IMPORTANT NOTICE
This cache is on the flood-plain of the river Severn. At certain times access to the cache may be under water. If the flood level is more than ankle deep, do not attempt to access this cache!
I cannot emphasise this enough. People can be swept away in even apparently low levels of running water. This is merely a geocache. It is not worth risking your life for!
If access to the bridge pillars is not available I may disable the cache until I can check that it is still ok. An indication of the current water level at the bridge can be found on the river levels website.
Croeso i Gymru!
That’s "Welcome to Wales" in Welsh. This cache is placed on the Welsh side of the river Severn, at a point where it marks the boundary between England and Wales. Whilst the Severn is often considered to be the border, in fact for most of its length the border is some way away from the river. There are actually only three bridges across the river which connect England and Wales; the two motorway bridges near Chepstow are well known, the bridge here is the third. It was originally a railway bridge, carrying the Criggion branch of the obscure Shropshire and Montgomeryshire Light Railway, a line with a chequered history that first opened in 1866 and finally closed in 1960. The history is too complex to go into details here, but those interested can find more information on the BBC website.
The road that now crosses the bridge is a narrow road from Crew Green, on the B4393, to Melverley. There is parking on both sides of the bridge, though I would recommend parking on the Welsh (south) side, as the bridge is very narrow with no walkways. Please note that the cache cannot be reached from the deck of the bridge, so don't hold traffic up by trying! Nor is it necessary to climb onto the structure of the bridge - the cache can be reached from ground level. There is no access for wheelchair users.
At the time of placing, the cache contains:
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A log book, pencils and sharpener,
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A Welsh dragon toy as a present for the FTF.
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Some Welsh souvenir "nick-nacks". Please remember that these are swaps, not gifts. If you take anything, please replace it with something of equal or greater value, in accordance with Geocaching rules.
This is the third of a series of caches placed on the Welsh border.
Other caches in this series -
Croeso i Gymru #1 – Rowley Brook (now archived)
Croeso i Gymru #2 – Dingle
Good luck!