Brecon Beacons National Park May's walks, activities and events

A full programme of Brecon Beacons National Park Authority guided walks, children's activities and family events for you to enjoy throughout May 2012.

Sat 12 May 11:00 - 16:00
Ar grwydr yn y Bannau: ysgrifennu taith gyda Llion Iwan. Travel Writing in the Brecon Beacons with Llion Iwan – A walk for Welsh speakers
The multi-talented author Llion Iwan will take you on an informal travel writing moderate walk around Penwyllt. Voices from the past whisper from every historical landmark on this beautiful and fascinating trail. Llion is the author of the acclaimed travel book O Afallon i Shangri La (Gwasg Gomer, 2001) which tells the story of an epic bike ride through one of the world’s most desolate places on earth in Tibet. Llion will explore how his experiences have inspired his writing, and share a few travel writing secrets and tips en route. Bring a packed lunch. No dogs please. Car parking (£2.50) is not included. Ticket prices: £5/£4 - the cheaper prices are for Welsh Academy Members only. Ticket price includes an optional £1 donation to the National Park. In partnership with Literature Wales. Booking essential on 029 2047 2266. Meet: Craig-y-nos Country Park car park, Pen-y-Cae, Swansea Valley, SA9 1GL.

Sun 13 May 14:00 – 17:00
Field study visit
Carreg Cennen’s Coed y Castell
This quiet woodland has much more to it than first meets the eye! Due to a geological fault, both Limestone and Old Red Sandstone are exposed here: these support different species, creating two very distinct habitats within the wood. Because of its special habitats, Coed y Castell is designated as a site of Special Scientific Interest and specialists from Swansea University DACE will be on hand during this moderate level walk to reveal some of its more interesting and hidden gems. No dogs please. Cost: £10 per person. Booking essential on 01792 602211. Meet: Carreg Cennen car park (SN 667 193).

Wednesday 23rd May 19:00 – 20:30 (a ‘warm-up’ talk before the Festival starts in earnest)
Myddfai: a Geopark community
A talk by Fforest Fawr Geopark’s scientific director, Tony Ramsay on the Geopark, its place in the European and global families of geoparks and its role in eastern Carmarthenshire. Tony will explore links between geology, landscape, history and myth.
Venue: Myddfai Community Hall, Myddfai, Carms, SA20 0JD (OS grid ref SN 772301)
Suggested donation: £2/person

Sat 26 May to Sun 10 June
Geopark Festival 2012
Enjoy 16 days of walks, talks and other events during this excellent Festival. All are booking essential. See below for a brief summary of events or view full details on the Fforest Fawr Geopark website. Organised by the National Park Authority and its Geopark partners.

Sat 26 May 10:00-16:00
Carreg Cennen Castle Roundabout
This energetic 7 mile (11km) walk in partnership with the Brecon Beacons Park Society explores the rocky landscape of this western corner of the Geopark. Visit pillow mounds, farm enclosures, burial cairns and a trig point. Total ascent: 450m / 1500ft. Meet: Carreg Cennen Castle car park (OS grid ref SN 667193).
For more info & to book: ring NPVC on 01874 623366. Maximum no of participants: 24 – please book to guarantee your place! Suggested donation: £5 per adult. Dogs: well-behaved and on leads please!

Sun 27 May 10:00-13:00
From Cwm to Cwm
Join us for a 5 mile (8km) walk ‘From Cwm to Cwm’ following this trail on the southern slopes of the Black Mountain, visiting Cwm Pedol and Cwm Berach. Wet underfoot in places. This walk above the Amman valley can be paired with the ‘Brynaman Field Study Visit’ (see below) – why not make a day of it in the Brynaman area - and eat locally? Total ascent: 230m / 750ft. Meet: Garnant car park, Brynaman (OS grid ref SN 686134). For more info and to book: ring NPVC on 01874 623366. Maximum no of participants: 24 – please book to guarantee your place! Suggested donation for walk: £2 per adult. Dogs: well-behaved and on leads please!

Sun 27 May 14:00-17:00
Brynaman Field Study Visit
Follow the 2.5 miles (4km) ‘Rocky Ravines’ trail in the company of three experts – a geologist, a botanist and a zoologist. Visiting Coal Measures sandstones and shales, acid grassland, oak woodland, willow and birch scrub and upland streams. A partnership event with the Department of Adult Continuing Education at Swansea University. This field study visit can be paired with the walk above – ‘From Cwm to Cwm’ – why not make a day of it and eat locally? Total ascent: 110m / 350ft. Meet: Black Mountain Centre car park, Brynaman (OS grid ref SN 714143). Booking essential: ring 01792 602211. Maximum no of participants: 24 – please book to guarantee your place! University charge: £5 per person. Suggested donation for walk: £2 per adult. Sorry – no dogs.

Monday 28th May 19:00 – 20:30
A Thin Blue Line: limestone landscapes of the Geopark (TALK)
A talk by Alan Bowring, Fforest Fawr Geopark’s development officer, on the crags, caves, quarries and kilns that decorate the narrow belt of countryside stretching from Carreg Cennen to Cribarth and from Penwyllt to Pontsticill where limestone asserts it presence and which shows as a line of blue on geologist’s maps. See what sort of mark 350 million years of nature and 350 years of mankind have left here! Venue: Abercraf Miners Welfare Hall, Abercrave, SA9 1XA. Suggested donation: £2/person.

Tuesday 29th May 10:00 – 13:00
White Water & Black Powder
An easy 2 mile (3km) walk in partnership with the Brecon Beacons Park Society exploring the remains of the Gunpowder works which were set alight in 1930. Strung out along a couple of miles of riverside in one of the Waterfall Country’s most beautiful wooded gorge. See what’s left 80 years after the works were deliberately destroyed. This walk at the head of the Vale of Neath can be paired with ‘Faults, Folds & Firebricks’ – why not make a day of it at Pontneddfechan - and eat locally? Total ascent: 30m / 100ft. Meet: Dinas Rock car park, Pontneddfechan (OS grid ref SN 911079). For more info & to book: ring NPVC on 01874 623366. Maximum no of participants: 16 – please book to guarantee your place! Suggested donation: £2 per adult. Dogs: well-behaved and on leads please!

Tuesday 29th May 14:00 – 17:00
Faults, Folds and Firebricks
A moderate 2.5 mile (4km) walk exploring France’s role in creating one of our finest landscapes – amazing stories played out by nature and man. And one of Wales’ seven geological wonders – have you seen the recently revealed Bwa Maen yet? This walk at the head of the Vale of Neath can be paired with ‘White Water & Black Powder’ – why not make a day of it at Pontneddfechan – and eat locally? Total ascent: 250m / 800ft. Meet: Dinas Rock car park, Pontneddfechan (OS grid ref SN 911079). For more info & to book: ring NPVC on 01874 623366. Maximum no of participants: 16 – please book to guarantee your place! Suggested donation: £2 per adult. Dogs: well-behaved and on lead please!

Tuesday 29th May 19:30 – 21:00 (provisional)
Dry stone walling and Geology
A talk by Philip Clark (a.k.a. Charles Gordon Clark) on dry stone walls, a common feature of this area as elsewhere in Wales and upland Britain. He will examine their intimate relationship to the underlying geology. Venue: Brecon Guildhall (provisional) in centre of town. Plentiful parking available nearby. LD3 7AL. Suggested donation: £2/person.

Wednesday 30th May 10:00 – 13:00.
Walk, Talk - and possibly lunch?
Join us for an easy/moderate 2.5 mile (4km) walk across Mynydd Illtud common that includes a mysterious spiritual centre, an industrial site, a final resting place, preparations for war, an unsolved mystery and a little known wonder. This walk from the Mountain Centre can be paired with ‘Bountiful Bogs and Marvellous Mires’ – why not make a day of it on Mynydd Illtud - and take lunch at the Centre?
Total ascent: minimal
Meet: car park (OS grid ref SN 977262).
For more info & to book: ring NPVC on 01874 623366
Maximum no of participants: 24 – please book to guarantee your place!
Suggested donation: £2 per adult.
Dogs: well-behaved and on leads please!
Lunch not included but, if staying for the afternoon event, why not take it at the NPVC / Mountain Centre?

Wednesday 30th May 14:00 – 17:00
Bountiful Bogs and Marvellous Mires
Join us on Mynydd Illtud again, for an afternoon exploration in partnership with the Brecon Beacons Park Society of Daudraeth Illtyd – water-filled rock basins near the Mountain Centre where wildlife thrives in a very special habitat. Wellies recommended and binoculars useful. This walk from the Mountain Centre can be paired with ‘Walk, talk – & possibly lunch?‘ – why not make a day of it on Mynydd Illtud - and take lunch at the Centre?
Total ascent: minimal
Meet: car park (OS grid ref SN 977262).
For more info & to book: ring NPVC on 01874 623366
Maximum no of participants: 24 – please book to guarantee your place!
Suggested donation: £2 per adult.
Sorry – no dogs!

Wednesday 30th May 19:00 – 20:30
Geodiversity and geological sites
A talk by Dr Adrian Humpage of the British Geological Survey looking at the rocky foundations of Fforest Fawr Geopark. The BGS has recently completed a review of those localities in and around the area which are of regional importance for the understanding of its geology and geomorphology.
Venue: Brecon Guildhall (provisional) in centre of town. Plentiful parking available nearby. LD3 7AL
Suggested donation: £2/person

Thursday 31st May 19:00 – 20:30 (provisional)
Tropical Seas, Dusty Deserts and Grinding Glaciers
A talk by Geraint Owen of Swansea University on the 400 million year geological evolution of South Wales with a focus on the Swansea Valley/Cwm Tawe in particular. Delve into the area’s deep past for a better understanding of a landscape you thought you knew.
Venue: Coelbren Church (provisional), Heol Eglwys, Coelbren (OS grid ref SN 849117)
Entry: suggested donation of £2/adult

Organised by the Brecon Beacons National Park Authority