After a couple of false starts, I've finally managed to visit the remote valley of Cwm Ratgoed and found the location, in the grounds of a cottage that carries the name "Trapper's Cottage" on one side and, very conveniently, "Ffynnon Badarn" on the other. A well-defined path leads to a wooden footbridge over the river, and then via an old iron kissing gate up some steps to the cottage, which is guarded by a large carved face in a tree stump (see top pic). There was nobody at home when I visited, but a prominent sign said "Welcome!" so I poked around a bit. In the far corner of the cottage yard, approached via a slate path, is what I took to be Ffynnon Badarn. I guess that I was hoping for a crystal-clear pool within a carved grotto, or something similarly atmospheric, but in fact it's just a stream of water coming out of the hillside via a piece of plastic pipe and into a small puddle. Ah well, I'm sure that St. Padarn was a simple soul, and wouldn't have wanted any formalities.
Grid Ref: SH 776114.
