or CC17, in a circular walk of 6-7 miles and an extra 2-300’ of ascent (but you would need to call at the Cwmcarn Visitor Centre first). If you are looking for an easier approach, you can park near Mynyddislwyn Church (CC16 start) and use the access track to the masts on Mynydd y Lan and the stile at N 51 37.746 W 003 09.362, which is on the continuation of the public footpath shown coming up the valley on OS maps. The apology for a path on Mynydd y Lan (about 20-40 metres off the western boundary wall) can be wet and hard to find. This easier option would require a walk of about 2 miles with 200’ of ascent. This attractive valley (CC also standing for coal-less countryside) is home to buzzards, while skylarks abound on Mynydd y Lan. If you cross the latter moorland, look out for the 18th century boundary stone at N 51 37.893 W 003 09.372.
Additional Hints
(Decrypt)
Lbh znl arrq gb ybbx hc … sebz qbja.