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Three Bears Caves Traditional Cache

Hidden : 5/12/2015
Difficulty:
2 out of 5
Terrain:
2 out of 5

Size: Size:   small (small)

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Geocache Description:

Can you find the third bear at Three Bears Caves? This cache is a bison tube hanging around the neck of a brown bear, hidden close to Three Bears Caves in Fforest Fawr. Enjoy the walk: the cache is in beautiful ancient woodland, located just off the main path not far from the car park. 


Fforest Fawr is historic woodland located just above the village of Tongwynlais and Castell Coch, now managed by Natural Resources Wales. There are clearly marked paths throughout the forest (Sir Henry's Trail and Burges' Way) and magnificent sculptures, photos of some of which we have included as background to this cache.

Three Bears Caves (or Cave) is the name given to an old iron mine, located on the right hand side of the main path heading into the forest away from the car park. Hidden at the bottom of a large crater, the old mine workings are not directly visible from the path but are easily found by their dedicated information board and the fine wooden statue of a mother and baby bear. Both are unmissable from the path. Nowadays, Fforest Fawr and Three Bears Caves are frequently used as locations in BBC television productions (including Dr Who, Merlin, Sherlock and Torchwood), amongst others.

When the wooden mother and baby bear statue appeared we wondered where the third bear might be. In the event we decided to provide it ourselves. The bison tube cache has no room for trackables, but when first hidden we managed to squeeze in a stump of pencil. Just to note: to retrieve the cache there is no need to cross beyond the wooden fence which marks the boundary of the old mine's viewing area.

The woodland is magnificent, and is much loved by walkers, runners and mountain bikers of all ages. If this cache brings you here for the first time, then you're in for a treat. Once you've found the cache make sure you stay awhile. Walk the trails, and admire the sculptures. Enjoy. 

Additional Hints (Decrypt)

Sbbg bs gerr oruvaq gur terra oneevre.

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)