The Brecon Beacons National Park

Brecon Beacons National Park one of Britains breathing spaces

National Park Walks, Activities & Events - May

@ Different start points across The National Park

May's Guided Walks & Events organised by the National Park Authority

SUNDAY 4: 10:00 – 11:00
Watery Places around the Country Park
LENGTH: 2m / 3.2km
MEET: Craig-y-nos Country Park (SN 839 155) car park charges apply.
A walk around the grounds of this lovely Country Park looking at watery places. This walk is designed to improve fitness and health and is part of the Healthy Walking campaign.
GRADE: Access for All
LEADER: Country Park Warden, Ageliki Politis
For more details call Ageliki on 01639 730395.

MONDAY 5
11:00 – 17:00
FARMER’S MARKET
VENUE: Craig-y-nos Country Park (car park charges apply).Local food produce from Wales, great tastes, all day from 11 – 5 pm. There will be a minimum of ten stalls and you can buy a picnic and enjoy the Country Park at the same time!
Organised by the Unusual Food Company.
For full details and timings call Country Park Warden, Ageliki Politis on 01639 730395.

SATURDAY 10
10:00 -15:00
A Castell, a Dragon & Views from Rhos Dirion
LENGTH: 9m / 14km
MEET: Castle Inn, Pengenffordd (SO 174 296) car park charges apply.
Visit the site of Castell Dinas believed to be the highest Norman Castle in Wales before ascending a ridge & walking to Pen Rhos Dirion for fine views at lunchtime. Bring packed lunch.
GRADE/ASCENT: Energetic / 470m
LEADERS: National Park Volunteers, Ros Grant & Anne Pritchard
For more details call 01873 853254.

SUNDAY 11
13:00 – 16:00
Walking for Health around the Footpaths of Ffairfach
LENGTH: 4.5m / 7.2km
MEET: Bus park at Tregyb School, Ffairfach
(SN 632 215).
This beautiful walk through woodland and farmland is set around Ffairfach on the western fringes of the Geopark and National Park. Join Warden, Wyn Morgan and learn more about the work of the National Park and improve your health at the same time! This walk will be taken at an easy pace to suit the group. Accessible by train and bus.
GRADE: Easy
LEADER: National Park Warden, Wyn Morgan
For more details call 01874 623366.

SUNDAY 11
10:00 – 15:25
The History & Natural History of Blorenge Mountain
LENGTH: 6.5m / 10.5km
MEET: Keepers Pond car park (also known as
Pen–ffordd goch Pond) off the B4246 (SO 254 107)
A linear walk to look at the flora and fauna of Blorenge Mountain and the local history of this part of the Blaenafon World Heritage Site and the National Park, whose boundaries substantially overlap. Bring packed lunch.
GRADE/ASCENT: Moderate / 280m
LEADERS: National Park Wardens Steve Smith & Clive Williams. For more details call 01874 623366.

SATURDAY 17
10:00 – 17:00
Fan Fawr Circuit
LENGTH: 12m / 19km
MEET: Storey Arms car park on the A470, 8 miles south of Brecon (SN 982 203)
A circular walk taking in an ascent of Fan Fawr, around Ystradfellte Reservoir, Fan Llia and a visit to the National Nature Reserve of Craig Cerrig-gleisiad looking at geology and wildlife. Bring packed lunch.
GRADE/ASCENT: Strenuous / 645m
LEADERS: National Park Volunteer, Lindy Newnham. For more details call 02920 851252.

SUNDAY 18
09:45-13:00
Bluebells & Lunch!
LENGTH: 7m / 11km
MEET: The White Swan, Llanfrynach (SO 076 257)
A circular walk through the delightful Cwm
Oergwm, which should be carpeted with bluebells, plus a chance of Sunday lunch at the White Swan. Booking is essential if you would like lunch.
GRADE/ASCENT: Moderate / 250m
LEADER: National Park Volunteer, Paul Derrick
For more details call 01591 620689.

SATURDAY 24
14:00 – 16:00
Fun Activities at Craig-y-nos Country Park
European Day of Parks
VENUE: Craig-y-nos Country Park
(car parking fees apply) (SN 839155)
Come and join us for an afternoon of fun sustainable activities for kids. Suitable for ages 6 -12. 7 years and under must be accompanied by an adult.
Cost: £3.00 per child.
For more details call Country Park Warden, Ageliki Politis on 01639 730395.

SATURDAY 24
10:30 – 12:30
Bimble on the Bog
European Day of Parks
LENGTH: 4m / 6km
MEET: National Park Visitor Centre, Libanus
(car park charges apply).
Join Mountain Centre Warden Natalie Fisher on a bimble round the bog, looking for bug-eating plants and plant-eating bugs! Learn more about the fascinating wildlife of Traeth Mawr and how we look after it for future generations.
GRADE: Easy
LEADER: Visitor Centre Warden, Natalie Fisher. For more details call 01874 623366.

SATURDAY 24
10:00 – 14:30
Talybont Geology Walk Part 1
European Day of Parks and Fforest Fawr Geopark: European Geoparks Fortnight
LENGTH: 4.7m / 7.5km
MEET: Welsh Water car park south of the dam, Talybont-on-Usk (SO 099 197)
Discover how natural forces shaped the ground beneath your feet on this linear walk, taking in the stunning scenery of the Geopark’s Central Beacons whilst learning how it came to look the unique way it does, returning by minibus to the car park. Bring packed lunch. Part 2 of this walk will be on Saturday 26 July.
GRADE/ASCENT: Energetic / 510m.
LEADERS: National Park Warden, Sam Ridge.
For more details call 01874 623366.

SATURDAY 24: 10:00 – 14:00
Black Mountain the Easy Way
Fforest Fawr Geopark, European Geoparks Fortnight
LENGTH: 6m / 9km
MEET: Glanamman public car park off the A474
(SN 676 136)
A gentle introduction to the beauty of the Geopark’s Black Mountain along its south west flank, with one steepish climb. Bring packed lunch.
GRADE/ASCENT: Moderate / 150m
LEADERS: National Park Wardens, Judith Harvey & Alan Ward. For more details call 01874 623366.

SUNDAY 25: 10:00 – 16:00
GEOPARK DAY
Fforest Fawr Geopark
European Geoparks Fortnight
VENUE: Craig-y-nos Country Park (car park fees apply). A day of adventurous and geology related activities, stone carving, catering and willow making for all the family with contributions by the British Geological Survey and the School of Earth, Ocean and Planetary Sciences, Cardiff University. Cost £5.00 each or £15 per family (up to a maximum of 2 adults and 3 children). Look out for special discount vouchers in the area’s local press, reducing the cost to £3.30 each and £10 per family. Tickets give unlimited use of adventurous activities (subject to availability), with the exception of willow making which will be charged for separately. For more details call Country Park Warden, Ageliki Politis on 01639 730395.

SUNDAY 25
10:00 – 12:00 & 13:00 – 15:00
Willow Making at the Geoprak Event
European Geoparks Fortnight
Making willow wigwams, willow edging and simple sculptures. Suitable for adults and children age 7 and up. Cost: £5.00 per person. It is essential to book at least a month in advance. No dogs please.
For more details and to book a place call Country Park Warden, Ageliki Politis on 01639 730395.

MONDAY 26
10:00 – 12:00 & 13:00 – 15:00
Willow Making
Making willow wigwams, willow edging and simple sculptures. Suitable for adults and children age 7 and up. Cost: £5 per person. It is essential you book at least a month in advance. No dogs please. For more details and to book your place call Country Park Warden, Ageliki Politis on 01639 730395.

MONDAY 26
13:00 – 16:00
Tree Trail
VENUE: Craig-y-nos Country Park
(car parking fees apply). A self guided trail in the grounds of the Craig-y-nos Country Park looking at the Park’s beautiful trees. Cost: £1:00 per person and for families £2.00 per family. GRADE: Easy
For more details call Country Park Warden, Ageliki Politis on 01639 730395.

TUESDAY 27
10:30 – 12:30
CHILDREN’S BOOK WORKSHOP – GRANNY SARAH AND THE LAST RED KITE
VENUE: National Park Visitor Centre, Libanus, (car parking charges apply).

This beautifully illustrated book tells a story about Wales’s wildlife icon, the Red Kite. Celebrating a conservation success, linking old and young and the idea of handing on both a well loved story and a shared responsibility for the future, this book makes a fundamental contribution to children's personal, social and cultural education.

During this fun workshop, the children will be able to listen to the story and get involved in art related activities.

Weather permitting, the story will be told outside to tie it in with the landscape around them and there may be a Red Kite or two above! Cost: £2.50 per child. Suitable for children aged 5 – 8 years old. 7 years and under must be accompanied by an adult. No dogs please.
For more details call NPVC Warden, Natalie Fisher on 01874 623366.

WEDNESDAY 28
10:30 – 12:30
CHILDREN’S BOOK WORKSHOP:
THE LADY OF THE LAKE
VENUE: National Park Visitor Centre, Libanus, (car parking charges apply.

High up in a hollow of the Black Mountain is a glacial lake called Llyn y Fan Fach. In a farm not far from this lake there once lived a widow, with an only son whose name was Gwyn. When he grew up, he was often sent to look after their grazing cattle. The place where the sweetest food was to be found was near the lake, and it was here that the mild-eyed beasts wandered. One day when Gwyn was walking along the banks of the lake, he was astonished to see a lady standing in the clear, smooth water, some distance from the land. She was the most beautiful creature that he had ever set eyes upon, and he stood on the brink, gazing fixedly at the maiden, and knew that he loved her…..

During this fun workshop the group will meet Lady of the Lake author, Margaret Isaac,
hear extracts of the story and get involved in creative writing of their own.

Suitable for ages 8 – 12 years old. Cost: £2.50 per person. No dogs please
For more details call NPVC Warden, Natalie Fisher on 01874 623366.

WEDNESDAY 28
10:00 - 16:00
Geology of the Cribarth / Daeareg Cribarth
Fforest Fawr Geopark, European Geoparks Fortnight
LENGTH: 8m / 13km
MEET: Craig-y-nos Country Park (car park charges apply). Discover the geology of the Cribarth –
shake holes, limestone and lots more on this Geopark walk with specialist Dr. Geraint Owen of Swansea University. Adults only. Bring packed
lunch. GRADE/ASCENT: Strenuous / 450m
LEADERS: Country Park Warden, Ageliki Politis & Education Officer, Eleri Jones
For more details call 01639 730395.

THURSDAY 29
14:15 – 16:30
Brecon Town Past and Present
Fforest Fawr Geopark, European Geoparks Fortnight
MEET: Canal Basin, Theatre Brycheiniog, Brecon
A town walk, visiting sites of distinction,
discovering Brecon’s fascinating past and residents of renown.
LEADER: National Park Volunteer, Peter Brock & Rights of Way Assistant, Avril Barnes
For more details call 01874 625053.

SATURDAY 31
10:00 – 16:00
Carreg Cennen Castle & the Black Mountain: Rocks, People and Place
Fforest Fawr Geopark: European Geoparks Fortnight
LENGTH: 7m / 11.2km
MEET: Carreg Cennen Castle car park (SN 667194)
Tri-diversity: Archaeological, biological and geological characteristics all feature strongly in
the west of the Geopark. This circular walk from
the spectacular setting of Carreg Cennen will take you out on to the Black Mountain and back again, looking at some of the best examples Fforest
Fawr Geopark has to offer to illustrate the strong links between rocks, people and place. Bring
packed lunch. GRADE/ASCENT: Moderate / 490m
LEADER: National Park Warden, Richard Farquhar
For more details call 01874 623366.

National Park Walks, Activities & Events - May is in Powys

The Brecon Beacons National Park

The Brecon Beacons National Park