The Punchbowl itself is a pretty spot at any time but is especially stunning on a cold, clear crisp winter day as it was when I visited to reconnoitre this cache. It is often overlooked due to the fact that it simply looks like a smaller version of the main Blorenge bowl that faces Abergavenny. This main bowl, known as Cwm Craf, can also be seen from most of Abergavenny where as the Punchbowl cannot, the two however were indeed different in their formation.
The Geology
Blorenge mountain (note it's correct name is just Blorenge rather than 'The' Blorenge) itself (including the Punchbowl) is composed of number of beds of different types of rock, all of which tilt towards the South Wales Coalfield basin. The lower slopes are made up of several types of Old Red Sandstone laid down during the Devonian Period about 400 million years ago. This era so-named after the county of Devon where geology from this period was first studied. Above this are layers of limestones, sandstones and mudstones from the Carboniferous era about 360 million years ago and the summit is composed of a course sandstone laid down about the same time.
Where as the main Cwm Craf bowl was probably created by the Usk Valley glacier eroding as it flowed past during the ice ages, the Punchbowl in fact was made by, and had, it's own small glacier fed by windblown snow from the summit which eroded the sandstones to create the perfect semi-cicular cwm we see today.
Of further interest is that the woodland within the Punchbowl is one of the highest altitude Ancient Semi-Natural Woodlands in the UK.
Visiting
The cache site can be accessed from two main directions - from the published car parking waypoint which takes you on a bridleway down a lovely sunken lane, or you can approach from the north and take in Cwm Craf. Either way you will need decent grip on your footwear and clothes for the mountain environment.
The Tasks
To claim a find, and before logging this Earthcache, please email me the answers (via the link in my profile) to these questions (answers will be found by a bit of research at home and then relating that to what you are seeing when you physically visit):
1) Looking up the Punchbowl cwm let me know how we can tell this valley is formed by a glacier (rather than a river).
2) Briefly describe the shape and steepness of the Punchbowl and, with this in mind, give the reasons why we know this was the head of the valley glacier.
3) What is the common name for this head-of-the-glacier/land-shape feature? (Clue: The answer is French)
If you are able to post a photo with either yourself or your GPS by the pond that would be great too, but not vital.
| I have earned GSA's highest level: |
 |
Permission for this cache was kindly granted by The Woodland Trust.