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Holy Well Traditional Cache

Hidden : 7/11/2014
Difficulty:
2 out of 5
Terrain:
2.5 out of 5

Size: Size:   regular (regular)

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Geocache Description:

This cache is in a series celebrating points of archaeological and historical interest in and around the village of Aberdaron in North Wales. It can be found as part of an 8 mile circular walk starting at the National Trust Interpretation Centre at Porth y Swnt, Aberdaron.


It is possible to find this, and the other caches in the series on a circular walk of approximately 8 miles starting from the National Trust, Porth y Swnt Interpretation Centre in Aberdaron. Care should be taken when walking on the Wales Coast Path, which has a steep drop to one side, but offers stunning views across Cardigan Bay. This particular cache is accessible from the road between Aberdaron and Uwchmynydd, which can be busy during summer.

This is an ancient well, a source of clear drinking water for local people and an important place for Pilgrim travellers in medieval times. Along the North and Southern Pilgrimage routes to Bardsey there are a string of such wells. Each was thought to have special curative powers. They probably date back to the pre Christian era when wells were thought to be places with a link to the spirit world “down below”. When the Christians arrived they took over the pagan sites and made them Holy Wells.

Further along the road towards Aberdaron village and opposite  Dwyros (caravan site) are the remains of a Cold War Period 1950s civil defence bunker. These were built across Great Britain to monitor the nuclear fallout in the nightmare scenario of a nuclear strike. The Government needed to know the levels of radiation in each area. One Civil Defence worker was detailed to stay in this bunker and to use special equipment to report back to HQ. There were other such bunkers at Abersoch and Nefyn.

Roedd melinau yn hanfodol ym mhob ardal; melinau dŵr lle byddai afonydd a modd cronni dŵr yn llyn y felin a melinau gwynt lle byddai gwlad wastad, fel yn Sir Fôn. Deuai ffermwyr Aberdaron ac Enlli a’u hŷd, ceirch gan fwyaf, i’w falu yn y felin hon. Mae’r olwyn ddŵr wedi diflannu ond gellir gweld llyn y felin y tu cefn i’r adeilad. Yn hwn cai dŵr yr afon ei gronni a’i ollwng wedyn trwy’r fflodiart pan fyddai ei angen i droi’r olwyn ddŵr.

(Cynigiodd yr Arglwydd Newborough felin neu gapel i drigolion Ynys Enlli. Fe ddewison nhw gapel a hynny’n golygu y bu’n rhaid iddynt gario pob gronyn o ŷd ar draws y Swnt i’w falu ym melin Aberdaron.)

Additional Hints (Decrypt)

jryy jryy jnyy

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)