News and Events
Canoeing on Reservoirs - the Passport is here!
At long last, the Reservoir Passport has arrived. This new Passport will allow a organised groups to use 4 of the National Park's reservoirs for canoeing and kayaking. The Passport scheme will be administrated by the National Park in Brecon. It will cost £168 per group (of up to 12 people + their leaders) and will be valid for a year. For further information, please email gez@breconbeacons.org or telephone 01874 624437
We hope you will enjoy this new opportunity to get on to the National's Park waterways.
Hay on Wye - river access closed temporarily!
Hay Town Council are carrying out improvement works at Wyeford Road canoe access point at Hay on Wye. Access is very difficult there at the moment. A new, disabled access ramp there and, further downstream, they are building a disabled fishing platform. Hopefully, both facilities will be welcome additions, so please 'grin and bear' the inconvenience while the works take place.
Splash Week 2012 - 27th October - 4th November
It's been and gone! Many thanks to all the providers who made it possible and to all of those who turned up to 'have a go'! The highlights included a fantastic (but very wet) evening at Gilwern where an unusually high tide brought a huge number of pirates to the village and canal!
Another highlight was a tremendous turn-out for amassive Clean-Up on the River Usk with over 30 paddlers turning out and about 40 bags of rubbish collected. Paddlers came from as far afield as Aberfan and Pembroke. Thanks to all for a job well done.
Ashford Tunnel now open again to canoes kayaks and un-powered boats
One of the first actions of the newly-formed Canal and Rivers Trust , who have taken over the work of British Waterways in maintaining our Mon and Brec Canal, has been to re-open the 300 meter long Ashford Tunnel to canoes. If you are transiting the tunnel, please do so with caution - make sure you wear suitable buoyancy jackets and carry both a head-torch and a whistle - just in case a barge comes the other way! If you are competent in a canoe, the near total darkness in the middle is a great experience! If you are not competent in a canoe - stay out in the daylight!
The Beacons Water Trail is 'open for business'!
The trail is now up and running and waiting for people to come along and enjoy it. Access points are marked with the Trail logo way-mark, and there are new landings at Brecon Promenade and along the Canal between Brecon and Talybont . A Trail map/leaflet is available at Visitor Centres or here on-line.
New 'Soft Edge' Launch and Landings on the Canal
Working with the Canal and River Trust, the National Park
has now installed 15 new launch points along the
Mon and Brec Canal. You'll find them at:
* Brecon Watton, by the Rugby Club (easy parking!)
* Pencelli Basin
* Either side of Llangynidr 3 Locks flight
* Brynich Lock
* Storehouse Bridge at Pencelli
* Almshouse bridge at Talybont - as at other places, please show consideration for local residents, especially with parking. You are welcome to use the carpark at the Henderson Hall where voluntary contributions for parking are gratefully received in their honesty box.
* Ashford Tunnel (southern end) To canoe through the tunnel, please contact BW at Govilon Telephone no.: 01873 831788
* Ffawyddog Bridge - bridge 116 - at Llangattock
* Ty Coch Bridge - bridge 84 - nr. Llanover
* Bridge 80 at Llanover
* Park y brain Bridge - bridge 72 - at Penperlleni
Please treat the areas of reseeded grass with care -thank you. The National Park has also improved the towpath at three muddy locations : Ashford, Llangynidr and Llangattock where it should now be easier to walk or ride a bike.
Improved Access Points and New Portage at Brecon Weir
If you've been out canoeing lately you may have noticed that the National Park have funded improved access points on the River Usk - we hope you're less likely to slip on muddy river banks! Please note that Mr Jones at Aberbran Fach Farm is happy to allow parking (donation appreciated) just inside his access gates - it's a courtesy to ask at the farmhouse though - please do and please don't block his gates! Please use the small pedestrian field gate inside the access gates - rather than sliding canoes over Mr Jones's fence.
Brecon Weir - please don't use the fish pass (it can get canoeists a bad name). The National Park has arranged a new portage route around the weir on the River Right (ie. on the Golf Club side) - egress just above the weir and relaunch at the River Tarrell confluence - enjoy stretching your legs! Thanks to Tom Richards at the Wye and Usk Foundation for the good work carried out.
National Assembly advises the Minister on Access to water:
"The Current situation regarding access to inland water is unsustainable and is likely to worsen with an increase in demand for water activities"
The National Assembly of Wales's 'Sustainability Committee' launched its Report into access to inland waters in Wales in Cardiff on the 16th June 2010.
Mike Germain A.M., the committee's chairman, gave details of the Report at the National Waterways Conference at the Cardiff International Whitewater Centre. The full report can be found on the Welsh Assembly's website.
Many water users had hoped that they would suggest widespread access as brought in by the Land Reform Act in Scotland but the Committee found that:
"We do not believe that legislating for free and unrestricted access to inland water in Wales for all is to answer."
*Of its 13 recommedations, the Welsh Assembly Government Minsiter, Jane Davidson AM has accepted five, with another six being accepted in part or principle.The Committee's recommendation that there should be a licence system for users of un-powered craft on inland water has been rejected. The Committee suggested there should be a lead authority (such as the Environment Agency Wales) to lead on access agreements and that voluntary agreements should be sought between users and landowners. This authority might have compulsory powers to impose access if voluntary negotiations failed. The accepted recommendations have now passed through plenary session in the Sennedd and are now Assembly policy.
