Cymdeithas Parc Bannau Brycheiniog Brecon Beacons Park Society www.breconbeaconsparksociety.org GUIDED WALKS AND EVENTS PROGRAMME WINTER 2012-13 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 WINTER 2012-13 FEATURES Welcome to the Brecon Beacons Park Society Guided Walks and Events Programme for Winter 2012-13. Our wonderful volunteer walk leaders have provided another varied programme of 50 walks throughout and on the fringes of the National Park, which include some new walks, some old favourites and some variants on familiar themes, two linear walks, some which will take us into wild and rough terrain, some which end with the opportunity for a pint or a cuppa, plenty of fine views, history, geology, nature reserves, waterfalls, even a chance to wear a silly hat on the Boxing Day walk. We look forward to two very interesting illustrated talks, by archaeologist Frank Olding on archaeology in the National Park and by geologist Alan Bowring of Fforest Fawr Geopark on The Brecon Forest Tramroad. Enjoy the programme. Changes to the Guided Walks Programme Occasionally leaders may change or cancel a guided walk, usually because of severe weather which may affect the walk itself or the roads to the start of the walk. Whenever possible, any changes will be added to the Guided Walks Programme page on the website www.breconbeaconsparksociety.org . You are strongly advised to check the Mountain weather forecast for the Brecon Beacons National Park before setting out for walks, on the Met Office website: www.metoffice.gov.uk . If in doubt consult the leader whose name and telephone number are given in the Guided Walks programme. If you would like to have a go at leading a walk, have an idea for a talk or event, or any comments or suggestions for improvement of the programme, please contact Anne (walks) tel: 029 2061 0397 or email [email protected] Gerry (events) tel: 01989 565679 or email [email protected] This programme is available to view or download from the website. If you are sent paper copies it costs 54p to distribute each time to an address over and above the cost of printing. If you no longer wish to receive a posted hard copy, please advise Ben Sladen on [email protected] . Details of the Park Society’s walks and events programme, and much more, can be found on: www.breconbeaconsparksociety.org Page 2 GUIDED WALKS AND EVENTS WINTER 2012-13 DECEMBER PAST THE PARK: PAINSCASTLE – GLASCWM Date: Saturday 1st December Meet at parking spot on North side of road heading west out of Level: Energetic Painscastle, beside the Village Hall GR SO 166463 OS Dist: 18km (11 miles) Explorer Map 188. Time: 10.00am – 4.00pm Walk over the hills and moors, with lunch break at Glascwm Leader: SEAN O’DONOGHUE Church. Contact: 01497 822831 07816 821745 [email protected] PAST THE PARK: WINTOURS LEAP AND WYNDCLIFF ROUND Date: Sunday 2nd December Meet at Chepstow Castle car park (free parking) GR ST Level: Energetic 535941 OS map OL14. Dist: 19.5km (12 miles) 2400ft This is a stunning walk through Wordsworth’s country, steeped Time: 9.30am – 3.30pm in history, using Offa’s Dyke Path and Wye Valley Walk. Leader: EMMA SINCLAIR Amazing views of cliffs, gorges and the river Wye. Contact: 01594 529426 WEDNESDAY WANDER: A WANDER AROUND GILWERN Date: Wed 5th December Start at Gilwern village car park opposite church, GR SO Level: Moderate 248146. Dist: 10km (6 miles) A chance to look at some history, old places of worship and Time: 11.00am – 2.30pm scenery around the village of Gilwern. Leader: KEVIN MCANULTY & WILLIAM COOPER Contact: 01633 667664 LET’S TRY THE EPYNT WAY AGAIN! Date: Friday 7th December From lay-by on W side of Trecastle next to A40 GR SN Level: Energetic 875296. Dist: 18km (11 miles) We go through Llywel up to the edge of the Training Area, Time: 9.30am – 4.00pm follow a section of the Epynt Way to Llandeilo’r Fan, then Leader: CHRIS PLAYFORD return via Pentre-bach. Very undulating terrain, with some wet Contact: 01497 820074 and boggy bits! Good views across to the Beacons. CRIBARTH RIDGE AND HENRHYD WATERFALLS Date: Saturday 8th December Park in the layby next to Craig-y-nos Castle at GR SN 8409 Level: Moderate 1523. Dist: 14km (9 miles) The walk starts at Craig-y-nos Castle with a steady climb up Time: 10.00am – 3.30pm onto Cribarth ridge then down the valley to the river Tawe to Leader: PAULA ACE follow the Llech to Henrhyd Waterfalls, returning to Craig-y- Contact: 07967 140689 nos via Penwyllt. Page 3 GUIDED WALKS AND EVENTS WINTER 2012-13 LLANGASTY Date: Sunday 9th December Starting at Llangasty village hall, GR SO 123257. Across the Level: Moderate valley and up to Cefn Moel, back via Bwlch and the Allt. High Dist: 15km (9.5miles) tea available in the village hall after the walk; order at the start. Time: 10.00am – 4.00pm Leader: SOO TURNBULL Contact: 01874 622136 WEDNESDAY WANDER: MYNYDD ILLTUD AND TWYN Y GAER Date: Wed 12th December Meet at CRiC building in Crickhowell GR SO 218184 for Level: Easy car share at 10am OR 10.30am at The National Park Dist: 7 km (4miles) Visitor Centre (Mountain Centre), Libanus (parking fee) Time: 10.30am – 12.30pm GR SO 979264. Leader: ROGER AUSTIN Over the Common to the Hill Fort and back for coffee, or Contact: 01873 810145 more, at the Mountain Centre. [email protected] CRAIG CERRIG GLEISIAD Date: Friday 14th December Meet at lay by on A470 opposite Storey Arms, GR SN 983203. Level: Energetic Along the old coach road to Craig Cerrig Gleisiad Nature Dist: 11km (7 miles) Reserve and Fan Frynych. Return via Fan Fawr. Time: 10.00am – 3.30pm Leader: RICHARD DAVIES Contact: 029 2084 2923 07986 562584 IRON MOUNTAIN TRAIL, BLACK MOUNTAINS SOUTH Date: Saturday 15th December Park at The Rifleman’s Car park Blaenavon GR SO 251094. Level: Energetic Following the route of the Iron Mountain Trail, Blorenge & Pwll Dist: 20km (12.5 miles) 2000ft Du. Time: 9.30am – 4.00pm Leader: JASON WINNEY Contact: 07798 521550 SUGAR LOAF AND MINCE PIES! Date: Sunday 16th December Meet at Abergavenny Tourist Information Office car park GR Level: Energetic SO 301144 (free parking on Sundays). Dist: 20km (13 miles) A walk along the River Usk to Llanwenarth church then Time: 9.30am – 4.00pm up onto the Sugar Loaf via St Mary’s Vale and the Pen-y-fal Leaders: ANGELA WOOLLEY ridge, back along the Deri. (Torches may be useful although DILYS HARLOW we’ve never needed them before!) Contact: 0117 9730017 01454 775731 Page 4 GUIDED WALKS AND EVENTS WINTER 2012-13 WEDNESDAY WANDER: A PRE CHRISTMAS STROLL TO GOVILON Date: Wed 19th December Start at Abergavenny TIC GR SO 301144 for an easy stroll out Level: Easy to Govilon, a bit of a tour of the village with some history Dist: 6.5km (4 miles) thrown in, back along the canal to Abergavenny for coffee and Time: 11.00am – 1.00pm some Christmas shopping! Leaders: KEVIN MCANULTY & WILLIAM COOPER Contact: 01633 667664 ILLUSTRATED TALK: ARCHAEOLOGY IN THE BRECON BEACONS NATIONAL PARK Date: Wed 19th December Details to follow. Check the Park Society website at: Time: 7.30pm www.breconbeaconsparksociety.org/walks/guided-walks/ Place: Bear Hotel, Crickhowell Speaker: FRANK OLDING A SHORTISH WALK ON THE SHORTEST DAY: MOUNTAIN CENTRE - CEFN LLECHID Date: Friday 21st December Meet in the car park (fee) of the National Park Visitor Centre Level: Moderate (Mountain Centre) at Libanus GR SO 979264, for a walk Dist: 13km (8miles) following a varied route across Daedreath Illtud Nature Time: 10.00am – 3.00pm Reserve, through farmland and woodland of the Cwm Camlais Leader: ANNE PRITCHARD Valley to the open hilltop of Cefn Llechid with its fine views all Contact: 029 2061 0397 around, then back to the Mountain Centre in plenty of time for 07748 463545 a cuppa.