Skip to content

Remote Wales: Crugiau Merched Traditional Geocache

Hidden : 12/8/2009
Difficulty:
2 out of 5
Terrain:
3.5 out of 5

Size: Size:   small (small)

Join now to view geocache location details. It's free!

Watch

How Geocaching Works

Please note Use of geocaching.com services is subject to the terms and conditions in our disclaimer.

Geocache Description:


This cache forms part of the “Remote Wales” series. It is a series that is designed to take the cacher off the beaten track. On many of the walks involved, you will be the only person along that track that day or even week or month. Many of the walks are long and physically demanding. I am not expecting a lot of visitors!
Each string of caches is grouped around a bonus cache, the coordinates of which you get from finding the traditional cache in the string . The Bonus Caches in turn carry a code for a final bonus cache, designed to draw the whole series together. The idea for this series draws heavily on other series of hill-walking caches. Thanks are due to: Morgs4mountains, SidAndBob, martlakes, Ezitis and muddypuddles. Elements of their series have been incorporated into this one.
Although the caches are all small, all are placed for an easy find. The point of these caches is to take you on a voyage of discovery with an uncomplicated find at the end of the walk. Boulder fields are avoided if possible. I firmly believe that the effort and time you will have put in to reach ground zero should, as near as possible, guarantee a find. As these caches are all in remote hill areas, please take all the necessary, precautions, equipment and care. And then enjoy the caches.
Mynydd Mallaen is an extensive plateau with, in places, steep sides. It is easy to get lost up here- please take care. it is all a SSSI and this cache is placed with te kind permission of CCW. Please respect the environment around you. Evidence of pre-historic activity is concentrated on the northern edge and these caches are placed nearby. Crugiau Merched are a pair of prehistoric burial mounds, no longer in the best of condition. One was cut through to provide a sight line between two Trig Points ( oh dear!) and the other was extensively disturbed by firstly an unproductive archaeological dig and then a shepherd building a sheep pen (oh dear, oh dear!!). In rather better condition are two standing stones adjacent to the path that you will need to walk along to get these caches. One looks like a gravestone (Maen bach)and the other (Maen Hir) is small, delicate and appears rather fragile. Both continue to be of use as reference points on an otherwise featureless plateau. I could not take photos when putting out these caches as it was raining torrentially. You can see photos at: (visit link)
This part of the Mallaen is rather wet with large areas of Mollinia caerulea (Purple Moorgrass). I advise you to stay on paths as much as you can and avoid as much bog-bashing as possible. For your own good as well as to avoid damaging the vegetation.
Remember to take the codes to get the coordinates of the bonus.

Additional Hints (Decrypt)

Haqre ebpx

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)