Merlin's Hill Traditional Cache
Big Ragnar: As the owner has not responded to my previous log requesting that they check this cache I am permanently archiving it.
If you wish to email me please send your email via my profile (click on my name) and quote the cache name and number.
Regards
Darren
Big Ragnar - Volunteer UK Reviewer
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Difficulty:
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Size: 
(small)
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A short climb to the top of Merlin’s Hill just outside Carmarthen but the trail can be steep in places. The walk is just under a mile from the stile at the start of the trail, up to the cache and back again. This cache was hatched from the dragons egg found at Twm-y-tonnau’s the Last Welsh Dragon cache in Newcastle Emlyn. So a big thanks to them.
So to keep the Dragon theme going here is the story of Merlin and the dragons in as short a tale as possible.
Vortigern the King of Britain was trying to build a fortress in Snowdon to defend against the Saxons but it kept falling down so he was advised to sacrifice a young boy with no father and pour his blood on the foundations to ease the spirits. Unfortunately this young lad was Merlin and he told the king that it was two dragons fighting under the ground that were the problem. He told the King that there was a white one (the Saxons) and a red one (the Welsh) and although the white one was winning the red one would eventually be the victor. Anyway, the king dug down and discovered this to be true and so he didn’t sacrifice Merlin and gave him the fort as a nice pressie…and called it Dinas Emrys.
The Red Dragon that won is the dragon seen on the Welsh flag today!
Merlin’s Hill is so named because it is said that Merlin lived in a cave on the hill. He was also later imprisoned in the cave by a lover and is said to be still there alive under the hill somewhere. Rumour says you can hear his chains rattling up there, so don’t do this cache at night…unless you want to of course!
The best place to park is N51 52.397 W004 14.745. There was a big layby here but someone has now dumped a load of gravel there, although there should be room for one car still. From here walk back down the hill past the Merlin’s Hill Farm and head for the stile that marks the start of the public footpath at N51 52.240 W004 15.124. Please note that there is another path opposite the farm but this is private, so carry on past the farm and directly opposite a house is the public footpath stile hidden in the hedge on the left. Also, there is a working farm nearby so there are cattle grazing in the first field and at the top of the hill so not advisable to take the dog, sorry. Head directly into the trees opposite via another stile and then after a short walk look on your left for some steep steps. Head up these and you should reach a path crossing left to right. Opposite and to the left a bit is another set of steps. These are very steep but there is a rope to help you up and down…believe me you’ll need it on the way back down. Follow the path up again and you should pass a weird stone fount at N51 52.206 W004 14.931. No idea why its there…quite creepy! Carry on to the very top but rather than head straight for the cache walk up to the viewpoint and information point at N51 52.234 W004 14.790 and this will make the way to the cache easier. And give you time to learn about the history of the site and have a breather!
Hope you enjoy the views and the cache.
Also at the bottom of the hill just off the roundabout is Carmarthen Museum, N51 51.964 W004 15.968, you may like to pop in and see whats left of Merlin's Oak!
Cheers
Jon Leyshon
*After visiting in July '08 I have noticed that the info board has been removed. Don't know if this is vandalism or if it has been removed so that it can be replaced with a new one, so in the meantime, just to let you know that the Hill was also the site if an Iron Age Hill Fort aswell as home to Merlin.
Additional Hints
(Decrypt)
Haqre fgbarf ba ebpxl yrqtr