Cymdeithas Parc Bannau Brycheiniog Brecon Beacons Park Society www.breconbeaconsparksociety.org GUIDED WALKS AND EVENTS PROGRAMME AUTUMN 2011 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 AUTUMN 2011 FEATURES Welcome to the Brecon Beacons Park Society Guided Walks and Events Programme for Autumn 2011, we hope you enjoy it. Once again we have a mix of walks of all grades and in all areas of the National Park and on its fringes, 45 in all, including old favourites and some new variations. Rob Short, experienced walk leader and recently retired countryside warden, will lead a special interest walk with Dilys to look at the historic landscape south of Pontneddfechan. We welcome Liz Lloyd who hasn’t led for us for some time, and a new leader Dave Owens who joined us on our recent REC first aid course, and is currently working towards his Walking Group Leader award. We revert to the usual Autumn/Winter format of one walk on Saturday and two on Sunday. In addition, this programme sees the introduction of Kevin McAnulty’s twice-monthly “Wednesday Wanders”, a series of more moderate walks which will be taken at a steady pace with time to “stand and stare”. Rob Knowles continues his treks away from home with the final stage of the Cambrian Way and a walk along the North Wales Coast Path. Our series of illustrated talks at the Bear continues with two very different and interesting talks, the first about the experiences of a blind mountain trekker, and the second about lesser horseshoe bat conservation in the upper Usk Valley. The Campaign for National Parks celebrates its 75 th Anniversary this year. As part of the celebrations there will be an afternoon of “Family Fun in the Park” at the Mountain Centre on Sunday 25 th September – see page 5 for details . The Society has been invited to put on three guided walks for visitors to the event. 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] CAR SHARING. Do you know someone else who lives near you with whom you could car share to Society walks and events? Why not exchange contact details and arrange to share the driving and petrol costs? At the same time you will be helping to save the environment and relieving pressure on car parking spaces at the start of walks. A “contacts” database has been established with details of Society members willing to be contacted by other members, in order to share transport all or part of the way to a walk or other Society event. Participating members receive a hard-copy of the list; we cannot provide it by e-mail, in view of the restrictions of data protection legislation. To find out more or to be added to the database, please contact the Membership Secretary Ben Sladen, email: [email protected] , postal address on back page. This programme is available to view or download from the website. If you no longer wish to receive a posted hard copy, please advise Ben Sladen on [email protected] . Page 2 GUIDED WALKS AND EVENTS AUTUMN 2011 SEPTEMBER PAST THE PARK: LOWER MYNYDD EPYNT Date: Saturday 3rd September Meet at the village hall at Llanfihangel-nant-Bran 9 miles north Level: Moderate west of Brecon GR SN 944343 (car parking £1). Dist: 20km (12.5miles) Another variation on previous walks in this lovely but little Time: 10.00am – 4.30pm known area. Varied terrain and wonderful views. Leader: PENNY LEONARD Contact: 01874 636674 A VARIATION OF DAN’S DOGSTONE WALK Date: Sunday 4th September Meet at Pontypool Leisure centre GR SO 285006 for the Level: Energetic ascent to the Garnclochdy Ridge passing the Shell Grotto and Dist: 24km (15 miles) Folly Tower. Then descend through Cwmavon Wood Time: 9.30am – 5.30pm continuing the climb to “Mynydd Varteg Fach” and the Leader: CLINE GINSBERG Memorial to Carlo the dog. We then take a southerly route via Contact: 01633 867653 hills, and farmland, before the final stages along the Cycle Track. FAN GYHIRYCH Date: Sunday 4th September Meet at the Car Park at Ystradfellte GR SN 929134 OS MAP Level: Energetic OL12. Dist: 22.5km (14 miles) Making our way to Fan Gyhirych via tracks to the west of the Time: 9.00am – 6.00pm Afon Nedd and back via Fan Nedd. Leader: JASON WINNEY Contact: 07798 521550 IN AND AROUND CWMWYSG Date: Sat 10th September From Pont ar Wysg Car Park GR SN 82002715 a circular Level: Moderate walk around the Usk Reservoir, down into Cwmwysg and back Dist: 14km (9 miles) along country roads and fields, skirting the edge of the Time: 10.00am – 4.00pm mountain before returning through the forestry to the Leader: ANGELA MORGAN Car Park. Contact: 07801 915707 FROM VALLEY BOTTOM TO MOUNTAIN TOP Date: Sunday 11th September From Longtown Village Hall GR SO 324288, walk up the Level: Energetic Olchon Valley (the film of Owen Sheers’ book “Resistance” Dist: 18.5 km (11 miles) based in the Olchon Valley is due out this autumn), onto Offa’s Time: 9.30 am – 4.00pm Dyke Path and Hatterall Hill, coming off back down to Leader: LIZ LLOYD Longtown. Contact: 07974 765508 Page 3 GUIDED WALKS AND EVENTS AUTUMN 2011 TWRCH Y TROT Date: Sunday 11th September From the Water Board Car Park at GR SN 799238. Take Level: Strenuous the unclassified road which runs from Trecastle to the Dist: 20km (12 miles) A4069 between Llangadog and Brynaman. Follow signs Time: 9.30 am – 5.30 pm to Llanddeusant, the Youth Hostel and Llyn y Fan Fach. A Leader: CLIVE EILES route down the head waters of the Twrch, and then back Contact: 01550 740188 via the Bronze Age Burial Cairns on Carreg Las. [email protected] WEDNESDAY WANDER: RHYMNEY RIVER Date: Wed 14th September Meet at Machen village hall between Newport and Caerphilly Level: Moderate GR ST 211891 OS Explorer 152. This walk will follow the way Dist: 14.5km (9miles) marked Rhymney River trail and gives an opportunity to view Time: 10.30am – 3.30pm Ruperra Castle. Leaving the castle behind the route crosses Leader: KEVIN MCANULTY fields before arriving at Cefn Mably church for lunch. T he route Contact: 01633 667664 then clings closely to the banks of the river as it wends its way back to Machen. Wood / riverbank and 1 moderate climb. CAMBRIAN WAY (Craig-y-nos to Cardiff) Date: Sat 17th September to For further details go to http://www.walkwildwales.co.uk/ or Sat 24th September email Rob Knowles on [email protected] or phone him on Leader: ROB KNOWLES 07971 190768 LLANTHONY NORTHERN CIRCUIT, TO CAPEL-Y-FFIN, A STANDING STONE AND THEN SOME! Date: Saturday 17th September Meet at Llanthony Priory car park GR SO 288278. Up to Offa’s Level: Strenuous Dyke for a mile or two. Then down to Capel-y-ffin and further Dist: 23.5km (14.7miles) north along Darren Lwyd for lunch beside a delightful waterfall Time: 9.30am – 5.00pm on Nant Bwch. Back along various geological features, for a Leader: JIM KEAR well-deserved visit to the Priory. Contact: 01291 672438 07887 834123 THE UP & DOWN OF IT ALL Date: Sunday 18th Septembe r From Pont Cadwgan car park in the Grwyne Fawr valley GR Level: Strenuous SO 267251. A circuit taking in some of the tops, great views if Dist: 27km (17 miles) weather is good. No dogs please. Time: 9.00am – 5.30pm Leader: MALCOLM WINNEY Contact: 029 2062 8861 Page 4 GUIDED WALKS AND EVENTS AUTUMN 2011 4 TRIGS Date: Sunday 18th September Meet at the Car Park at Ystradfellte GR SN 929134 OS MAP Level: Energetic OL12.