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Brecon Beacons National Park Guided Walks, Children's Activities & Family Events August 2010

@ Different start points across The National Park Brecon Beacons National Park

Brecon Beacons National Park: Guided Walks & Events

A full programme of Brecon Beacons National Park Authority guided walks, children's activities and family events for you to enjoy throughout August 2010.

Saturday 31 July to Saturday 7 August The Blaenau Gwent and Heads of the Valleys National Eisteddfod Family Friendly Event The National Eisteddfod is Wales' biggest cultural event. Come and visit our stand and find out more about the National Parks of Wales. Venue: The Works, Ebbw Vale. For tickets call 0845 122 1176. Tuesday 3 August Take pART Workshop 10:30-16:00. Family Friendly Event Cost: Free workshop, but £1 to take your print home Never used a printing press before? Come and have a go! This open workshop at the Visitor Centre will be running all day. Feel free to drop in for an hour and make a print to take home. Suitable for adults and children aged 5 and up. Children under 12 must be accompanied by an adult. Meet: NPVC (SN 977262). Parking charges apply. For more information, contact Dee Perks on 07976179887 or Pat Cook on 07970042493 Wednesday 4 August Clay and Paint 10:30-12:30. £4.00 per child Family Friendly Event Join National Park warden Natalie Fisher, using natural materials found around the Visitor Centre to inspire masterpieces of art, both on paper and in clay. So roll up your sleeves and join in! Suitable for children aged 5-12. Children under 7 must bring an adult with them. Booking essential. Meet: NPVC (SN 977262). Parking charges apply. For more information and to book a place contact us on 01874 623366. Wednesday 4 August Bats at Brynich Lock 20:30-22:00. Family Friendly Guided Walk In conjunction with Brecknock Bat Group and Brecknock Wildlife Trust Come and join us for a fabulously batty evening. Learn about bat ecology, watch bat behaviour and hear their echo-location calls using bat detector equipment. See them feeding and find out how to recognise different species from their calls on this enjoyable and fascinating walk. Length, Grade: Approx 150m along towpath and 150m back, Easy. No dogs please. Meet: the canal towpath at Brynich Lock (SO 077273). Parking on roadside at either end of the bridge. Please take care not to obstruct the highway. Leaders: Phil Morgan, Rachel Price and Richard Poole from Brecknock Bat Group, National Park Volunteer, Terry Cox. Booking essential. 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 5 August Exploring the History of Abergavenny 14:15-16:30. Free entry. Family Friendly Guided Walk In conjunction with Abergavenny Local History Society. Join members of the Abergavenny Local History Society on this fascinating walk from the site of the centre of the Roman fort and Norman town to the western part of Abergavenny, developed in the 19th century as a important railway centre. After visiting a delightful park with rare trees, we will look at the historic bridge over the Usk, the remains of the railway which climbed up the gorge to Brynmawr and other routes into the town for commerce and agriculture. We will see the cast iron church and two old schools as well as hearing about the development of the town from a defensive settlement to a thriving market centre. Length, Grade & Ascent: 2½m/4km, Access for All, slight gradients only. Meet: Castle Street Car Park opposite the Unitarian Church (SO 298141). Parking charges apply. Free car park at Byfield Lane (5 mins walk). Please note that toilets are only available at the start and finish of the walk. Leaders: Abergavenny Local History Society members and 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.

Friday 6 August - Sunday 8 August Brecon Jazz Festival Celebrating its 25th anniversary in 2008, the festival has attracted some of the biggest names in jazz from across the world, ranging from the late George Melly and Humphrey Lyttelton, to Jools Holland, Amy Winehouse and Wynton Marsalis. Now produced by the Hay Festival, this weekend of great music and celebration is not to be missed! For details see website link Friday 6 August Waking the Cat 10:00-17:00. Free entry. Guided Walk Join us for a walk along the rocky sandstone ridge of the Cat's Back and experience some truly spectacular views! Start at the Neolithic stone circle and ascend for some stunning viewpoints over sweeping valleys in this remote part of the English-Welsh border. Learn about the dramatic geological features of the landscape and the history of the Offas Dyke path and see wild mountain ponies grazing on the hills. Escape for a day on this wonderful walk that will make you feel on top of the world. Length, Grade & Ascent: 10.5m / 16.5km, Strenuous, 800m. Meet: the stone circle at Hay Bluff (SO 240 373). Leaders: National Park Volunteers, Wayne Qualter & TBC. Please come suitably equipped for variable weather conditions. 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 8 August: The Church of Two Saints: exploring the footpaths of Llanddeusant 13:00-16:00. Free entry. Family Friendly Guided Walk. Geopark Event. Llanddeusant lies nestled beneath the dramatic Black Mountain. Its name, meaning Church of Two Saints, derives from its pretty church that is dedicated to St Simon and St Jude. Join us on this lovely walk through farmland, riverside and woods in one of the least developed areas of the Brecon Beacons. Learn about the local communities and the work of the National Park in the area and finish this captivating walk at the Community Hall to enjoy tea and delicious cakes. Length & Grade: 4m / 5.6km, Easy Meet: Llanddeusant Community Hall, The Old School (SN 760 248). Parking available. Leader: 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.

Tuesday 10 August Take pART Workshop 10:30-16:00. Family Friendly Event Cost: Free workshop, but £1 to take your print home Never used a printing press before? Come and have a go! This open workshop at the Visitor Centre will be running all day. Feel free to drop in for an hour and make a print to take home. Suitable for adults and children aged 5 and up. Children under 12 must be accompanied by an adult. Meet: NPVC (SN 977262). Parking charges apply. For more information, contact Dee Perks on 07976179887 or Pat Cook on 07970042493 Wednesday 11 August Clay and Paint 10:30-12:30. £4.00 per child Family Friendly Event Join National Park Warden Natalie Fisher, using natural materials found around the Visitor Centre to inspire masterpieces of art, both on paper and in clay. So roll up your sleeves and join in! Suitable for children aged 5-12. Children under 7 must bring an adult with them. Booking essential. Meet: NPVC (SN 977262). Parking charges apply. For more information and to book a place contact us on 01874 623366 Thursday 12 August Get Your Bearings! Exploring Llangynidr Mountain with a Map and Compass 10:00-16:00. Free entry. Guided Walk Are you looking to improve your navigation skills? Perhaps you have never used a map and compass before? This lovely circular walk exploring Llangynidr Mountain will teach you how. Whether you are a complete novice or just need to refresh your skills, come along and learn how reading a map and using a compass can be a fun and rewarding challenge. We will explore minor roads, footpaths, bridleways and open moorland and there will also be the chance to find out about the geology and history of the area and the valuable role of BBNP Volunteers. Length, Grade & Ascent: 9m/14km, Moderate, 475m Meet: Llangynidr Village Car Park (SO 155195). Leaders: National Park Volunteer, Peter Brock and 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.

Saturday 14 August Nordic Walking Taster Sessions 09:45-15:30. Cost £3 per person or £5 for 2 people. Guided Walk. Geopark Event. Learn the basic techniques of Nordic Walking taught by Age Cymru's International Nordic Walking Federation Instructors. Come and try out one of the fastest growing forms of physical activity in Europe in the grounds of the National Park Visitor Centre. Walk using a pair of lightweight, specially designed poles which provide great support while increasing the effectiveness of the exercise. Nordic walking is great all-body exercise. There will be two hours of instruction and training in the morning, followed by lunch and a walk around the Common in the afternoon. Bring a packed lunch or have lunch in the tearooms. All equipment will be provided, but please wear your normal walking gear. The instruction and walks will be graded so will be suitable for people of all ages and fitness levels especially people 50+. Booking Essential. Meet: NPVC (SN 977262). Car parking charges apply. Leaders: Age Cymru's International Nordic Walking Federation Instructors. These are partnership events between Age Cymru and the Brecon Beacons National Park Authority. For more details and to book a place call 01591 620689. Tuesday 17 August Take pART Workshop 10:30-16:00. Family Friendly Event Cost: Free workshop, but £1 to take your print home Never used a printing press before? Come and have a go! This open workshop at the Visitor Centre will be running all day. Feel free to drop in for an hour and make a print to take home. Suitable for adults and children aged 5 and up. Children under 12 must be accompanied by an adult. Meet: NPVC (SN 977262). Parking charges apply. For more information, contact Dee Perks on 07976179887 or Pat Cook on 07970042493 Wednesday 18 August Clay and Paint 10.30-12.30. £4.00 per child Family Friendly Event Join National Park Warden Natalie Fisher, using natural materials found around the Visitor Centre to inspire masterpieces of art, both on paper and in clay. So roll up your sleeves and join in! Suitable for children aged 5-12. Children under 7 must bring an adult with them. Booking essential. Meet: NPVC (SN 977262). Parking charges apply. For more information and to book a place contact us on (01874) 623366 Thursday 19 August Brecon Town Past and Present 14:15-16:30. Free entry. Family Friendly Guided Walk. Geopark Event. (repeated 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 20 August - Sunday 22 August The Green Man Festival Event Set in the rolling parkland of Glanusk Park and nestled under the Sugar Loaf Mountain, this increasingly popular independent festival has live music including psychedelic, folk, indie, and dance across five stages, as well as DJs playing everything from dub-reggae to electro and rock. Music is at the heart of Green Man, but culture, sustainable living and environmental consciousness are also central to the festival. Literature, film, theatre, ceilidhs, all-night bonfires, comedy and secret gigs are all part of this festival's unique identity. website link Saturday 21 August Sinc y Giedd (Waun Fignen Felen) 10.30-15.30. Free entry. Guided Walk. Geopark Event. A linear walk exploring the beauty of the hills in the west of the National Park. Discover the disappearing river and see where men hunted for food 8000 years ago. No dogs please. Length, Grade & Ascent: 8m / 12km, Moderate, 340m. Meet: Craig-y-nos Country Park (SN 839155). Car park charges apply. Leaders: National Park Volunteer, Terry Cox and 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. Tuesday 24 August Take pART Workshop 10:30-16:00. Family Friendly Event Cost: Free workshop, but £1 to take your print home Never used a printing press before? Come and have a go! This open workshop at the Visitor Centre will be running all day. Feel free to drop in for an hour and make a print to take home. Suitable for adults and children aged 5 and up. Children under 12 must be accompanied by an adult. Meet: NPVC (SN 977262). Parking charges apply. For more information, contact Dee Perks on 07976179887 or Pat Cook on 07970042493 Wednesday 25 August Clay and Paint 10:30-12:30. £4.00 per child. Family Friendly Event. Join National Park Warden Natalie Fisher, using natural materials found around the Visitor Centre to inspire masterpieces of art, both on paper and in clay. So roll up your sleeves and join in! Suitable for children aged 5-12. Children under 7 must bring an adult with them. Booking essential. Meet: NPVC (SN 977262). Parking charges apply. For more information and to book a place contact us on 01874 623366 Saturday 28 August to Monday 30 August Summer Fayre at the National Park Visitor Centre - Family Friendly Event A great day out for all the family with over 50 local craft and food stalls. Meet: NPVC (SN 977262). Parking charges apply. For more details call Andrew Powell on 01874 624979. Saturday 28 August Pen y Fan Circular 11.00-15.00. Free entry. Family Friendly Guided Walk. Geopark Event. Enjoy great views on this walk to the summit of the highest mountain in southern Britain. Visit the site of the tragic Tommy Jones' obelisk. Length, Grade & Ascent: 4m / 6km, Energetic, 450m. Meet: Storey Arms Outdoor Education Centre car park on A470 (SN 982203). Leader: National Park Volunteer, Terry Cox and 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

Organised by the Brecon Beacons National Park Authority