May 2012

WEDNESDAY WANDER PAST THE PARK: A CIRCUIT OF MITCHELL TROY 2

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Wednesday 2nd May
Moderate

10km (6 miles)
11.00am – 2.00pm
KEVIN MCANULTY &
WILLIAM COOPER
01633 667664
Meet at Mitchell Troy Church GR SO 492103 map OL 14.
Up through woods and fields for lunch at Penallt Church before descending back through woodland and field to complete a 12 mile figure of 8 walk.

A FIGURE OF EIGHT

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Friday 4th May
Energetic
14km (9 miles)
10.00am – 3.30pm
GERRY SMITH

01989 565679
From the Castle Inn car park, Pengenffordd, on the A479 GR SO 173296 (parking fee £1). Up Mynydd Troed (609m), down to Cwm Sorgwm, up Cockit Hill to Mynydd Llangorse and a low level return. 

ON THE BLACK HILL

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Saturday 5th May
Energetic/Strenuous
20km (12 miles)
9.30am – 4.00pm
CHRIS PLAYFORD
01497 820074
From Gospel Pass GR SO 235351. Up to the Twmpa, follow the attractive Nant Bwch down to Capel-y-ffin, steeply ascend and cross the Hatterrall ridge, drop down to cross the Olchon valley, then climb the Cat’s Back ridge to return via Hay Bluff. About 850m total ascent. Hopefully fine views over England and the Wye Valley.

CENTRAL BEACONS - PEN-Y-FAN AND FAN Y BIG

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Sunday 6th May
Strenuous
29km (18 miles)
3800ft
9.00am – 5.00pm

JASON WINNEY 
07798 521550

Parking at Cwm Gwdi car park GR SO 025249 OS Map OL12.
A good yomp around the Beacons from the north.

 

 

 

AN EXTRA WALK TO CELEBRATE THE OPENING OF THE ALL WALES COAST PATH:
THE GLAMORGAN HERITAGE COAST (and a cream tea!)

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Sunday 6th May
Energetic
19km (12 miles)
9.30am – 5.30pm 
JUDY COX & ROB KNOWLES           01495 773495
07982 442464 (Judy)

Meet at the beach car park at Ogmore-on-Sea (parking fee) GR SS 862755, map Explorer 151, followed by car share to Col-huw beach at Llantwit Major. A cliff and beach walk along the rocky Heritage Coast to Southerndown then across Ogmore Down and Golf Course to Ogmore Castle (and the cream tea!), exploring the geology and history, sometimes bloody, of this coast. Beach and cliff walking can be rough underfoot.

BANK HOLIDAY MONDAY: 3 INTO 2 WILL GO 

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Monday 7th May
Energetic
18km (11.25 miles)
9.30am – 4.30pm
ANNE PRITCHARD
029 2061 0397
07748 463545
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.

WEDNESDAY WANDER: BLUEBELLS ABOVE CRICKHOWELL – COED CEFN

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Wednesday 9th May
Moderate
9km (5.5 miles)  
10.15am – 1.00pm  
ROGER AUSTIN
01873 810145
lynne.roger@btinternet.com
From CRiC building GR SO 218184 Crickhowell at 10.15am.
Some tarmac and 10 stiles.

TAFF TRAIL, NATURE RESERVE AND ENCHANTED VALLEY

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Friday 11th May
Energetic
18km (11 miles)
9.30am – 4.00pm 
GERRY
SMITH

01989 565679
From the car park opposite the Storey Arms on the A470 GR SN 982203. A walk along the Taff Trail before crossing to the dramatic Craig Cerrig-gleisiad, then down to the old turnpike road to Cwm-du. A steady climb onto Fan Frynych to the shoulder of Fan Fawr and back down to Storey Arms.     

PAST THE PARK: OVER THE HILLS AND FAR AWAY

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Saturday 12th May
Energetic
20km (12 miles)
9.30am – 4.30pm
MALCOLM WINNEY
029 2062 8861
Park on the common at GR SO 084384 Explorer map 188.
A walk along tracks and paths taking in Mynydd Fforest (no trees), Cefn Clawdd and Llandyfalle Hill. No dogs please.

PAST THE PARK: BLUE BELLS OF MACHEN AND RUDRY

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Sunday 13th May
Energetic
25km (15 miles)
9.30am  – 4.30pm approx  
WENDY WINNEY
029 2062 8861
07773 389561
Meet Machen Village Hall car park, Forge Road, Machen (behind Social Club). GR ST 212891 Explorer map 152.  A very varied walk visiting Machen Mountain,  Craig Ruperra Summer House, Rudry wood where hopefully we will see bluebells, returning via Rhymney Valley Ridgeway and fields to Machen. 
No dogs please. 

WEDNESDAY WANDER: BLORENGE CIRCUIT

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Wednesday 16th May
Moderate
11.5km (7 miles)
10.30am – 2.30pm
KEVIN MCANULTY &
WILLIAM COOPER
01633 667664
Meet at Keepers Pond GR SO 254197.
Head out to the summit of The Blorenge for fine views over Abergavenny. Then descend to Punchbowl for lunch before returning via dram road to Keepers Pond.

ILLUSTRATED TALK: ARTISTS OF THE LLANTHONY VALLEY

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Wednesday 16th May
7.30pm
Bear Hotel, Crickhowell
William Gibbs
The Llanthony valley has inspired artists for hundreds of years. This talk by William Gibbs is illustrated with a power point presentation with over 130 images of the works of the many artists who either lived in the valley such as David Jones, Eric Gill, Arthur Holloway and Reg Gammon or passed through like Cotman, Turner, Piper and Ravilious.

SOUTH OF SENNYBRIDGE

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Friday 18th May
Energetic

24km (15 miles, approx)
9.30am – 5.30pm
SOO TURNBULL
01874 622136
Start from Sennybridge main car park at GR SN 921287. Not sure of route yet, but the idea is we’ll probably head south, hopefully end up at the trig point Fan Bwlch Chwyth, and come back via Crai and perhaps Fforest Fach. 
PLEASE NOTE CHANGE OF START POINT: park at the livestock market - If you go into Sennybridge on the A40 from the east, you turn right opposite the post office ( the entrance to the main carpark with the recycling facilities is on the corner) go through a narrow section of road, and as it bends left the livestock market is on the right.

LOW HILLS AND STEEP VALLEYS

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Saturday 19th May
Strenuous
18km (11 miles)
9.30am – 5.30pm        
CLIVE EILES
01550 740188
clive.eiles@hertford.oxon.org
From the higher car park on the A4069 Brynamman to Llangadog road GR SO 732187.
To the low peaks of Garreg Lwyd and Carn Fadog, and then down into the steep sided valley of the Twrch and the Twrch Fechan. And back via Garreg Las and the waterfalls at the top of Afon Clydach.

PENCELLI – FAN Y BIG CIRCULAR   

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Sunday 20th May
Energetic
17 km (11 miles)
9.30am – 4.00pm
SEAN O’DONOGHUE
01497 822831/07816 821745
odonoghue.books@zen.co.uk
Meet GR SN 247094 in lay-by on south edge of Pencelli on west of B4558 for a walk up one ridge and down another with wonderful views along the escarpment (if we’re lucky), returning along the canal.  

VALLEY TO VALLEY AND BACK

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Friday 25th May
Strenuous
19km (12 miles)
10.00am – 4.00pm
STEPHEN FLYNN
07792 340933
From Blaen y Cwm car park GR SO 252285. Up through woodland at first then open hill to the Blacksmith’s Anvil. Descend to Capel-y-ffin, with its tiny churches and monastery before walking up the secluded Nant Bwch valley to its head. Returning via Rhos Dirion and the Grwyne Fawr reservoir.

SPECIAL EVENT: BAT WATCH

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Friday 25th  Monday 21st May
Easy
8pm
GERRY SMITH
01989 565679
geraldesmith45@aol.com
DAVID JERMYN
Vincent Wildlife Trust
PLEASE NOTE CHANGE OF DATE – ALL OTHER DETAILS REMAIN THE SAME
Join The Vincent Wildlife Trust (Our Beacon for Bats project) and take part in a bat watch to observe a large colony of lesser horseshoe bats emerging from an internationally important roost in the Upper Usk Valley near Bwlch. Meet in the lay by (picnic area /toilet) just off the A40(T) at Grid Reference SO 129226, situated ca.2km west of Bwlch (GR SO 150220). From the lay by we plan to car share to the roost. Please bring suitable clothing and footwear and a torch if possible. Please book your place with the leader from 1st April as numbers are limited to a max of 20 persons.

ORDINARY SOCIETY WALK: WEST, THEN EAST, OF ‘OFFA’S’

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Saturday 26th May
E
nergetic                        
20km (12.5 miles)
9.30am – 4.30pm
FRANK SCOTT
01432 275388
07713 772499
Meet at Llanthony Priory car park GR SO 288278.  Walk up to Bal-Bach along to Garn-Wen before descending to Cwmyoy. Up to Three Wells for lunch before returning via Penywyrlod and the Black Darren. 

GEOPARK FESTIVAL: CARREG CENNEN CASTLE ROUNDABOUT WITH A GEOLOGICAL TURN

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Saturday 26th May
Moderate
13km (8 miles)
10.00am – 4.00pm
ANGELA MORGAN
07801 915707
TONY RAMSAY
Fforest Fawr Geopark
From Carreg Cennen Castle car park GR SN 667193, through farmland up on to the Black Mountain. Visit pillow mounds, farm enclosures, burial cairns and a trig point, before returning past a spring to Carreg Cennen Castle. The free car park is owned by the National Park. There are tea rooms next to the castle.
Dogs on leads please.
Advance booking is advisable as there is a cap on numbers, at the National Park Visitor Centre 01874 623366.

ORDINARY SOCIETY WALK: LLANBEDR HORSESHOE

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Sunday 27th May
Strenuous
27km (17 miles)
9.30am – 6.00pm
Cline Ginsberg
01633 867653
From Ty Mawr farm north-west of Llanbedr GR SO 234206 (parking fee).
A high level circuit of the Grwyne Fechan valley: Pen Cerrig-calch and Pen Allt Mawr, Pen Trumau, Waun Fach ( 811m ), Pen y Gadair Fawr and Crug Mawr.

GEOPARK FESTIVAL: WHITE WATER & BLACK POWDER

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Tuesday 29th May
Easy
3km (1.9miles)
10.00am – 1.00pm
DILYS HARLOW
01454 775731
HELEN PYE
National Park
Waterfalls Area Warden
Meet at Craig y Ddinas car park Pontneddfechan GR SN 911079 for a walk beside the Afon Mellte exploring the remains of the Old Gunpowder Factory and learning about the National Park’s management of this area.
Dogs on leads please.
There is another short Geopark walk from Craig y Ddinas in the afternoon of May 29th, 2.00pm-5.00pm. See the website www.fforestfawrgeopark.co.uk/geopark-festival-2012/ for details.
Advance booking is advisable as there is a cap on numbers, at the National Park Visitor Centre 01874 623366.

WEDNESDAY WANDER: LLANGYNIDR - RIVERS USK, CRAWNON AND CANAL

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Wednesday 30th May
Moderate

6.5km (4 miles)
10.30am – 1.00pm   
ROGER AUSTIN
01873 810145 lynne.roger@btinternet.com
Meet at 10am at CRiC building GR SO 218184 for car share OR at start point at 10.30am.
From car park opposite Llangynidr Village Hall GR SO 154195. 
A flat walk along the canal, a short sidestep up the Crawnon and a scramble along the river path. 

GEOPARK FESTIVAL: WALK & TALK ON MYNYDD ILLTYD COMMON

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Wednesday 30th May
Easy
4km (2.5miles)
10.00am – 1.00pm
DILYS HARLOW
01454 775731
PETER BROCK
National Park Volunteer
Meet at the National Park Visitor Centre (car park charge) GR SN 977262 for a stroll over the Common including a mysterious spiritual centre, an industrial site, a final resting place, an unsolved mystery and a little known wonder.
Dogs on leads please.
Advance booking is advisable as there is a cap on numbers, at the National Park Visitor Centre 01874 623366.

GEOPARK FESTIVAL: BOUNTIFUL BOGS & MARVELLOUS MIRES

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Wednesday 30th May
Easy
about 4km (2.5miles)
2.00pm – 5.00pm
DILYS HARLOW
01454 775731
TONY RAMSAY
Fforest Fawr Geopark 
PAUL SINNADURAI
National Park Chief Ecologist
Meet at the National Park Visitor Centre (car park charge) GR SN 977262.  We will visit the water filled rock basins of Daudraeth Illtyd National Nature Reserve where wildlife thrives in special habitats.  The basins also contain a record of climate change in South Wales since the last glaciation ended.
Wellies are essential and binoculars will be useful.
Sorry no dogs.
Advance booking is advisable as there is a cap on numbers, at the National Park Visitor Centre 01874 623366.