The cave takes its name from a ruined chapel that is located in the fields a little west of this site. The large and impressive entrance opens out into a large entrance chamber and about 70 metres of large passages ending in a choked cross rift. Near the entrance is a slope down behind a large boulder which reaches a sump that opens up only after long dry periods and leads to a lower series which ends in sandy digs.
Length 164m
Altitude 172m
OSGB Grid Reference SN 46740 12803
The cave was first explored by South Wales Caving Club in 1951 and surveyed in 1956. The cave was extended in 1987 by the Teifi Valley Caving Club. The cave is located in woodland just outside the village of Crwbin. Leaving Crwbin on the road to Felindre woodland is reached on the left just outside Crwbin. Near the start of the woodland is a rough lay-by on the left, follow the road for about another 400 m and a gated track leads up into the woodland on the left. The path is followed for about 300 m until it reaches a clearing and from here a rough path through undergrowth on the left heads upwards towards an old quarry face. The entrance is large and very obvious located in an overhang at the base of the old quarry face.
Carmarthenshire area Google map showing the location of Ogof Capel Dyddgen and other caves in the area. No known access restrictions. The entrance is about 2 m high by 3 m wide located at one end of a large overhang in the old quarry face. The entrance leads to a lofty chamber about 9 metres high after a short distance, from here the passage take a sharp left turn and then a sharp right to enter a lofty linear rift passage. This ends in area where a ramp of glacial fill blocks the way on some 70 m from the entrance. In this area a cross rift is met which is blocked with the fill after a couple of metres in either direction.
At a point about 10 m in from the entrance, behind a large boulder, is a small descending passage. This leads to a 20 m long passage of nearly circular cross-section, about 1m in diameter. After 13 m a 4.5 m climb down a pot leads to a sloping rift passage which leads to a low chamber from which a short excavated crawl leads via a short duck to a higher passage. Above the pool is a calcite adorned grotto. The duck generally sumped in all but long dry periods so normally this is the limit to most visits.
Beyond the duck the passage immediately contracts to a tight squeeze before opening up again into a walking height rift passage which leads to a 2 m climb down into a small chamber. Beyond is a comfortable crawl past several bends to a hole in the roof. Above this is a passage which becomes too tight after an awkward squeeze but this only connects with a passage near the end of the extension. The main route passes below a 4 m blind aven and through a very low squeeze to end at a sandy choke dig. On the left a narrow rift ascends to provide a vocal connection with the passage already mentioned. The whole of this extension floods to the roof and the end dig can only be reached in the driest of weather. No tackle is required Cambrian Cave Registry for Ogof Capel Dyddgen
The Caves of Carmarthen | Tony Oldham
Caves of South Wales | Tim Stratford | p136 (1995)
Caves in Wales and the Marches | D.W. Jenkins and A. Mason-Williams | p47 (1967)
Welsh Sump Index | Duncan Price | p36 (2006)
British Caver | No.5 p16 (1940) | No.23 p78 (1952) | No.25 pp9-10 (1954) | No.28 pp69-70 (1957)
South Wales C.C. Newsletters | No.2 p1 (1952) | No.5 p2 (1953) | No.17 p6 (1956)
Descent magazine | No.77 p17 (1987)
Teifi Valley C.C. Journal | No.1 (1988)
The sumped pool at the bottom of the slope down to the lower series only disappears after long dry spells and can sump again after only a little rain. The photographs and information of this page has been provided to help cavers planning trips. Caving can be a dangerous activity, if you are interested in exploring caves please join a caving club so you can enjoy a safe introduction to this sport. Local caving clubs are listed on the links page or you can visit the 'New To Caving' website for more options.
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