The Frenchman’s Grave - Dinas Oleu - Barmouth
The History
In 1875, Fanny Talbot, who lived in the house at the top of Barmouth, Tyn y Ffynon, donated 13 cottages to John Ruskin’s Guild of St. George. This was an early attempt at an ideal community, almost a commune. Auguste Guyard had tried to set up a similar experimental community in France. The French experiment lasted for 2 years and upset the church, and other local authorities, and he was forced to move away to Paris. After the Franco-Prussian war of 1870, Auguste moved to join one of his daughters in Barmouth. Auguste’s daughter was married to the son of Fanny Talbot, Quartus. Fanny Talbot gave Auguste, and another of his daughters, one of the 13 cottages belonging to the Guild of St, George. He soon became an important part of the community as he was an expert on growing vegetables and using medicinal herbs. Auguste Guyard died in 1883 and was buried above the town, with a great view over the estuary and harbour.
The Cache
This cache was originally set up by Mr Sparks when he was a regular visitor to nearby Harlech. Unfortunately it was muggled away in the summer of 2007. Mr Sparks said that this was too special a place not to have a cache, and as I live in the area, I offered to re-do the cache. One of the reasons that I have set up many of my caches, is to share places that are special to me with other people. You can visit the original cache listing and logs here GC7744.
To find the cache, you will need to start from Barmouth and work your way up through the narrow alleys and steps of Hen Bermo, Old Barmouth. These are the oldest houses in the town, built here to be near the harbour but away from the sand that still blows around the shore today. You can start either from The Original Factory Shop, on the High Street, or from between Ty Gwyn and the Last Inn, near the harbour. It’s a fascinating maze, a great place to explore with kids. Some of the paths don’t look open to the public but don’t worry: so long as there’s no “Private” sign it’s generally a right of way and the locals are used to lost explorers! When you emerge at the Dinas Oleu viewpoint, stop a while to catch your breath, enjoy the view and read the information board about the early days of the National Trust. Take the path that goes up the left (north) side of Tyn y Ffynon through the gorse. Go through a gate, with a rock weight that closes it and eventually you will get to the gate for the Frenchman’s Grave, in the wall on your right.
Once you’ve found this cache, why not keep on going to the top of the hill and find Gwyddno's Garn – Rock Cannon 3 (GCYFCX) cache?
More Information
& Discover Barmouth by Owena Wyn-Jones and John Jones ISBN 0-9541128-1-4
8 Old photos of Barmouth
8A talk about Auguste Guyard
8Barmouth webcams