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Around Llyn Safaddan 3 – Llanywern Mystery Cache

This cache has been archived.

Write and Mane: Collected cache in line with planned withdrawal from owning caches. Apart from broken lid, the cache was in good condition, with a meagre collection of exchange items. Sadly the increasing years mean that we cannot readily maintain these caches.

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Hidden : 7/8/2008
Difficulty:
2.5 out of 5
Terrain:
1.5 out of 5

Size: Size:   small (small)

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Geocache Description:

One of a linked series visiting the churches around Llangorse Lake, this cache, in a medium size rectangular plastic container, is at the Church of St Mary the Virgin, Llanywern. You need information from the previous caches in this series to determine the coordinates of this cache. You will need information from here for the next cache in the series.

The Parish of Llyn Safaddan has six churches, scattered around Llangorse Lake, although only five of these are active places of worship and are used in this series. For anyone interested in visiting the sixth church, St Michael’s at Cathedine, this could be passed conveniently if finishing the circuit of the lake after completing the final cache of the series. The parish welcomes visitors to its churches, whether their interest is religious or secular, and the vicar and parish council have both approved and encouraged the placing of this series of caches. It is the aim of the parish to have its churches open during the day, but this depends on voluntary key holders so cannot be guaranteed. The whole set of caches could be tackled in a round trip of about 15 miles. Parking, though limited at some locations, is usually possible close to the churches: please park considerately. Take the opportunity, while in the area, to explore Llangorse Lake, the second largest natural lake in Wales and the site of a crannog. If you are feeling more energetic, a climb to the viewpoint at the summit of Allt yr Esgair is well rewarded.

Llangorse is derived from Llan yn y gors, the church in the marsh. At the beginning of the 5th century, it is believed that King Brychan established a court here and sent his children to be educated by St Gastyn, who may have been Constantius, son of the Roman Emperor Magnus Maximus, or Macsen Wledig, who is sometimes regarded as the founder of the Welsh nation. An 8th century charter indicates that King Awst of Brycheiniog gave the parish to Bishop Euddogwy and also records that Awst gave his own and his sons bodies to the church for burial, so there could be a royal burial ground here. Another charter tells of a meeting at a monastery in Llangorse in 925 AD between King Tewdwr of Brycheiniog and Bishop Libiau and helps confirm that the crannog in the lake was a royal residence.

This third cache in the series is in the churchyard of St Mary the Virgin. The first church on this site was built in the 6th century and for many years it served as a chapel of ease for St John´s Priory, Brecon, now Brecon Cathedral. The building was extensively repaired in 2004, following a dedicated effort by parishioners who secured contributions from CADW and the Heritage Lottery Fund to supplement money raised by their own efforts.

The coordinates for this cache are N 51° 5J.FK6 W 003° 1L.MG2, where the numbers corresponding to letters A-H should have been obtained while finding the previous caches in the series and:
J = G + B
K = H + E
L = (F + D) ÷ H
M = F - H – E
To determine the co-ordinates for the next cache in the series, you need to find out how many large buttresses support the leaning north wall of this church. This number will be N. Don’t discard the information for letters A to M.

Additional Hints (Decrypt)

Haqre ohfu.

Decryption Key

A|B|C|D|E|F|G|H|I|J|K|L|M
-------------------------
N|O|P|Q|R|S|T|U|V|W|X|Y|Z

(letter above equals below, and vice versa)