Brecon Beacons National Park

SUNDAY 1 JUNE

Beacons Heart Challenge

Time: 10:00 – 17:00

Length: 13.5 miles / 21.7km

Meet: National Park Visitor Centre, Libanus (SN 977 262) car park fees apply.

Description: Prepare for this year’s British Heart Foundation’s Challenge on Saturday 21 June by joining this strenuous re-run of last year’s Brecon Beacons Heart Challenge circuit, looking at conservation and the landscape of the Geopark en-route. Bring packed lunch. Find out more about this worthwhile fundraising event on 21 June at: www.bhf.org.uk/

Grade/ascent: Strenuous / 800m

Leaders: National Park Wardens, Toby Small & Judith Harvey

For more details: call 01874 623366.

SUNDAY 1 JUNE

Walking for Health: the Geology & History of Ystradowen

Time: 13:00 – 16:00

Length: 4 miles / 6.4km

Meet: Brynhenllys bridge, Ystradowen (SN 755 125)

Description: A lovely walk through farmland, riverside and woods around Ystradowen looking at the geological and industrial history of this area of the Geopark.  Suitable for families.

Grade: Easy

Leader: National Park Warden, Wyn Morgan

For more details: call 01874 623366

WEDNESDAY 4 JUNE

A Waterfalls Circuit

Time: 09:30 – 16:00

Length: 10 miles / 16km

Meet: Cwm Porth car park (SN 928 123)

Description: A circular walk exploring the formation and natural beauty of the waterfalls of the Mellte, Hepste, Pyrddin and Nedd Fechan Rivers in the south of the Geopark.

Grade: Energetic

Leader: National Park Warden, Rex Eckley

For more details: call 01874 623366. 

FRIDAY 6 JUNE

The Carmarthen Fans

Time: 09:30 – 16:00

Length: 10 miles / 16km

Meet: Car parking area on the Waterboard track, Llanddeusant (SN 799 238)

Description: A classic circuit of the Carmarthen Fans looking at the natural history and the impact of Ice Age glaciation on the Geopark’s landscape that we can still see today, including a visit to a stone circle. Sorry - no dogs.

Grade/ascent: Strenuous / 670m

Leader: National Park Warden, Rex Eckley

For more details: call 01874 623366

SATURDAY 7 JUNE

Fan y Big

Time: 10:00 – 16:00

Length: 12 miles / 19km

Meet: Pencelli opposite the campsite (SO 095247).

Description: The route ascends Gist Wen before following the ridge west up to Fan y Big. Take in stunning views of the central Beacons and the Usk Valley before descending along Cefn Cyff with a gentle finish back through farmland to Pencelli. Bring packed lunch.

Grade/ascent: Strenuous / 719m

Leader: National Park Warden, Sam Ridge

For more details: call 01874 623366

SATURDAY 7 JUNE

Fan Fawr to Libanus

Time: 08:50 for 09:00 bus – 14:00 or 16:00

Length: 7.75 to 9.5 miles / 12.5 to 15km

Meet: Brecon or Libanus Village bus stops for bus to Cardiff

Description: Catch a bus from Libanus to Storey Arms and walk over the magnificent tops of Fan Fawr and Fan Frynach to the National Park Visitor Centre, and back to Libanus for the return bus. Keen walkers can walk back to Brecon along valley lanes and footpaths. Bring packed lunch or have lunch at the Visitor Centre tearooms.

Grade/ascent: Energetic / 400m

Leader: Avril Barnes

For more details: call 01874 623366 

SUNDAY 8 JUNE

The Nedd Fechan Valley

Time: 14:00 – 17:00

Length: 4.2 miles / 6.8km

Meet: Cwm Porth car park (SN 924 111) car park charges apply.

Description: Join experts from Swansea University on a walk with National Park Wardens looking at the area known as Coedydd Nedd a Mellte (waterfalls area), designated a Special Area of Conservation for its very large and diverse example of old sessile oak wood. Interspersed with ash and lowland woodland, the whole site is biologically rich, with a huge variety of woodland plant communities, mosses and lichens. The rare tufted grass, Wood Fescue, a national rarity, is present in the damp ravines along with the rare Hay-scented Buckler Fern, the pretty Tunbridge Filmy-fern and the limestone-loving Green Spleenwort. Cost: £5 per person. Sorry - no dogs.

Grade: Moderate

Leaders: National Park Warden, Helen Pye and Michael Isaac, Swansea University

For more details: call 01792 295786