Representing providers of Outdoor Adventurous Activities in South Wales and the Brecon Beacons
SWOAPG_admin We’ve received a message from Dwr Cymru Welsh Water notifying us that they’ll be testing the newly-installed siphon pipes at Usk Reservoir on Tue 8 Sep which will result in a release of water into the river. They’ve assured us that it won’t be significant in terms of volume, duration or rate but we’re passing … Read more
Thanks to Tom Partridge for the attached photo, after he “spotted [from a distance!] what looks like some fresh rock fall on / near the path to Eglwys Faen on the Llangattock Escarpment.” We’ve been advised that this hasn’t affected the path but, as always, providers should take care when transiting that area with groups…
NRW has notified us that they “have been made aware today of some potential movement in the rockface to the right of the steep chute near Sgwd Isaf Clun Gwyn [as identified on the gorge map below] which appears to have deposited some debris into the river. We are currently looking into this, but until … Read more
From 1 September 2026, the law about regulated activity with children in England and Wales is changing, which might affect some SWOAPG Members. From that date the ‘supervision’ rule will no longer apply. This means that if a person teaches, trains, instructs, cares for or supervises children often enough, or overnight, they will be in … Read more
SWOAPG Members should already be aware that the landowner of the river-left bank of the Sychryd has denied permission for groups to enter his land – except for a few Providers with which he has entered individual agreements (as advised by us in Sychryd Gorge – river-left access update on 23 Apr 2023). However, it … Read more
The following sign has appeared on the road leading from Penderyn Common towards Ystradfellte (i.e. the ‘main’ route into Cwm Porth etc.). It doesn’t say that the road will actually be closed, but probably safest to travel into this part of Waterfall Country on Wednesday & Thursday via either Heol Senni / Ystradfellte or Glyn-neath.
We have learned of a report from both coast-watch lookout staff and a local wildlife organisation that ‘organised coasteering sessions’ are happening ‘regularly’ on the north side of the Worm. Due to seals and bird life this is an absolute no-go area for coasteering. Organisations taking groups coasteering (or any other activities for that matter) … Read more
We received the following message a couple of weeks ago from Alan Bowring of BBNPA, requesting that anyone heading to Llygad Llwchwr in the near future might assist with destroying some Himalayan Balsam plants near the Llwchwr 2 shake-hole: “I found myself back at Llygad Llwchwr today and noticed a number of Himalayan balsam plants … Read more
Things have been very busy again in Waterfall Country so far this season, with the Dinas Rock car park being particularly busy since the opening of the new pay-and-display parking opposite the Angel, which has only increased the pressure on the ‘free’ parking at Dinas Rock and within Pontneddfechan village (and which is, of course, … Read more
NB further to our earlier message (repeated below), NRW has also also now advised us that they’ll be cordoning off a small area of Dinas car park (maximum of two bays) to accommodate contractors carrying out path works starting on 13th July. The works are expected to take around 3 to 4 weeks to complete. … Read more