Ystrad Fflur Parking: 52º16.523 003º50.385
Co-ordinates given are for parking which is just opposite the
entrance to the ancient Cistercian Abbey of Strata Florida. To find
the cache you will need to solve the clues below, some of which may
require some research before you get to Ground Zero.
Strata Florida is situated about 1 mile outside of
Pontrhydfendigaid. It was founded by the Norman Robert fitz Stephen
in 1164 about 2 miles away from the present site. Cistercians were
famed for their excellence in water management and in the nearby
area the boggy flood plain was drained, water channels dug and
re-dug. With the land ready, construction began on what was to
become the great monastery of 'Ystrad Fflur' or 'Strata Florida',
meaning 'Vale of the Flowers' from the nearby river Fflur....
The remains of the abbey are well worth exploring. There is a
small visitor centre and a small charge (currently £2.90) is made
for entry to the abbey between 10am and 5pm during the summer
months. At other times the abbey itself is open and un-staffed with
no admission charge.
All of the answers to the following clues can be found in and
around the churchyard of St Mary's, next to the old Abbey of Strata
Florida and the cache itself is within a short walk too.
<>The cache itself is at:
52º16.ABC 003º50.DEF
A. Under the beech trees lies Morgan Davies who died on July 12
18A8.
B. Syr David John James LLD xxxx-xBxx. This isn't on a
headstone and may require some mirror reading!
C. Local Telephone Box: 01974 xCxxxx
D. A famous Welsh Poet is reputed to be buried here. He was
author of:
'Morfudd fel yr haul' (Morfudd like the sun), a poem to the wife
of an Aberystwyth merchant that seems to have had a long affair
with Dafydd, and whom he addressed in many poems;
and
'Trafferth mewn tafarn' (Trouble in a tavern), in which he
recounts an incident in a tavern that would be worthy of any
slapstick film;
'Yew' will find a mention of him in the churchyard along with some
dates from which 'D' can be found: xDxx -xDxx
E. How many circular impressions are there in the headstone
immediately adjacent to the E wall of the church?
F. How many circular pipes can you see on the outside of the
northern churchyard wall?
You are getting close now... Happy hunting!