GUIDED WALKS
AND EVENTS
WINTER
PROGRAMME
2009/2010
Sunday
31st January TOR
Y FOEL FROM TALYBONT. 10.00am
- 3.30pm 16km (10miles) Moderate Park
at Henderson Hall (£1) situated just off the main road at the western end of
Talybont-on-Usk (follow the Recycling signs), GR SO 113229, for a walk along the
Brinore Tramroad, over Tor y Foel from the steep end, and back along the canal
towpath. FEBRUARY Saturday
6th February
Saturday 9th
January
EXPLORING THE EASTERN EDGE OF THE BEACONS. 9.30am - 3.30pm 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, then on to
escarpments of Cwar y Gigfran and Gwalciau’r Cwm. Cross to the little-visited
Allt Lwyd and by forestry tracks to the hardly-ever-visited Allt Forgan with its
views of the day’s walk. Down by Caerfanell waterfalls and up to car
park. (Note: If snow or ice is forecast on road, please phone leader for
alternative meeting point).
Leader: 01873 811539 ROGER WHITE
Sunday 10th January
Due to adverse conditions this walk is
cancelled
THE CARMARTHEN FANS - A LONGER CIRCUIT. 9.00am - 4.00pm 24km (15
miles) Energetic
From the Llanddeusant YHA (park on the side road) at GR SN 77652445 a walk
looking at glaciation features. South to the Twrch Fechan, East over the Fans
and return along the foot of the escarpment.
Leader: 01558 822960 GEOFF WILLIAMS (Mobile: 07748 865992 on
the day of the walk only from 8a.m to 9.30)
Sunday 10th January
HAY BLUFF FROM HAY-ON-WYE.
9.30am - 3.30pm 18km (11 miles) Energetic Due
to adverse conditions this walk is cancelled
Meet at Hay-on-Wye Car Park GR
SO 229422 – opposite the
Castle. Charge for car park but free
parking is available in Car Park on
Leader: 01497 82283 SEAN
O'DONOGHUE (
A CIRCUIT FROM CWM GWDI. 9.30am - 4.00pm 16km
(10 miles) Energetic
Meet at the car park above Cwm Gwdi GR SO 024248 for a (weather dependent!) day
in the traditional heart of the Beacons.
Leader:
01600 860582 FRANK COOK
Sunday 17th January
PAINSCASTLE
– ROLLING HILLS OF RHULEN & LLANDEILO.
9.30am - 5.00pm 19km
(12 miles) Energetic
Because of shortage of parking in Painscastle, we will meet at the carpark in
The Begwyns, GR
SO 182444,
and ferry walkers from there – this is not marked as a carpark on OS map but
is on the road which runs from Clyro to Painscastle, near the northern cattle grid just as you exit - or enter - the Begwyns. The
walk goes West and North-West of Painscastle.
Sunday 17th January
LONGTOWN,
HATTERRALL RIDGE AND THE RED DARREN. 10.00am - 4.30pm 17km (11 miles) Energetic
Meet at Longtown Village Hall car park, Explorer OL13, GR SO 324287. We
will head south to
Leader:
01873 860356 ANTHONY FURNESS
Saturday 23rd
January
CIRCLES
OF YOUR MYNYDD.
10.00am - 4.30pm 18km (11 miles) Energetic
From the car park by the bridge over the Usk at GR SN 820272.
Stone Circles (ancient and modern), Llyn y Fan Fawr, an aircraft crash site,
waterfalls – and a challenge for those who wish to test their GPS skills.
Leader:
01550
740188 CLIVE EILES
Sunday 24th January
TRETOWER
AND MYNYDD LLANGORSE. 09.00am - 4.30pm 21km (13 miles) Energetic
Meet Cwmdu Village Hall (£1 parking charge per car) GR SO 180239 OS Explorer Map
OL13. A very varied walk through fields and woodland climbing up onto
Mynydd Llangorse with good views of Brecon Beacons and Llangorse lake if weather
kind. As we will be finishing close to sunset please bring a torch. No dogs please.
Leaders:
029 2062 8861 (Mobile 07773 389561) MALCOLM AND WENDY WINNEY
Sunday 24th January
AROUND THE BAL M
From the car park at the Queen's Head Inn, Cwmyoy
(£1 parking per car) GR SO 311221. A walk through the lanes and fields below
the Gaer then up through the woods to Bal Mawr, returning along the ridge.
Leader 01495 773495 JUDY COX
Wednesday 27th January .....
Geology and People
A detailed exploration of the rocks and landforms which make up this part of the
BBNP. From 417 million years ago, we travel forward through time, across deserts
onto a coastal plain where life first began to appear on land. We seek the
evidence of glaciation, look for minerals and consider the hazards associated
with landscape evolution. Finally, we see how humans have used and taken
advantage of the geology.
Speaker:
Dr ADRIAN HUMPAGE, British Geological Survey,
Saturday 30th
January
SCWD DDU, SINC Y GIEDD & THE CRIBARTH.
9.30am - 4.00pm 18km (11.5 miles) Energetic
Meet at GR SN 8463 1654, just off the A4067 at the Gwyn Arms (parking alongside
the road next to the pub) for a walk behind Dan yr Ogof to Carreg Coch,
returning over the Cribarth & through Craig y nos.
Leader: 07967 140689 PAULA ACE
Sunday 31st January
WINTER IN GOVILON.
10.00am - 3.30pm 15km (9 miles)
Moderate
Meet at the British Waterways car park just off the Blaenavon Road, Govilon - GR
SO 272137. The walk ascends Gilwern Hill
then on to Keepers Pond before heading for the summit of The Blorenge and descending to
canal bank.
Leader: KEVIN
McANULTY AND WILLIAM COOPER (Enquiries via Jim Wilson on 01291 691184)
Leader: 029
2061 0397 (mobile
07748 463545) ANNE PRITCHARD
JOHN PAUL GEORGE AND RINGO. 9.30
am - 4.00 pm 20km (12.5
miles) Strenuous
From the top car park on the A4069 Llangadog to Brynaman road, GR SN 732188. The peaks of Garreg Lwyd and Carreg Las, with their burial
cairns
Editors Note: The Beatles were originally called the Quarrymen
Leader: 01550 740188 CLIVE EILES (clive.eiles@hertford.oxon.org)
Sunday 7th February ..... Past the
Park
LOWER
MACHEN, RUDRY COMMON AND WENALLT WOODS. 09.00am - 4.30pm 23km
(14miles) Energetic
Meet at Machen Village Hall,
Leaders: 029 2062 8861 (Mobile 07773 389561) MALCOLM AND WENDY WINNEY
Sunday 7th February
ROMANS AND LIMESTONE. 9.30am - 4.30pm 18km (11
miles) Energetic
An Ystradfellte circuit from the main car park at Ystradfellte village GR SN
72901345. North from start to Maen Madoc -Sarn Helen to Pont Rhyd y cnau and return via
the Mellte.
Leader: 01558 822960 GEOFF WILLIAMS (Mobile: 07748 865992 on
the day of the walk only from 8am to 9.30)
Saturday 13th February
AROUND LITTLE SWITZERLAND. 9.30am - 4.00pm 14km (9
miles) Energetic
From Afan Argoed country park, GR SS 819950, about
4 miles north east of Port Talbot on the A4107 (car parking charges apply
- refreshments available). A bit of a climb to join the Coed Morgannwg
Way at Gyfylchi on the ridge directly opposite, then following it along
the ridge to Abercregan. Returning via Cymer where there will be some
options depending upon weather and time.
Option 1 is to head up Foel Trawsnant through the forestry fairly
soon after leaving Cynmer, and following the path back to Afan Argoed
Option 2 is to head up Foel Trawsnant at Dyffryn to pick up the same path as
option 1 but further along
Option 3 is to keep on the cycle path all the way back (not my favourite
option but ideal if there are time related or other problems)
Note: The distance and finish time shown are for the preferred option (option
1) and may differ a little if another option is chosen on the day.
Leader:
01792 843794 LES HUGHES
Sunday 14th February
HAY-ON-WYE TO CRASWALL. 9.30am
- 4.30pm 20km
(12 miles) Energetic
Meet at Hay-on-Wye Car Park GR
SO 229422 – opposite the
Castle. Charge for car park but free
parking is available in Car Park on
Leader: 01497 822831 SEAN
O'DONOGHUE (
Sunday 14th February
SAINT VALENTINE'S DAY SAUNTER. 10.30am - 2.00pm 6km (4
miles) Moderate
Impress your loved ones by inviting them on a St Valentine's Day winter stroll
in the hills!!
From the lay by car park on the B4521 GR SO 328164, a wander up and round the
Skirrid (Ysgyryd Fawr) visiting a tucked away tea break spot (a limited supply
of heart shaped biscuits will be provided), the chapel site on the summit,
lunch at "The Devils Table" with the possibility of peregrines in
the cliffs above, and returning back through the woods.
Leader: 01291 691184
JIM WILSON
Saturday 20th February
AWAY FROM THE HORDES. 10.00am
- 3.00pm 16km (10 miles)
Energetic
Meet at Storey Arms lay-by GR SN 982203. This walk is
mainly over rough moorland! Up to Fan Fawr trig point, down and over the dam
wall of Ystradfellte reservoir, up to Fan Llia, and back round via Rhos
Dringarth.
Leader: 01497 820074
CHRIS PLAYFORD
Sunday 21st February ..... Past the
Park
THE BEGWNS AND LLANBEDR.
10.00am - 4.30pm 20km (11
miles)
Energetic
Park by the cattle grid on the Painscastle Road,
Explorer Map 188, GR SO 184443. A bracing walk on high, open moorland passing
through The Roundabout and Llanbedr. There should be good long distant views,
weather permitting.
Leader: 01568 720424
WENDY SLADEN
Sunday 21st February .....
A Day at the
Seaside
WHAT'S OCCURRING?
9.00am - 4.30pm 23km (14.5
miles)
Energetic
Meet at Barry Station car park, GR ST 107672 (map 151) for the 9:05 train to
Llantwit Major (fare), then a brisk paced walk along the coast path, via the
southernmost point of Wales, to Barry Island, home of Gavin and Stacey. Uncle
Bryn is back marker!
Check with the walk leader nearer the time, or with National Rail, that the
train is still at 09:05
Leader: 01633 893710
CLAIRE MURRAY
Saturday 27th February
..... A Normal Society Walk (no booking required)
A DIFFERENT CIRCUIT IN THE CENTRAL BEACONS.
9.00am - 5.00pm 20km (13 miles) Energetic
Meet at the Cwm Gwdi car park (the top one) at GR SO 024247. A different circuit
in the Central Beacons going 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.
Leader: 01291 691184 JIM WILSON
CRICKHOWELL
WALKING FESTIVAL
A WEEK OF WALKS IN THE
EAST,
from Saturday 27th February to Sunday 7th March inclusive.
This part of our programme (the walks with the Day
and Date in purple and underlined) is the Society's contribution to the
Crickhowell Walking Festival. The walks also appear in the Walking Festival's programme where in some cases the walk descriptions have been changed slightly
to make them more understandable for a wider audience.
Please note that although all the Society walks for the festival are free
for members, members do need to book their places on these walks in advance,
this should be done through the
festival office. The Society walks for the Festival are those walks in
our programme with the Day
and Date in purple and underlined.
Last year the Walking Festival was so successful that some of the Society
walks in the festival were really over subscribed (eg 55 on Ros's walk). This
was to
an extent due to Society members not needing to book places on Society walks.
The organisers and the leader therefore didn't know till the day how many people
would turn up and this led to excessive numbers on some of the walks.
In 2010 we need to have better control over numbers for safety reasons but also
for people's enjoyment of the walks. As a result the numbers for any given walk will be
capped at a reasonable level and, unlike last year, Society members need to
book their place on the Festival walks put on by the Society. So book early to avoid disappointment (this
means as soon as possible after the Festival opens for bookings on the 4th Jan
2010).
Some additional ordinary Society walks (Day and
Date in the usual green) have been put on during the Festival
period to give members alternatives to the Festival walks.
For information on the full festival programme and how to book your places
see the web site
www.crickhowellfestival.com
Saturday 27th February
A PEN AND TWO BLACK
RIDGES. 9.30am -
5.00pm 21km (13miles) Ascent 3500ft
Strenuous
Meet at the Blaen y Cwm car park GR SO 252285 for ascent of Pen y Gadair Fawr
then follow the ridge south east to Disgwylfa, descend to Pont Cadwgan before
climbing up again to the eastern ridge to return via Bal Mawr and Chwarel y Fan.
Advanced Booking Essential: through the Festival (Tel: 01873 811970,
email: walks@crickhowellinfo.org.uk)
Leader:
029 2061 0397
(mobile 07748
463545) ANNE PRITCHARD
Sunday 28th February
ANOTHER
APPROACH TO
SUGAR
LOAF.
10
From Golden Grove Llangenny, GR SO 240179, the car park (£1)
Leader: 01873 854894 ROS GRANT
Sunday 28th February .....
A Normal Society Walk (no booking required)
HIGH LEVEL TOUR OF THE VALE OF EWYAS. 9.30am - 5.30pm22.5km (14 miles) Strenuous
Meet at Llanthony Priory SO 288279. Up Bal Bach and Bal Mawr, across to
Partrishow, up to the Gaer,down to Cwmyoy, up Hatterral Hill and back along
Offa's Dyke Path.
Leader: 01594 542473 CHARLES AND HELEN HENDERSON
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