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Fforest Fawr Geopark Festival

@ Brecon Beacons National Park Brecon Beacons National Park

Fforest Fawr Geopark Festival

In common with dozens of other Geoparks across Europe, Fforest Fawr is celebrating its geological and cultural heritage throughout this fortnight. Join us for walks, talks and other events. For full details of all events visit website link

Saturday 22 to Sunday 23 May Geopark Festival Opening Weekend 10:00-16:30 both days The Geopark Festival fortnight kicks off at the NPVC, Libanus with displays and family activities including gold panning and fossil-making. Free entry- some activities may cost. Meet: NPVC (SN 977262). Parking charges apply. Saturday 22 May Walking in the Air - Family Friendly Geopark 11:00-12:00 (indoors) and 14:00-16:00 (walk)Festival Guided Talk and Walk From the comfort of the Mountain Centre (NPVC) enjoy a remarkable virtual tour of the Geopark and wider Wales followed in the afternoon by a walk on Mynydd Illtud Common looking at the relationship between the local landscape, its geology and the last Ice Age. Length & Grade: 2m/3km, Easy Meet: NPVC (SN 977262). Parking charges apply. Leaders: Dr Tony Ramsay & Dr Pete Brabham, Cardiff University Sunday 23 May Walk, Talk and Tea 14:00-15:30 Geopark Festival Family Friendly Guided Walk (repeated Sunday 6 June, Sunday 20 June, Sunday 27 June) A short, easy circular walk (about 1.5 hours) including, a mysterious spiritual centre, an industrial site with wonderful views of the National Park's highest peaks, a final resting place, preparing for war, an unsolved mystery and a little known wonder. Followed by a delicious Cream Tea at the Visitor Centre Tea Rooms. Price: £2.50 Length, Grade: 1.5m/2.5km, Easy Meet: NPVC (SN 977262). Parking charges apply. Leader: National Park Volunteer, Peter Brock and National Park Rights of Way Assistant, Avril Barnes. Please phone us on 01874 623366 for more details and to let us know you are coming to help us give you a safe and enjoyable experience Sunday 23 May Lakes, Ladies & Layer-cakes 10:00-17:00 Geopark Festival Guided Walk Join the Brecon Beacons Park Society to take a close look at the Old Red Sandstone and the legacy of the Ice Ages around Bannau Sir Gaer, Fan Brycheiniog, Llyn y Fan Fach and Llyn y Fan Fawr. Well-behaved dogs on a short lead welcome. Length, Grade & Ascent: 16km/10 miles, Energetic, 700m Meet: Water Board car park, Llanddeusant (SN 799238). Leader: Clive Eiles (BBPS), Dr Adrian Humpage (British Geological Survey) Please phone Dilys Harlow on 01454 775731 more details. Sunday 23 May The Nêdd Fechan Valley 14:00-17:00. £5 per person. A Geopark Festival Field Study Trip Join experts from Swansea University Department of Adult Continuing Education (DACE) to explore the area known as Coedydd Nêdd (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. We will see some old silica workings. A shuttle will take rivers back to their vehicles. Participants are strongly advised to wear boots or stout walking shoes. Waterproofs are advisable. Booking essential on 01792 602211. Sorry no dogs. Length & Grade: 3m / 4.8km, Moderate Meet: Pont Melin Fach (SN 907106) Leaders: Drs Michael Isaac, Geraint Owen & Charles Hipkin with National Park warden Jon Pimm

Tuesday 25 May Brecon Town Past and Present 14:15-16:30 Geopark Festival Family Friendly Guided Walk. (repeated Thursday 3 June, Tuesday 20 July, Thursday 19 August, Thursday 16 September, Thursday 21 October) A town walk, visiting sites of distinction, discovering Brecon's fascinating past and residents of renown. No dogs please. Length / Grade: Approximately 2 miles / Access for all. Meet: Canal Basin, Theatre Brycheiniog, Brecon. Small charge for parking. Leader: National Park Volunteer Peter Brock and National Park Rights of Way Assistant, Avril Barnes Please phone us on 01874 623366 for more details and to let us know you are coming to help us give you a safe and enjoyable experience. Friday 28 May Pavements and Plants 10:00-16:00 Geopark Festival Guided Walk Join the Brecon Beacons Park Society for a closer look at gritstone pavements, limestone pavements and their characteristic plantlife around the Ogof Ffynnon Ddu National Nature Reserve with an expert from the Countryside Council for Wales. Length, Grade, Ascent: 5m/9km, Moderate, 200m Meet: Penwyllt car park (SN 855155). Leader: Dilys Harlow (BBPS), Jon Wohlgemuth (CCW reserves manager) For more information, please ring ring DH on 01454 775731.

Saturday 29 May The Ground Beneath Your Feet 10:00-14:30 Geopark Festival Guided Walk Where will you find colliding continents, collapsing mountain-sides and grinding glaciers? Here on this linear walk in the Central Beacons of course! Explore the geology, learn about the natural habitats and uncover the industrial heritage of this unique area. Length, Grade, Ascent: 4.7m / 7.5km, Energetic, 510m. Meet: Welsh Water car park south of the dam, Talybont-on-Usk (SO 099 197). Leaders: National Park Warden, Sam Ridge & Richard Ball Please phone us on 01874 623366 for more details and to let us know you are coming to help us give you a safe and enjoyable experience. Saturday 29 May Nant Byfre; Blaen Cwm Tawe 10:30 start Geopark Festival Guided Walk Note: this walk will be conducted in the medium of Welsh. Another view of the Upper Tawe Valley on this walk up beside Nant Byfre looking at the Carboniferous and Old Red Sandstone rocks of the area. Sorry no dogs. Length, Grade, Ascent: TBC, Moderate, TBC Meet: Gwyn Arms, Glyntawe (SN 846165) Leaders: Dr John Davies, Cymdeithas Edward Llwyd For more information please phone John Davies on 01559 362429. Saturday 29 May What the Ice Left! 10:00-17:00 Geopark Festival Guided Walk Join the Brecon Beacons Park Society on a southern circuit of the central Beacons looking at the legacy of the last Ice Age. We take in Craig y Fan Ddu, Fan y Big, Cribyn, Pen y Fan and Corn Du and return via Taf Fechan Forest. Length, Grade & Ascent: 12m/20km, Energetic, 670m Meet: Blaen-y-glyn car park (SO 056176). Leaders: Anthony Furness (BBPS), Alan Bowring (geo-guide) For more information, please ring ring Dilys Harlow on 01454 775731 Sunday 30 May Fossils, Ferns & Faults at Henrhyd Falls 13:00-16:00 Geopark Festival Family Friendly Guided Walk A walk delving into the history and geology of the wooded ravine into which the waters of the Nant Llech plunge at Henrhyd Falls. Length, Grade & Ascent: 3m/4.5km, Easy, Ascent TBC Meet: National Trust car park at Henrhyd Waterfalls (SN 855 119). No charge. Leaders: National Park Wardens Wyn Morgan and Toby Small Please phone us on 01874 623366 for more details and to let us know you are coming to help us give you a safe and enjoyable experience.

Monday 31 May Northern Cwms of Brecon Beacons 10:00-16:30 Geopark Festival Guided Walk Explore the impressive northern flanks of the Brecon Beacons with a National Trust Warden. Climb to Pen y Fan and Corn Du via Cwm Mawr. Descent via Pen Milan & its quarries to Cwm Llwch and road walk back to Cwm Gwdi. Location: National Trust car park at Cwm Gwdi (SO 024247). Length, Grade & Ascent: 7m/11km, Energetic, 640m Leader: Rob Reith, NT Warden More info: Ring National Trust on 07771 980123. Dogs welcome if under close control. Wednesday 2 June Sinks and Swallows 10:00-15:00 Geopark Festival Guided Walk Though it's pitted with craters like a battlefield - the 'karst' landscape of the Brecon Beacons is quite natural - and it's unique in Britain. But how did all those holes get there? Find out on a gentle 7 mile walk up a small hill with outstanding views of the higher peaks. Length, Grade & Ascent: 7m/11km, Moderate, 225 Meet: Meet: Car park on A4059, 1mile north of Penderyn on junction with signposted road to Ystradfellte (SN 944104). Leaders: National Park Volunteer, Dave Ing and Geopark Development Officer, Alan Bowring (TBC). Please phone us on 01874 623366 for more details and to let us know you are coming to help us give you a safe and enjoyable experience. Wednesday 2 June When Britain Baked: climate change past, present and future 19.00-20.30 Event Professor Paul Pearson of Cardiff University talks on patterns and processes of global climate change in Earth's history. Venue: Theatr Brycheiniog/Brecon Theatre. Box Office: 01874 611622 website link Thursday 3 June Brecon Town Past and Present 14:15-16:30 Geopark Festival Family Friendly Guided Walk (repeated Tuesday 20 July, Thursday 19 August, Thursday 16 September, Thursday 21 October) A town walk, visiting sites of distinction, discovering Brecon's fascinating past and residents of renown. No dogs please. Length / Grade: Approximately 2 miles / Access for all. Meet: Canal Basin, Theatre Brycheiniog, Brecon. Small charge for parking. Leader: National Park Volunteer Peter Brock and National Park Rights of Way Assistant, Avril Barnes. Please phone us on 01874 623366 for more details and to let us know you are coming to help us give you a safe and enjoyable experience. Thursday 3 June Colours of the Black Mountain 10:30-16:30 Geopark Festival Guided Walk A look at the geology, animal and plant life of an especially interesting corner of the Black Mountain. Kilns, quarries and gorges await. Sorry no dogs. Length, Grade & Ascent: 3m/5km, Moderate, TBC Meet: 'Lookout' car park below Herbert's Quarry off A4069 (SN 730192). Leaders: Dr Tony Ramsay (Cardiff University) & Dr Michael Isaac (Swansea University) More info: Please ring 01874 623366 to let us know you're coming. Bring a packed lunch. Some rough ground. Friday 4 June A Sacred Mountain: the Bronze Age cairns of Mynydd-y-Glog 10:00-17:00 Geopark Festival Guided Walk Join the Brecon Beacons Park Society for a walk over the gritstone moorland of Mynydd-y-glog - home to one of the most impressive groups of cairns in the Brecon Beacons. This walk, inthe company of archaeologist Edith Evans, will visit some of the best-preserved and look at the way in which prehistoric people used the landscape. Some rough ground. Length, Grade & Ascent: 5m/8km, Moderate, 200m Meet: Lay-by north of Penderyn Welsh Whisky Distillery (SN 951084). Leader: Soo Turnbull (BBPS), Edith Evans (Glamorgan-Gwent Archaeological Trust), Alan Bowring (Geo-guide) For more information, please ring ring Dilys Harlow on 01454 775731

Saturday 5 June Penderyn Welsh Whisky 11:00-15:00 Geopark Festival Talk & Walk Take a tour of the World's smallest distillery and see how groundwater from the hills and the wash from Brains brewery are used in a unique distillation process to make the first commercial whisky produced in Wales since the 19th Century. Experience the taste of exceptional single malt whiskys. The visit to the distillery will be followed by a short linear 2.5 mile walk along the northern edge of Moel Penderyn to view the landscape and its geology and to see how rainwater becomes the groundwater that is so important in the production of the world class Penderyn Whisky. For more information, please phone 01685 810650. No dogs please. Length & Grade: 2.5m/4km, Easy Meet: Penderyn Welsh Whisky Distillery (SN 951083). Leaders: Walk - Dr Tony Ramsay (Cardiff University), Talk - Keith Tench (PWW) Saturday 5 June In the Footsteps of Wallace In June 1846, Alfred Russel Wallace and his brother decided to walk from Neath to the Brecon Beacons. They collected beetles and slept rough because Wallace was teaching himself to be a field naturalist, and planning a journey to the Amazon. Later whilst working in the Malay archipelago, Wallace hit upon the concept of natural selection. His letter to Darwin provoked the latter to publish 'On the Origin of Species'. The following two walks will follow their footsteps but the beetles are optional and we will not sleep out in Porth yr Ogof. In the Footsteps of Wallace (1) 09:30-17:30: Geopark Festival Guided Walk Join Brecon Beacons Park Society tracing a foray from Neath into the hills by the great evolutionary biologist, Alfred Russel Wallace over 150 years ago. Booking is essential. There will be a small charge for the minibus. Day 1: Aberdulais to Ystradfellte via Ystradgynlais Length, Grade & Ascent: 14m/22km, Energetic, Ascent TBC. Meet: Ystradfellte village car park (SN 929134) for minibus transfer to start of walk at Aberdulais Leaders: Dilys Harlow (Brecon Beacons Park Society) For more information, please ring ring Dilys Harlow on 01454 775731 Sunday 6 June In the Footsteps of Wallace (2) 09:30-17:30 Geopark Festival Guided Walk Join Brecon Beacons Park Society tracing a foray from Neath into the hills by the great evolutionary biologist, Alfred Russel Wallace over 150 years ago. Day 2: Ystradfellte to Cwm Llwch via Fan Fawr, Pen y Fan and the source of the Taf Fechan. Length, Grade & Ascent: 13m/20km, Strenuous, 950m Meet: meet at Nant Cwm Llwch (SO 006244) for minibus transfer to start of walk at Ystradfellte Leaders: Dilys Harlow (Brecon Beacons Park Society) For more information, please ring ring Dilys Harlow on 01454 775731 Sunday 6 June Walk, Talk and Tea 14:00-15:30 Geopark Festival Family Friendly Guided Walk A short, easy circular walk (about 1.5 hours) including, a mysterious spiritual centre, an industrial site with wonderful views of the National Parks highest peaks, a final resting place, preparing for war, an unsolved mystery and a little known wonder. Followed by a delicious Cream Tea at the Visitor Centre Tea Rooms. Price: £2.50 Length, Grade: 1.5m/2.5km, Easy Meet: NPVC (SN 977262). Parking charges apply. (977262) Leader: National Park Volunteer, Peter Brock and National Park Rights of Way Assistant, Avril Barnes. Please phone us on 01874 623366 for more details and to let us know you are coming to help us give you a safe and enjoyable experience

Brecon Beacons National Park