Hello!

Here's what's coming up over the next couple of weeks...

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Amroth and Morfa Bychan - Sunday 6th June

Phil leads a maritime adventure along the coast of West Carmarthenshire. The route will go from Amroth to Morfa Bychan with views of Morfa Bay and Gower along the way, and then return mostly via beach and cliffs. So if you're feeling in a Bychan-eering sort of mood this weekend then Phil's walk is definitely for you. Here's the low down:

Difficulty: Moderate

Distance: 9 Miles

Meeting Time/Place: 0930 at County Hall or 1050 at the carpark next to Amroth Castle Caravan Site (GR170072, about 0.5 miles east of Amroth Village).

Contact: Phil on 01792555901 or 07771753826

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Abertillery Blues Festival - Friday 18th July

Here's a message from Lorraine...

Some people may be interested in the Abertillery Blues Festival on Friday 18th and Saturday 19th July.

18th: Ian Parker band plus others.

19th: Robert Cray band and others.

Box office: tel 01495 355800 or go to http://www.blaenaugwentvenues.com/

I have found a cracking campsite 7 miles away: Pont Kemys caravan and camping park. Tel: 01873 880688 or go to http://www.pontkeyms.com/ . This campsite includes loo of the year award and free showers and hair dryers.

For more details call Lorraine on 07870385902

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Andrew and I are camping with a gang of Brummies in Barmouth this weekend, so enjoy and see you soon.

Cheers,

Doug

Hi all,


We're back from an excellent weekend in Pembrokeshire. Thanks to Elid for organising the accomodation, which was probably one of the best bunkhouses we've ever been to, and to Tom and Emyr for organising and leading the beautiful walks around the Pembrokeshire coast.


There's a lot happening this week including a night walk, a day walk, and a party round Phil's house...!



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Thursday 26th Jun - Nightwalk - Coychurch and Coity

Meet outside the Coychurch Crematorium (dead centre of town -boom boom) to start the walk at 6:30pm.

Distance: 2.5 miles,

Approx time: 2 hours

Difficulty: Easy, but there are wet and muddy parts.

You can view a detailed detailed walk description here: http://www.bridgend.gov.uk/Web1/groups/tourism/documents/marketing/002268.hcsp and there will be a possible detour to visit Coity Castle.


Anyone wanting to confirm meeting point and time or transport options please call Emily on 07948681799.





Note: some people have said that they will be going to the Brunswick as per the regular pub night on Thursday so if you want to stay in Swansea then that's the other option.



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Parc Slip Nature Reserve at Surrounds - Sat 28th Jun

Starting at the Parc Slip Visitors Centre we head North and climb up into the hills for fine views over the Vale of Glamorgan and into the Llynfi Valley. We then head West to the Craig yr Aber Valley and descend this beautiful valley heading towards Kenfig Hill, birth-place of the world-famous cannabis-smuggler Howard Marks (aka 'Mr Nice') .


Skirting the opencast site we pass through Bedford Park which includes Cefn Cribwr Iron Works. Walking East along an old railway line we eventually re-enter Parc Slip Reserve passing features including pond and the Parc Slip Memorial.


After the walk proper, we have the option of a short excursion into another part of the the Reserve to see some of the other wetland features.

Features of interest:- Parc Slip Nature Reserve, Cefn Cribwr Iron Works, Parc Slip Memorial, Birthplace of Howard Marks

Distance: 10 miles

Difficulty: Moderate (a few modest climbs and descents)

Dogs: There are two daunting-looking ladder styles which might be crossed by determined owners of small portable dogs

Meeting Points: 9.30 at County Hall East Car-Park, or 10.15 at Parc Slip Visitors Centre Car Park, SS 881 842

Contact: Graham on 07770 435341


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Party @ Phil's - Saturday 28th June PM

Phil has kindly invited interested Trekkers to his house for a convivial gathering/party after Graham's walk on Saturday. His pied-a-terre is situated in Townhill with wonderful views over the bay, and you are cordially invited to join him for drinks on the deck from 7:00 onwards.

Please call Phil on 01792555901 to say that you'd like to come and for directions to his place. If you can't get hold of Phil give Doug a call on the usual number.

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Last Call for Barmouth Weekend!!!

If anyone else wants to come on the Barmouth camping weekend with the Black Country Group please call me, Doug this week. Date: 4th to 6th July. Cost: £12 per person per night.

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That's all for this week folks, see you out and about.

Cheers,

Doug

Hi all,


This weekend we have the much awaited trip to Pentre Ifan in Pembrokeshire. If you're not lucky enough to be coming along on this then I'm afraid you'll have to make your own entertainment, or why not tag along with Cardiff's Tiger Bay Ramblers? It was good to see some TBR faces on last Sunday's walk in Kenfig, (and Molly the mad dog).


See below some information from Elid, who's done a splendid job of organising this weekend...!


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Pentre Ifan - Pembrokeshire - Fri 20th to Sun 22nd Jun


There'll be two walks: On Saturday we'll go up Preseli Ridge (approx 9 miles) and on Sunday we'll have a shorter walk around Caemes Head, St Dogmaels.


People will have to bring a sleeping bag but pillows will be provided. There are no pubs within walking distance, so people will have to bring their own alcohol. In terms of food etc - I'll let Pentre Ifan know that people will start arriving from 6.00 onwards and arrange food for 7.30.

If anybody is vegetarian etc, can they let me know?


For those people who are staying 2 nights, if they have only paid £22, they will have to pay a further £22 as their deposit only covers for 1 night.


For people who are staying on Saturday night, they will only have a packed lunch prepared for them on Sunday, so they need to bring their own provisions for the walk on Saturday. Think that's about covered it - let me know if you need any more information.


Elid - 07737880321


(Thanks Elid. If anyone's stuck for a lift please give me, Doug a call on the usual number and I'll coordinate, Elid has also provided some handy directions to the bunkhouse from the M4, see document attached with this email.)

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Cheers,

Doug

Hi everyone,


It's a busy one this weekend with a cycle/social event on Friday, the legendary Gower Gallop on Saturday and Tom's Kenfig walk on Sunday...


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Swansea to Mumbles (Lucky) Bike Ride - Friday 13th June


This will be a nice leisurely cycle from our old haunt, County Hall Carpark, to Mumbles, so if you fancy a nice ride by the sea on Friday 13th after work then just turn up an County Hall at 7pm and if you want to know more, give me, Doug a call on 07766652837. My plan is to pay a visit to a pub in Mumbles once we've arrived at our destination.


Cycling Trivia:

Your driving licence will not be affected if you're caught 'drunk and in charge of a bicycle.' This is linked to the notion that a bicycle is not a 'licenced' or 'mechanically propelled' vehicle. Cyclists in the UK are under no legal obligation to submit a blood or urine sample on arrest. However, there is still an offence linked to 'drunken cycling' with a maximum penalty of £2500, and it's dangerous to yourselves and others, so everything in moderation folks! Don't say you never learn anything from these newsletters!


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The Gower Gallop - Saturday 14th June


The Gower Gallop is a day of challenge walks with a choice of routes of various lengths organised by the Swansea Outdoor Group (http://www.swanseaoutdoorgroup.org.uk/).

On each route participants must call in at a series of preset checkpoints on their way round. All routes offer walking in a wide variety of terrain, visiting major points in Gower such as Arthur's Stone, Rhossili Down, and Oxwich Bay. The routes finish where they start from with a well deserved cup of tea! The event has been running since 1993, and attracts walkers and runners from around the UK. There are three routes to choose from , a 12.5 mile, 20 mile and 30 mile route.
The entry fees are Adults £5.00 in advance, £6.00 on the day; juniors and unwaged £3.50 and money raised will be donated to the RNLI.
This year they are hoping For upwards of 300 entries, so if you want to be part of it, download and entry form from the website, or call Rob on 07990 807510 for more info.



N.B. There are a few of us doing the 20 mile route so if you want to tag along with us call Doug or Emyr! Registration for all routes is at Pennard Sports Pavillion, at 0730h for the 20 miler.


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Kenfig Dunes - Sunday 15th June


Tom, aka 'tomtom' due to his superb navigational skills, will be leading a lighter alternative to the Gower Gallop on Sunday around Kenfig Dunes. This is a lovely walk around Kenfig Pool and sanddunes which also follows the coastline to Porthcawl where there will be a chance for an icecream if people behave!


Distance: 7 miles


Difficulty: Easy (approx. 100ft ascent)


Meeting: 0930 at County Hall or 1010 at Kenfig Nature Reserve Visitor Centre.


Contact: Tom J on 07980477164.


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That's it for another week, remember it's our regular pub night at the Brunswick on Thursday (12th June), so hope to see you at one of these many and varied events!


Cheers,


Doug

Hi all,


The French Trip Group are back and we'd like to say a big thank you to Lionel and his family for being such good hosts and showing us the beautiful Alsace region of France. You can see some of the photos from the trip on my flickr site: http://www.flickr.com/photos/25663842@N03/sets/72157605319448615/ ...wow, that's a long link, hope it works!


Back to what's coming up, read on for the latest updates:

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Penllergaer Forest Walk - Sunday 8th June

This week's walk is a little longer than those in recent weeks but for those of you who aren't partial to hills the good news is it's fairly flat! The walk starts in Penllergaer Forest by a pleasant stretch of the River Llan and takes in the village of Felindre and follows a beautiful scenic track around the Lower Lliw reservoir. The walk then takes in the sights of a former colliery, tinplate works and a restored astronomical observatory before returning to the car park in Penllergaer Forest. There will also be a chance to refresh enroute in the form of the Plough and Harrow pub.

Distance: 13.5 miles

Meeting place: County Hall Car Park at 0930 or Penllergaer Forestry Commission car park (GR 625 995)

Grade: Moderate

Contact: Christian on 07791089942.

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Postponement of Night Walk on Friday 6th Jun


Emily's not able to do the night walk up Kilvey Hill on 6th Jun, but is looking to do it again at another point in the programme, so watch this space.


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Barmouth Weekend with Black Country Group - 4th to 6th July


This should be a great camping weekend with the Black Country Group in Barmouth; the 'Welsh Gibraltar.' If you want to come then please tell me, Doug as soon as poss, as Chris from BCWG is looking to submit numbers for pitches in about a week's time. The cost is £12 per tent, per night and the campsite is of the 'deluxe' variety with good washing facilities and all the mod cons (as far as campsites go anyway). For details please call Doug on 07766652837.


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That's about it for this week, the next pub night at the Brunswick is on 12th June.


Cheers,


Doug