GUIDED WALKS AND EVENTS
SUMMER PROGRAMME 2010

Friday 4th June ….. Fforest Fawr Geopark Festival
A SACRED MOUNTAIN: THE BRONZE AGE CAIRNS OF MYNYDD-Y-GLOG. 10.00am - 5.00pm 8km (5 miles) Moderate (but some rough walking)
From the lay-by off the A4059 north of the Penderyn Welsh Whisky Distillery GR SN 951084. A walk over the gritstone moorland of Mynydd-y-glog visiting one of the most impressive groups of cairns in the Brecon Beacons.
Leader: 01874 622136 SOO TURNBULL, EDITH EVANS (Glamorgan-Gwent Archaeology Trust), Geology Guide ALAN BOWRING (Fforest Fawr Geopark)

Saturday 5th June ….. Fforest Fawr Geopark Festival
IN THE FOOTSTEPS OF WALLACE.  In June 1846 Alfred Russel Wallace, the great evolutionary biologist, and his brother decided to walk from Neath to the Brecon Beacons. They collected beetles and slept rough because Wallace was teaching himself to be a field naturalist, and planning a journey to the Amazon. Later, whilst working in the Malay Archipelago, Wallace hit upon the concept of natural selection. His letter to Darwin provoked the latter to publish On the Origin of Species. 
These 2 walks will follow their footsteps, but the beetles are optional and we will not sleep out in Porth yr ogof. You can book either or both of these linear walks.
DAY 1, ABERDULAIS TO YSTRADFELLTE. 9.30am - 5.30pm 22km (14 miles) Energetic
Meet at Ystradfellte village car park GR SN 929134 for minibus transport to Aberdulais (£5.00). A canal walk along the Vale of Neath from Aberdulais to Resolven, transport from Resolven to Pontneddfechan then afternoon walking beside the Nedd Fechan to Sgwd Gwladus, across to the Avon Mellte and back to Ystradfellte via Porth yr ogof. Pre-booking with the leader essential.
Leader: 01454 775731 DILYS HARLOW, Geology Guide ALAN BOWRING

Sunday 6^th June ….. Fforest Fawr Geopark Festival
IN THE FOOTSTEPS OF WALLACE, DAY 2.  9.30am - 5.30pm 17km (10.6 miles) ascent 1070m Strenuous
Park in Nant Cwm Llwch GR SO 006244, at the end of the minor road (Ffrwdgrech Rd) turning south off the B4601 in Brecon (no access from the A40) for minibus transport (£5.00) to the start just north of Ystradfellte. Along the Afon Dringarth to Ystradfellte Reservoir, over Fan Fawr (mostly trackless) and Bryn Du to Pont ar Daf, up Pen y Fan visiting the source of the Taf Fechan, then back to Cwm Llwch via Corn Du and Llyn Cwm Llwch.
Pre-booking with the leader essential.
Leaders: 01454 775731 DILYS HARLOW, Geology Guide ALAN BOWRING

Wednesday 9th June ..... Illustrated Talk
LEARNING FROM SABRINA. 7.30pm at the Bear Hotel, Crickhowell 
January 1607 saw one of the greatest peace-time disasters ever to befall Britain. Contemporary reports spoke of a "great overflowing of waters" which became known as the Great Flood.  Importantly, only the Severn Estuary and Norfolk appear to have been badly affected and the reasons for this will be discussed.  However, sea level rise is seldom out of the news these days and this lecture will show that the study of archaeology and the historic record can teach us valuable lessons for our global future.
Speaker: MARK LEWIS, Curatorial Officer and Archaeological Conservator, National Roman Legion Museum, Caerleon. 

Friday 11th June 
LLANGATWG ESCARPMENT AND A NATURE RESERVE. 9.30am - 4.00pm 19km (12 miles) Energetic
From Crickhowell car park behind the Information centre, GR SO218184. Via Llangatwg and Cwm Onneu to Waun Ddu nature reserve, along under the escarpment through the quarries, then up to Hen Dy-aderyn. Back via the canal.
Leader: 01874 622136 SOO TURNBULL

Saturday 12th June
THE 18TH ANNUAL GENERAL MEETING OF THE BRECON BEACONS PARK SOCIETY.
Meet at Garwnant, the new Forestry Commission Visitor Centre, off the A470 in Coed Taf Fawr, 5 miles north of Merthyr Tydfil (GR SO 003132) for the AGM followed by a talk on forestry, lunch, then walks with the Forest Rangers and finishing with Afternoon Tea.

Sunday 13th June ..... Past the Park 
WYE VALLEY SWITCHBACK. 9.30am - 17.30pm 24km (15 miles) Strenuous   
Meet in the car park at Lower Redbrook on A466 (look for large rocks narrowing the entrance to car park on right hand side if coming from Monmouth) GR 536099. A roller coaster walk visiting both sides of the Wye Valley including Whitebrook and Newlands villages. No dogs please.
Leader: 029 2062 8861/07773389561 WENDY WINNEY

Friday 18th June
BEACONS BIRTHDAY BUMBLE. 9.00am - 5.00pm 20km (13 miles) Energetic
Meet at the Cwm Gwdi car park (the top one) at GR SO 024247. A second try at a different circuit in the Central Beacons but without the snow. Up Cefn Cwm Llwch to Pen y Fan, on to Corn Du and along Craig Fan Ddu and down to the Neuadd Reservoir, up (or round) Cribyn down into Cwm Sere and returning to the car park via some nice waterfalls. Followed by a possible sojourn to a pub.
Leader: 01291 691184 JIM WILSON

Saturday 19th June
AROUND AND ABOVE BRYNAMMAN - ROB'S WAY. 9.30am - 5.30pm 19km (12 miles) Strenuous
Meet at the Community Centre Car Park Brynamman (GR SN 714142) on the mini roundabout (across the road, lower car park). Meandering through lanes
and farmland before climbing up on to the Black mountain, with spectacular views of Brynamman on one side, and the Towy valley on the other. Traverse the mountain, taking in cairns, waterfalls and old settlements before returning via an old track. This is in the Wild West of the National Park, with very few paths, and very boggy in places.
Leader: 01558 824663 ANGELA MORGAN

Sunday 20th June

3 INTO 2 WILL GO. 9.30am - 4.30pm 18km (11.25 miles) Energetic

Meet at Crickhowell High School car park GR SO 216185 for a circular walk setting out on the start of Day 3 of the Beacons Way and returning on the end of Day 2, visiting Pen Gloch-y-pibwr, Pen Allt-Mawr and Table Mountain en route.
Leader: 029 2061 0397 (mobile 07748 463545) ANNE PRITCHARD

Friday 25th June             
THREE PEAKS. 9.30am - 5.00pm 24km (15 miles) 1200m ascent Strenuous
Meet in Crickhowell High School car park, GR SO 216185, for a walk taking in Table Mountain, Crug Mawr and Sugar Loaf and finishing along the river Usk.
Leader: 01873 810573 PAVEL VITEK

Saturday 26th June
TWO SKIRRIDS AND THE SUGAR LOAF. 10am - 4.30pm 20km (12 miles) Energetic  
Meet at Abergavenny Tourist Information Centre( GR SO 302139) for ascent of the little visited Skirrid Fach then Skirrid Fawr and Sugar Loaf to complete the circuit.
Leader: 01873 890291 DAVID GRANT

Sunday 27th June
A BEACON HORSESHOE - CWM OERGWM. 9.30am - 4.30pm 21km (13 miles) Strenuous
From the Pencelli lay-by on the B4558 GR SO 094247. Up to Gist Wen, along the ridge to Craig Cwareli and around Craig Cwm Oergwm descending via Cefn Cyff.
Leader: 077923 40933 STEVE FLYNN

Leader: 01550 740188 CLIVE EILES

Sunday 4th July
NANT SALI MORRIS - DI'S WAY. 9.30am - 5.30 pm 19km (12 miles) Strenuous
Meet at the car park at the top of the Black Mountain on the A4069 (GR SN 733188) (NOT the one with the viewpoint). 
Follow the Beacons Way from Garreg Llwyd to Carn Pica, and then the funeral route to Nant Sali Morris. This walk is in the Wild West of the National Park, with very
few paths. Boggy and rocky in places. If the weather is good we will be rewarded with spectacular views.
Leader: 01558 824663 ANGELA MORGAN

Friday 9th July 
OLCHON VALLEY. 10.00am - 4.30pm 20km (12miles) Energetic
Meet at Cats’ back car park GR SO 287327 (OL13). Down and across Olchon Brook and bracken permitting up to field mountain boundary to head south and traverse Darrens. Up fur the r onto Hatterrall ridge to enjoy panorama as move north to Hay Bluff. Double back and fork off to Black Hill before descending gently to Cats’ back car park.
Leader:01873 860356 ANTHONY FURNESS

Saturday 10th July
ALL AROUND WAUN FACH.  10.00am - 4.00pm 25km (15 miles) Strenuous  
Meet at Tir y Nant GR SO 237237 (Brook Cottage on pre-2009 maps). Climb up on to the eastern ridge of the Grwyne Fechan and over Pen y Gadair Fawr. Not quite up Waun Fach before heading east (no footpath) down to the Grwyne Fawr dam. Then north towards Rhos Dirion and west not quite up Waun Fach (again!) and round to the head of the Grwyne Fechan. Either back down Macnamara’s road or along Pen Twyn Glas, depending on time and weather.
Leader:  01873 812011 DAVID THOMAS

Sunday 11th July
A WALK OF MANY TOPS. 9.30am - 5.30pm 24km (15miles) Strenuous 
Meet Cwmdu Village Hall (£1 parking charge per car). GR 180239 OS Explorer OL13. A tough but very enjoyable circular walk with wonderful views if weather permits, taking in Pen Tir, Mynydd Llangorse, Mynydd Troed, down for a lunch stop at the pub at Pengenfford, up again to Myndd Llysiau, Pen Twyn Glas and finally Pen Allt Mawr before returning to Cwmdu. No dogs please. 
Leader: 029 2062 8861 MALCOLM WINNEY

Friday 16th July
NORTH FOR A CHANGE. 10.00am - 15.30pm 17km (10.5 miles) Moderate 
Meet at Cwm Gwdi car park, GR SO 024248, for a circuit over a variety of countryside between Cwm Gwdi and the River Usk. 
Leader: 01600 860582 FRANK COOK

GET LOST - Saturday 17th July and Sunday 18th July     
A two-day basic navigation course 
From 10.00am to 5.00pm Saturday and Sunday.  See the Web Page for details http://www.breconbeaconsparksociety.org/psNavigationCourses.htm 

Saturday 17th July ..... Past the Park
EXPLORE THE GLAMORGAN HERITAGE COAST (and a cream tea!). 9.30am - 5.30pm 19km (12 miles) Energetic  

Meet on the beach car park at Ogmore-on-Sea (parking fee) GR SS 862755 followed by car share to Col-huw beach Llantwit Major. A cliff and beach walk along the rocky Heritage Coast to Southerndown then across Ogmore Down to Ogmore Castle (cream tea), exploring the geology and history, sometimes bloody, of this coast. Beach walking can be rough underfoot. If you want to know more come to the talk at the Bear, Crickhowell, on 9th June.  
Leaders: 01495 773495  JUDY COX AND ROB KNOWLES

Sunday 18th July                               
THE DERI AND BRYN ARW. 10.00am - 4.30pm  16km (10 miles) 600m ascent Energetic  
From Abergavenny Leisure Centre lower car park GR SO 298152. A walk on the lower slopes of the Sugar Loaf, onto Bryn Arw and returning along the Deri, with a pub stop at Pantygelli (if there's time!).
Leader: 077923 40933 STEVE FLYNN

Friday 23rd July
HALF LOW HALF HIGH. 9.30am - 4.30pm 20km (12 miles) Strenuous
From the Crickhowell High School car park, GR SO 216185, along the Usk Valley Walk then round Cwm Onneu, up to Mynydd Llangatwg crossing some open land and down to Llangatwg.
Leader: 01873 810573 PAVEL VITEK

Sat 24 July to Sat 31 July
THE BEACONS WAY: 158 km/8 days (98 miles) crossing the entire width of the Brecon Beacons National Park from Skirrid Fawr in the East to Bethlehem in the West. Please contact the leader for details and to book your place. See also http://www.walkwildwales.co.uk/walks.html 
Leader: 01446 412250 (mobile: 07971 190768, email: rskrsk@hotmail.co.uk) ROB KNOWLES

Saturday 24th July ..... Past the Park
NORTH OF THE BLACK MOUNTAINS. 9.30am - 5.00pm 24 km (15 Miles) or thereabouts Energetic 
Because of shortage of parking in Painscastle, we will meet at the car park in The Begwyns, GR SO 181445, by Croesfeilliog - which is just before the cattle grid as you leave The Begwyns, towards Painscastle. A walk over the rolling hills of Rhulen and Llandeilo.

Leader: 01497 822831 (07816821745), odonoghue.books@zen.co.uk SEAN O’DONOGHUE 

Sunday 25th July
AROUND LLANGORSE. 9.30am - 5.00pm 22km (13.5 miles) Energetic
Starting from Llangorse common by the toilets near the lake, GR SO 128272. Around the lake, up and along Allt yr Esgair, across the valley to Mynydd Llangorse, down across fields back to Llangorse. If the lake has flooded then the walk may be slightly longer involving more roads.
Leader: 01874 622136 SOO TURNBULL

Friday 30th July
FOUR FANS AND A RESERVOIR. 9.30am - 4.00pm 19km (12 miles) Energetic
From the Storey Arms car park GR SN 983204 (not the one in the woods by the toilets) the route goes around the Ystradfellte reservoir via Fannau Frynich, Dringarth, Llia and Fawr.
Leader: 01989 565679 GERRY SMITH

Saturday 31st July 
THE WILDERNESS IN THE WEST (2) – QUARRIES AND CAIRNS. 9.30am - 5.00pm 19km (12 miles) Energetic
The second of a series of 3 introducing (or re-acquainting) with the wilderness areas in the west of the Park. From the car park at the top of the A4069 (NOT the viewpoint car park) at GR SN 733187. Through the Herbert Quarry and via the feeder streams into Afon Clydach to Foel Fraith and another quarry. Then across country to Tair Carn Isaf and Tair Carn Uchaf.

Leader: 01550 740188 CLIVE EILES

TORPANTAU CIRCUIT. 9.30am - 4.30pm 18.5km (11.5 miles) Energetic

From Blaen-y-glyn car park GR SO 056175. Up to Craig y Fan Ddu and a circuit around the escarpment, with a detour to Carn Pica weather permitting, before returning along the Roman Road and the Taff Trail.

Leader: 029 2061 0397 (mobile 07748 463545) ANNE PRITCHARD

Saturday 21st Aug
GRAIG GOCH & CLAERWEN RESEVOIRS.  9.30am - 5.30pm  26km (16 miles) Energetic
Start from Pont ar Elan, five miles NW of Rhayader - GR SN 903716, for rough walking via Graig Goch dam to Claerwen, including a visit to Claerwen Farm which is described as "possibly the remotest farmhouse in Wales" where we will meet shepherd Glyndwr Jones.  We will return along the Monks Trod.  This is a joint walk with Elan Events (www.elanvalley.org.uk).  Dog walkers: on leads please.
Leader: 01874 636674  ANDREW LEONARD

Sunday 22nd Aug
PANT Y LLYN LAKE AND HILL. 9.30am - 5.30pm 19km (12 miles) Energetic
Meet north of Upper Chapel on B4520 GR 021443 marked as “Griffin Inn” on older maps but now private house Explorer 188 Builth Wells. Park well away from the house please and well onto verge as fast cars travel on the road. A lovely walk in a quiet little visited area taking in an idyllic lake and following the Wye Valley Walk on return giving lovely views of Beacons and Black Mountains. No dogs please.
Leader: 029 2062 8861/07773389561 WENDY WINNEY

Friday 27th Aug
MALLAEN TO CREIGIAU MERCHED. 9.30am - 4.00pm (approx) 16km (10 miles) Energetic  
Meet at the Forest Car park north of Cilycwm at GR SN 766423 (Explorer 187) for a walk on the Southern edge of the Cambrian Mountains with views of the Park from the north. 
Leader: 01558 822960 (Mobile 07748 865992 from 8.30 till start of the walk on the morning of the walk only) GEOFFREY WILLIAMS

Saturday 28th Aug 
EASTERN EDGE OF THE BEACONS.10.00am - 4.00pm 16km (10 miles) Strenuous

Meet at Blaen-y-glyn car park GR SO 056176 on north side of Talybont-Merthyr road. Up Blaen-y-glyn, pausing at Wellington bomber memorial, and on to magnificent escarpment of Cwar y Gigfran.  Down over top of Allt Lwyd to forestry tracks and little-visited Allt Forgan with its views back to the day’s walk. Return past the lovely Caerfanell waterfalls to car park. (This is the walk which was snowed off course in January!)

Leader: 01873 811539 ROGER WHITE

Sunday 29th Aug 
OGOF FFYNNON DDU, FAN NEDD AND FAN GYHIRYCH. 9.30am - 5.00pm 23.5km (14.5 miles) Strenuous
From the lay by at Bwlch Bryn-rhudd on the A4067 (opposite the tower) GR SN 870194. A wander through the empty spaces of the Ogof Ffynnon Ddu nature reserve, returning via Fan Nedd and Fan Gyhirych (725m).
Leader: 077923 40933 STEVE FLYNN

Monday 30th Aug
IN AROUND AND ABOVE GOVILON. 10.00am - 3.00pm 13km (8 miles) Moderate
From the British Waterways car park in Govilon GR SO 277139, up through woods to Garnddyrus returning via the Punchbowl. 
Leader: KEVIN McANULTY AND WILLIAM COOPER (Enquiries via Jim Wilson on 01291 691184)

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