Ogof Ffynnon Ddu

Ogof Ffynnon Ddu, the Cave of the Black Spring, commonly known to the lazy or non-welsh as OFD, is the nearest cave to the club, lying almost under the cottages. There are 3 entrances to the system within easy walking distance of the cottage - the OFD I or bottom entrance, the Cwm Dwr entrance and the OFD II or top entrance.  Please see the access information for OFD to plan a trip.

For the ‘full’ experience without leaving your chair, look at the Virtual Tour at www.ogof.net 

OFD is Britain's third longest cave and at 275m deep is its deepest. The through trip from the Top to the Bottom entrance remains a classic in the UK, and its approx. 61km of passages provide everything from huge chambers, beautiful formations, to yawning chasms and thundering river passages.   The routes though the cave are too numerous to mention, but the simplified survey above locates some of the main points.  Copies of the full survey are available from SWCC HQ.

Be aware that the Mainstream and some other parts of the cave are prone to flooding, and in any event a journey down the Mainstream is long and cold and wet, so go prepared.

You can find more background info on Ogof Ffynnon Ddu and a Conservation article from Welsh Country Magazine. For more information about the nature reserve, please go to the NRW website.

Click here for rigging topos

Older topos and information:

  1. OFD1 The Step
  2. OFD 2 The Columns
  3. OFD 2 The Columns Pitch
  4. OFD 2 Streamway Markers
  5. OFD 2 Swamp Creek
  6. OFD 2 The Nave
  7. OFD 2 The Sky Hook
  8. OFD 2 The Crevasse

SWCC Address

1-10 Powell Street
Penwyllt
Pen-y-Cae
Swansea
SA9 1GQ

Tel 01639 730613
Grid Reference SN856154

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