Cymdeithas Parc Bannau Brycheiniog Brecon Beacons Park Society www.breconbeaconsparksociety.org GUIDED WALKS AND EVENTS PROGRAMME SUMMER 2013 Most of these walks go into the hills. Participants are reminded that the following gear must be taken. Walking boots, rucksack, hats, gloves, warm clothing (not jeans), spare sweater, water and a hot drink, lunch, extra food and of course waterproof jackets and trousers. A whistle and torch should be carried, particularly during the winter months. Participants must satisfy themselves that the walk is suitable for their abilities. You can take advice by ringing the walk leader whose telephone number is given. No liability will be accepted for loss or injury that occurs as a result of taking part. An adult must accompany young people (under 18). MOST OF THESE WALKS ARE FOR EXPERIENCED WALKERS Leaders may change or cancel the advertised route due to adverse weather conditions. Strenuous walks require fitness and stamina to cope with several steep climbs and/or cover a good distance at a steady pace. Energetic walks generally involve two steep climbs but they will still require determined application. Moderate walks will seldom have steep climbs but if they do the climb will be taken at a relaxed pace. Dogs (well controlled) are permitted unless stated otherwise in the programme. It should be noted that under the CROW Act, when taking dogs onto Open Access land they must be on a fixed lead, no more than two metres long, whenever livestock are near, and at ALL TIMES from 1st March to 31st July. Non-members of the Park Society will be asked to make a donation of £5.00 each per walk . Half price for the under 16’s, the unemployed and students.The fee is deductible from the membership fee on joining the Society within two months of the walk. General Enquiries to: Anne Pritchard, tel: 029 2061 0397 e-mail: [email protected] MEMBERSHIP ENQUIRIES: SEE BACK PAGE REGISTERED CHARITY: 1075345 GUIDED WALKS AND EVENTS SUMMER 2013 FEATURES Welcome to the Brecon Beacons Park Society Guided Walks and Events Programme for Summer 2013. Our grateful thanks once again to all our volunteers who will lead 59 day walks including: 2 nature walks, the remainder of our contribution to the 2013 Fforest Fawr Geopark Festival, and the Beacons Way over 3 weekends (the final weekend will be in September). The Beacons Way 8-day trek takes place at end July / start August. We have an illustrated talk by the National Park’s Heritage Officer for Archaeology, Natalie Ward. The Society’s 21 st AGM takes place on Saturday 8th June at Clydach Village Hall followed by lunch, a talk and a walk – full details will be sent to Society members at the end of May. Enjoy the programme. You can now see the programme as a Flipbook on our website – just like the real thing! – at www.breconbeaconsparksociety.org/walks/guided-walks/ . Don’t forget to check the website for any last-minute alterations or cancellations of walks. If you no longer wish to receive a posted hard copy of the programme, please advise Ben Sladen on [email protected] . BBPS EVENTS IN THE FFOREST FAWR GEOPARK FESTIVAL Full details are at www.fforestfawrgeopark.org.uk/whats-on/geopark-festival-2013/ . Advance booking is advisable for all these events as there is a cap on numbers. Please book ahead to avoid disappointment, at the National Park Visitor Centre 01874 623366. There is no donation expected from BBPS members for these events. A donation is suggested for other Geopark events. JUNE THE HEART OF THE MATTER Date: Saturday 1st June Meet at Pont Cadwgan in the Grwyne Fawr valley GR SO Level: Strenuous 267251. A tour of the centre of the Black Mountain Dist: 23km (14miles) Range. Start by climbing through the forestry to the boundary Ascent: 825m (2700ft) stones near Crug Mawr, we then proceed north taking the Time: 9.30am – 4.00pm summits of Pen Twyn Mawr and the striking Pen y Gadair Leader: DAVID THOMAS Fawr. A pause for lunch weather permitting before we Contact: 01873 812011 descend to cross the Grwyne Fawr Dam and up to the Blacksmith’s Anvil. From here we summit Chwarel y Fan and Bal Mawr before returning to the start via the beautiful and timeless Cadwgan farmstead. BEACONS WAY DAY 1: HOLY MOUNTAIN TO LLANTHONY Date: Saturday 1st June Meeting at Llanthony Priory GR SO 288278 at 9.30 am to car Level: Energetic share to the start of the walk at Skirrid car park. Dist: 17km (10.6miles) Booking Essential as numbers will be restricted. Contact Ascent: 697m (2270ft) Angela (07801 915707 or 01558 824663) to book a place. Time: 9.30am – 5.00pm Car sharing will be arranged on the day. Leaders: ANGELA MORGAN & DIANNE THOMAS Contact: 01558 824663 07801 915707 Page 2 GUIDED WALKS AND EVENTS SUMMER 2013 BEACONS WAY DAY 2: LLANTHONY TO CRICKHOWELL Date: Sunday 2nd June Meet at Crickhowell High School GR SO 215186 at 9.00 am to Level: Strenuous car share to the start of the walk at Llanthony Priory. Dist: 20.9km (13miles) Booking Essential as numbers will be restricted. Contact Ascent: 747m (2450ft) Angela (07801 915707 or 01558 824663) to book a place. Time: 9.00am – 5.00pm Car sharing will be arranged on the day. Leaders: ANGELA MORGAN & GARETH LEWIS Contact: 01558 824663 07801 915707 PAST THE PARK: LOOKING ACROSS TO THE PARK Date: Sunday 2nd June Meet at the village hall in Llanfihangel-nant-Bran 9 miles north Level: Moderate west of Brecon GR SN 944343. Parking £1. Dist: 20km (12.5miles) A circular walk in this lovely but little known area north of the Time: 9.30am – 4.00pm Park, incorporating a stretch of the Epynt Way. Leader: PENNY LEONARD Contact: 01874 636674 WEDNESDAY WANDER: ASCENT OF FAN FRYNYCH FROM MOUNTAIN CENTRE Date: Wednesday 5th June Meet at the car park (fee) of the National Park Visitor Centre Level: Moderate (Mountain Centre) GR SN 977262. Dist: 11km (7miles) Out across moorland to climb Fan Frynych with fine views. Time: 10.00am – 2.30pm 1 steep climb @ WW pace. Leaders: KEVIN McANULTY & WILLIAM COOPER Contact: 01633 667664 GEOPARK FESTIVAL: STONES OF CEFN SYCHBANT Date: Wednesday 5th June A joint event with Glamorgan Gwent Archaeological Trust and Level: Moderate Fforest Fawr Geopark. Meet at the forest lay-by on the minor Dist: 9km (5.5miles) road between Garwnant and Penderyn GR SN 992115. Ascent: 150m (500ft) We will walk around Cwm Cadlan and Cefn Sychbant looking Time: 10.00am – 4.00pm at the evidence for early settlements and, of course, the Leader: DILYS HARLOW geology. Probably some rough walking. Contact: 01454 775731 Advance booking is advisable as there is a cap on Experts: EDITH EVANS numbers, at the National Park Visitor Centre 01874 623366 Glamorgan Gwent Archaeological Trust ALAN BOWRING Fforest Fawr Geopark Page 3 GUIDED WALKS AND EVENTS SUMMER 2013 WEST, THEN EAST, OF ‘OFFA’S’ Date: Friday 7th June Meet at Llanthony Priory car park GR SO 288278. Level: Energetic Walk up to Bal-Bach and along to Garn-Wen before Dist: 20km (12.5miles) descending to Cwmyoy. Up to Three Wells for lunch before Ascent: 805m (2640ft) returning via Penywyrlod and the Black Darren. Time: 9.30am – 4.30pm Leader: FRANK SCOTT Contact: 01432 275388 07713 772499 GEOPARK FESTIVAL: ACROSS AND AROUND GLYN TARELL Date: Friday 7th June Meet in the car park (fee) of the National Park Visitor Centre Level: Strenuous (the Mountain Centre) at Libanus GR SN 978263. From the Dist: 19.5km (12.5miles) Mountain Centre we cross the Glyn Tarell valley before Ascent: 850m (2800ft) ascending Pen Milan to the Tommy Jones Obelisk, then Time: 9.30am – 4.30pm across Blaen Taf Fawr to Storey Arms, down the Drovers’ Leader: ANNE PRITCHARD Road and across the valley again to Craig Cerrig-gleisiad and Contact: 029 2061 0397 Fan Frynych, before returning to the Mountain Centre for a 07748 463545 cuppa. Advance booking is advisable as there is a cap on numbers, at the National Park Visitor Centre 01874 623366 THE 21st ANNUAL GENERAL MEETING OF THE BRECON BEACONS PARK SOCIETY Date: Saturday 8th June This year’s AGM will tak e place at Clydach Village Hall and will Time: 10.15am – 4.30pm follow the normal agenda of a formal AGM in the morning followed by lunch and then an interesting speaker on some local aspect. The Clydach Gorge is packed with industrial archaeological features, so how do you plan a new dual carriageway through it? The Chief Archaeologist on the project, Mick Rawlings, will tell us how he is managing to squeeze the new road into the valley without damaging historical sites in his talk “220 Years Of Transport Planning”. We hope also to have the Project Manager for the scheme from Costains to show us what the new road will look like. Afterwards Chris Barber will be leading us through some of the sites in this nationally important location. It should prove to be an interesting day. (Clydach Village Hall was built in 2000 using Millenium Fund money.) Note: Formal notice of the AGM with full details of the day’s events will be sent directly to members towards the end of May. Page 4 GUIDED WALKS AND EVENTS SUMMER 2013 MYNYDD LLANGYNIDR – IN SEARCH OF ANCIENT STONES AND THE CHARTIST CAVE Date: Sunday 9th June Meet in car park on B4458 at Llangynidr village GR SO Level: Moderate 155195. Dist: 14km (9miles) A walk to seek out the elusive Carreg Wen Fawr y Rugos Time: 10.30am – 4.00pm stone alignment, followed by cairn hopping to Garn Fawr and Leader: RICHARD DAVIES the Chartist Cave, return via Cwm Cleisfer.