Caves, Dinosauras and Shire horses, Strange combination

Wednesday 8th August

I didn't mention the difficulty we had in getting parked last night. First, the entrance was very narrow, just enough to squeeze the Beast through and the carpark had a number of walled bays. It was the low walls that were the trouble. For us to fit we had to overhang those walls and they were just too high for the backend to fit over. We did manage to find a spot that we could back into which wasn't ideal. It only needed a car to park close to our sides and opposite for us to be hemmed in. So as soon as the place emptied around 8.30pm, Ian did several three-point turns and parked as you see in the photo.

With the prospect of dog walkers appearing early am, we departed before 9. Our destination was the showcaves and dinosaur park at Dan-yr-Ogof. We were much too early when we arrived, the place didn't open until 10pm. Never mind, at least we had the pick of the parking bays.

The entrance

Can you imagine the surprise as people walk by and see this sticking out from the trees?

The dinosaurs were made to look as lifelike as they did throughout the Mesozoic Era which began 245 million years ago and lasted for 180 million years. During the Jurassic period, birdlike dinosaurs first appeared and it was during the Cretacious period (146-65 million years ago) that the dinosaurs were completely wiped out and the age of mammals began.

Three caves to see and all can be walked through without a guide. It gave us plenty of time to have a real good look with some near enough to be touched. The most fragile though were tucked away behind metal grills and glass.

Dan-yr-Ogof Cave

Cathedral Cave

Top L and bottom L The original entrance to the Cathedral Cave.

Bone Cave 

 is so called because of the 42 human skeletons that have been found there, dating back to the Bronze Age some 3000 years ago. The oldest bones discovered are those of a Red Deer dating from 5000 B.C.

One more waterfall to view before we left the caves and dinosaurs and walked down toward the Shire horse and small animal farm.

Is this the ugliest pig in Britain?

Shire Horses, Alpacas and Rhea's amongst the megalithic standing stones. Bottom R, male Rhea sitting on eggs. 40 days he has to wait before they hatch.

During the visit to the cafe, Ian pounced on another leaflet. This time it was for the Brecon Mountain Railway leaving from Pant near Merthyr Tydfil to Torpantau high in the Brecon Beacons. Ian got straight onto the web and booked tickets for 10.30am.

And seen on the walkway at the farm,

Any idea to which butterfly or moth species it belongs to?