This cache has been placed with the permission of the Brecon Beacons National Park Authority and is located along the footpath running along the south side of Llangorse Lake.
Llangorse Lake was formed in the ice age and is the largest natural body of fresh water in south Wales. The mixed habitat of meadows, grazed pasture, woodland and reed bed encourage many breeding bird species during the summer and you may hear the explosive song of a Cetti’s Warbler, a species that colonised the lake in just the past decade or so. The lake is an important stopover for migrating birds in spring and autumn including terns and waders and the lake holds thousands of wildfowl through the winter months and an impressive gull roost at dusk. Starling murmurations can be dazzling during late autumn to early winter and listen out for the squealing pig like calls of a hidden Water Rail. The reed beds and meadows are alive with dragonflies, damselflies and butterflies in summer. Otters and Water Voles also inhabit the lake but are rarely seen.
Llangasty car park affords a wide perspective and open views of the lake giving good opportunities to observe the resident and seasonal birds as well as the chance of finding a rare migrant. Recent sightings of birds and sometimes other wildlife can be found at Brecknockirds
To find this cache you will need to glean information from three locations along the footpath around the south side of the lake. The cache is located at N AC° AA.EBD W 00F° CE.CAD
N 51° 55.651 W 003° 15.741 D & E = Look at the Llangasty car park information sign. D = the number of letters in the English version of the name of a bird on the Llangasty car park information sign called in Welsh “Cornch??????”, and E = the number of letters in the Welsh name of the animal in the top right corner of the Llangasty car park information sign.
N 51° 55.622 W 003° 16.298 B & C = Near to, but outside, the bird hide is an information sign named “Cartref Clyd” in Welsh. B = the first number of the total rare plant species to Wales that can be found at Llangorse Lake, and C = the first number of the total additional plants that are rare in Brecknockshire that can be found at Llangorse Lake.
N 51° 55.816 W 003° 16.798 A & F = On the damselfly information point statue at “Caeau Ty Mawr”, A = the selection number for the English version of “Croeso I Gaeau Ty Mawr”, and F = the selection number for the Welsh version of “Dragons, Devils and Damsels”.
It is possible to walk to this cache along the footpath from Llangorse or Llangasty but it is not possible to complete a circular walk of the lake and disturbance to wildlife should be minimised by respecting the no-access land to the east of the Llangasty car park and St Gastyn’s Church. The footpath regularly floods at the far western end of the lake during the winter and is normally impassable. Parts of the footpath are boardwalked however some parts are uneven. This cache should be accessible year round if approached from Llangasty. A public toilet is located at Llangorse Common on the north side of the lake as well as a café and the Welsh Crannog Centre. It should be noted that livestock graze in the fields the footpath passes through so dogs should be kept under control at all times.