Brecon Beacons National Park

SUNDAY 1
10:00 – 17:00
Beacons Heart Challenge / Her Calonnau’r Bannau
Fforest Fawr Geopark: European Geoparks Fortnight
LENGTH: 13.5m / 21.7km
MEET: National Park Visitor Centre, Libanus (SN 977 262) car park fees apply.
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
13:00 – 16:00
Walking for Health: The Geology & History of Ystradowen
Fforest Fawr Geopark: European Geoparks Fortnight
LENGTH: 4m / 6.4km
MEET: Brynhenllys bridge, Ystradowen (SN 755 125)
A lovely walk through farmland, riverside and woods around Ystradowen looking at the geological and industrial history of this area of the Geopark.
GRADE: Easy
LEADER: National Park Warden, Wyn Morgan
For more details call 01874 623366.

WEDNESDAY 4
09:30 – 16:00
A Waterfalls Circuit
Fforest Fawr Geopark: European Geoparks Fortnight
LENGTH: 10m / 16km
MEET: Cwm Porth car park (SN 928 123)
A circular walk exploring the formation and natural beauty of the waterfalls of the Mellte, Hepste, Pryddin and Nedd Fechan Rivers in the south of the Geopark. Bring packed lunch.
GRADE: Energetic
LEADER: National Park Warden, Rex Eckley
For more details call 01874 623366.

FRIDAY 6
09:30 – 16:00
The Carmarthen Fans
Fforest Fawr Geopark: European Geoparks Fortnight
LENGTH: 10m / 16km
MEET: Car parking area on the Waterboard track, Llanddeusant (SN 799 238)
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. Bring packed lunch.No dogs please.
GRADE/ASCENT: Strenuous / 670m
LEADER: National Park Wardens, Rex Eckley & Richard Farquhar
For more details call 01874 623366.

SATURDAY 7
10:00 – 16:00
Fan y Big
Fforest Fawr Geopark: European Geoparks Fortnight
Wales Biodiversity Week
LENGTH: 12m / 19km
MEET: Pencelli opposite the campsite (SO 095247).
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
08:50 for 09:00 bus – 14:00 or 16:00
Fan Fawr to Libanus
Fforest Fawr Geopark: European Geoparks Fortnight
Wales Biodiversity Week
LENGTH: 7.75 to 9.5m / 12.5 to 15km
MEET: Cardiff bus from Brecon bus station
Catch a bus 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: National Park Rights of Way Assistant, Avril Barnes
For more details call 01874 623366.
 
SUNDAY 8
14:00 – 17:00
The Nedd Fechan Valley
Fforest Fawr Geopark: European Geoparks Fortnight
Wales Biodiversity Week
LENGTH: 4.2m / 6.8km
MEET: Cwm Porth car park (SN 928 123) car park charges apply.
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. No dogs please.
GRADE: Moderate
LEADERS: National Park Warden, Helen Pye and Michael Isaac, Zoologist, Charles Hipkin, Botanist & Geraint Owen, Geologist from Swansea University. For more details call 01792 295786.

SATURDAY 14
09:30-15:30
Olchan Valley & Black Hill
Wales Biodiversity Week
LENGTH:11.25m / 18km
MEET: Car park at Gospel Pass on Hay to Capel-y-Ffin road (SO 236 351). After walking along part of Offa’s Dyke, the walk drops down into the pretty Olchan Valley before ascending the impressive Cat’s Back Ridge, returning via Black Hill & Hay Bluff. Bring packed lunch.
GRADE/ASCENT: Energetic / 476m
LEADERS: National Park Volunteers, Paul Derrick & Liz Lloyd
For more details call 01591 620689.

SUNDAY 15
10:00 – 17:00
The Black Mountain,The Hard Way
Wales Biodiversity Week
LENGTH: 17m / 27km
MEET: Llanddeusant Youth Hostel (SN 777 245) - no parking charge but donation welcome to YHA. This is an exhilarating walk up to, and along, the beautiful west ridge of Mynydd Du looking at the flora and fauna of the area. Bring packed lunch.
GRADE/ASCENT: Strenuous / 800m
LEADERS: National Park Volunteer, Dave Ing
For more details call 01874 623366.

SUNDAY 15
14:00 – 17:00
Llangors Lake 
Wales Biodiversity Week
LENGTH: 2.5m / 4km
MEET: Llangasty car park (SO 132 262)
Join experts from Swansea University on a walk with National Park Wardens along the edge of the largest lake in south Wales. 
Supporting a rich and diverse range of birdlife and animals, the lake is fringed with extensive reed beds, species rich grassland, water meadows and woodland dominated by alder and willow. Its naturally eutrophic properties (nutrient-rich water supporting a dense plant population) and glacial formation during the last Ice Age make this Special Area of Conservation a fascinating place to spend an afternoon. Cost: £5 per person. No dogs please. GRADE: Easy
LEADERS: National Park Wardens, Howard Morgan & Steve Smith and Michael Isaac, Zoologist, Charles Hipkin, Botanist & Geraint Owen, Geologist from Swansea University.
For more details call 01792 295786.

SUNDAY 15
10:00 – 11:00
Flowers around the grounds of the Country Park
Wales Biodiversity Week
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 the flowers. 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.

SUNDAY 15
10:30 – 14:00
Birds of the Blorenge
Wales Biodiversity Week
LENGTH: 6.5m / 10.5km
MEET: Keepers Pond car park (also known as Pen–ffordd goch Pond) off the B4246 (SO 254 107)
A circular walk around Blorenge Mountain identifying resident and visiting birds and looking at the importance of nature conservation in this SSSI moorland habitat. Bring packed lunch.No dogs please.
GRADE/ASCENT: Moderate / 90m
LEADERS: National Park Warden, Steve Smith & Blaenavon World Heritage Site Warden, Alvin Nicholas. For more details call 01874 623366.

SATURDAY 21
BRECON BEACONS CHALLENGE
LENGTH: 14m / 22.5km
A 3 peak fundraising challenge for the British Heart Foundation (BHF).
An opportunity to complete 3 peaks in one day whilst raising life saving funds to beat heart disease in the UK. For more information visit www.bhf.org.uk/beaconschallenge or phone 0800 783 6970. Spaces are limited and registrations are handled on a first come, first served basis.

SUNDAY 22
14:00 – 17:00
Mynydd Garn Clochdy
LENGTH: 3.4m / 5.5km
MEET: Pen-yr-heol farm, Waterworks Road off the A4043 near Aberyschan (SO 277 047)
Join experts from Swansea University and the National Park on this walk up and around Mynydd Garn Clochdy looking at the specialised plants of wet and dry moorland, the birdlife, including the British Trust for Ornithology’s ringing scheme, heather and other dwarf heath land shrub loving insects and the significance of the local geology and industrial archaeology. Cost: £5 per person.No dogs please.
GRADE/ASCENT: Moderate / 120m
LEADERS: National Park Warden, Steve Smith and Michael Isaac, Zoologist, Charles Hipkin, Botanist & Geraint Owen, Geologist from Swansea University. For more details call 01792 295786.

SATURDAY 28
09:00 – 21:00
World Heritage Site ‘Border Patrol’
A Blaenavon Industrial Landscape World Heritage Site Guided Walk
LENGTH: 22m / 35.4km
MEET: Llanfoist Crossing car park (SO 285 134)
Blaenavon Industrial Landscape World Heritage Site (WHS) covers an area of 33 square kilometres (20 square miles). This challenging, undulating walk follows the boundaries of the designated area, taking in spectacular moorland ridges, ancient woods and much, much more. You will need to be fully equipped for a 12 hour walk and you are advised to bring a head torch as the walk is scheduled to finish at or near sunset.
GRADE: Strenuous
LEADERS: John & Kaf Faragher and Blaenavon WHS Warden, Alvin Nicholas. For more details call 01633 648045.

SATURDAY 28
HAY FOOD FESTIVAL
MEET: Buttermarket Hall, Hay-on-Wye.
A great day out for the family with loads of local food stalls.
No dogs please. For more details call Andrew Powell on 01874 624979.
 
SUNDAY 29
10:00 – 11:00
Walking for Health: Food
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 with a talk about locally sourced fresh produce. 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.