WHAT LIES BENEATH
TV adventurer discovers the hidden wonders of Wales
YOU may have paid a visit to the show caves at Dan yr Ogof, but only a lucky few people have seen the true wonder of the network of caverns hundreds of feet below the surface.
Sitting among the rolling hills of the Brecon Beacons National Park in the hamlet of Glyntawe, thousands flock to the National Showcaves Centre for Wales to explore the caves and see the incredible rock formations like the “alabaster pillar” and the “angel” every year.
In a new BBC documentary Hidden Wales adventurer and author Will Millard is given a rare and unique glimpse into the true wonders that lie deep in the depths of Dan yr Ogof.
Introducing the show, Will said: “Although I’ve explored some of the world’s most inaccessible corners, I’m often surprised about the incredible wonders right here on my doorstep in Wales. Wales is full of hidden, forgotten and almost inaccessible places with remarkable stories to tell.”
He said exploring the caves is for experienced cavers only and “the tourist attraction is only a fraction of what’s down there”.
During the show, Will enters the public entrance to Dan yr Ogof caves but is soon taken down into the dark depths with cave explorer and one of the UK’s leading cave divers, Martin Farr, who has been exploring the caves since the 1970s.
So far, 16kms of tunnels and caverns have been explored but Martin said he “wouldn’t be surprised if it’s three times longer”.
The caves have been formed over 350 million years by an underground river but it wasn’t until 1912 that they were discovered by two local farmers, Tommy and Jeff Morgan, who had nothing but candles and a coracle to make their way through the treacherous tunnels and tight passageways they encountered.
Standing in the first of two large chambers explored in the e show, Will said: “It’s amazing to think that the two farmers who discovered this cave back in 1912 were equipped only with candles.”
The magnificent stalactites and stalagmites t l it t to be seen in i the th first fi t chamber are nothing in comparison to the incredible “cloud chamber” which was discovered in the 1960s.
To access it you have to complete th the “endless crawl” and struggle, sq squeeze and pull yourself through a passageway that is hardly big enough en to move in for upwards of a an hour.
Then a walk past crystal pools takes you to the breathtaking “cloud chamber” where crystals come down from the roof of the cave and catch the light.
“This is the holy grail of cave exploration. A curtain of crystals cascading down from the roof of the cavern. When you look at a place like this you can’t help but be moved in an almost spiritual way. It is sensational,” Will said.
A sentiment shared by Martin, who wondered:
“How many more places j just t lik like thi this could there be under this mountain?”
So next time you’re at the Dan yr Ogof showcaves, pause and think what incredible discoveries are waiting i t to b be made d under d your f feet. t
Hidden Wales with Will Millard airs at 7.30pm on Fridays on BBC One Wales. You can catch up on previous episodes on BBC iPlayer.