Location
SH 232 799 (Ogof Iron)
SH 227 797 (Unnamed and unmarked #1)
SH 227 797 (Unnamed and unmarked #2)
SH 227 797 (Unnamed and unmarked #3)
SH 227 797 (Unnamed and unmarked #4)
SH 234 798 (Unnamed and unmarked #5)
SH 225 835 Porth Nannerch
SH 215 840 North Stack Caves
Directions
For Ogof Iron and the 5 unknown and unmarked caves, drive to Porth Dafarch on Holy Island (near Holyhead, Anglesey) and park by the beach. The beach is small and cave number #5 is on the left side of the beach in the cliff face (see pic below).
Ogof Iron and the other caves are on the right side but you must follow the Anglesey Coastal Path. Ogof Iron is very close but is virtually impossible to get at.
The unnamed caves #1 to #4 are just before Graig Lwyd, around 1/3rd of a kilometre from Ogof Iron. You have to scramble down the cliff face to get to these (not too difficult) but you need the tide to be OUT.
Porth Nannerch cave – drive past the Hoyhead port and follow the road leading to the countryside park. I could find no way to get to the cave even when the tide was out (see piccies)
North Stack Caves are further along the North Wales coastal path from Porth Nannerch Cave.
Access
None known to be required (all open)
Suggested Equipment
None
Length
Ogof Iron (Unknown)
Unnamed #1 (50 feet)
Unnamed #2 (50 feet)
Unnamed #3 (100 feet)
Unnamed #4 (Unknown – a scramble is required after 50 feet which proved hard)
Unnamed #5 (100 feet)
Porth Nannerch (Unknown)
Flood risk
All of the caves flood when the tide is in and may well be flooded even before that.
Cave Attributes
All Sea caves. Mineral intrusion (notable iron) in some instances. Calcite veins
Description
Ogof Iron
Presumably named because of an iron content. This rascal of a cave is marked and named on the O/S map and so should be significant. I stood in various perilous potions on the cliff to try to spot it and could only find one apparent entrance. In any event, I do not believe it can be reached without a boat (which would probably be smashed to bits on the rocks below).
Unnamed #1
Only small but lovely water torn walls and a nice mineral intrusion of iron
Unnamed #2
Perhaps a tad smaller than cave #1 with little to offer
Unnamed #3
Much longer than it’s neighbours and with a very strange and abundant mineral intrusion. The colouration of the rock in here was red (iron?), pink (beats me?), green (copper?) and other colours too. Very tall passageway with pebbles and “Flotsom and Jetsom” at the terminus.
Unnamed #4
Heavy mineral intrusion (probably iron) and resembles a rift or fault. It appears to terminate after 50-70 feet but it doesn’t. A climb at the back of the cave takes you to a passage which continues.
Unnamed #5
Possibly 70-100 feet and difficult to spot from the beach as the cave mouth is invisible until you walk past it on the left bank of rocks.
This cave terminates at a small cavernous pool area with red walls (iron?). A narrow and impassable rift exists at the very rear which appears to be seeping small amounts of water.
North Stack Caves
This is initially a GIANT cave literally underneath the old fog station (and now auxillary coast guard station) with either 2 or 3 further caves within.
Unfortunately, although there is a small beach, it is impossible to get down to sea level here and the only means to get to the caves is by boat around the head of Holy island and land on the pebble beach area itself. the cliffs above this cave are 200 feet high and the roof of the cave is probably around 150 foot initially.
Unexplored Passages
The passage at the rear of unnamed #4 remains unexplored
Porth Nannerch remains unexplored
North Stack Caves remain unexplored
There are other caves marked on the map on Holy Island which are unexplored
Digs
None Known
Links
None Known
Subject: Holy Island Caves 
Sun 02 Aug 2009, 2:11 am
