The Hepste River Caves and a study of the Hepste - Mellte area [Powys, Wales] (UBSS Proceedings v.15(2))

Abstract: A description is given with surveys of the Hepste River Caves. They are four in number and they interconnect: Ogof Afon Hepste, Ogof Tarddiant Hepste, Ogof Tram Trucks and the hepste Resurgence itself. The Hepste River normally sinks four kilometres upstream of this and the water runs underground to both the Western Streamway and the Main Streamway of Ogaf Afon Hepste. The course between the Main Streamway and the Resurgence is lost but the Western Streamway runs through Ogof Tarddiant Hepste to the Resurgence. The uplands of the Hepste - Mellte area contain a number of caves with peculiar features: five are illustrated. The drainage pattern of the uplands is that Pwll Derw goes to the Hepste Resurgence while Ogod Ffynnon goes to the Cwm Porth inlet of Porth yr Ogof. Waterfall Cave in the Cwm Porth Woods does not run to Ogof Glan Mellte. Three of the Upper Hepste caves are illustrated: Blaen Hepste Resurgence, Ogof Glan Hepste and Tuck's Rift. The Hepste Caves are mainly under water. This makes them divers' caves not cavers' caves.