Representing providers of Outdoor Adventurous Activities in South Wales and the Brecon Beacons
SWOAPG_admin We’re sure that most of our Members will by now have seen the latest news about the canal – that CRT has agreed short-term to fund water top-ups following NRW restrictions on abstraction from the Usk which threatened the canal’s imminent closure (see Emergency water supply for at-risk Monmouthshire and Brecon Canal – BBC News). … Read more
We have updated the list on our website of (and sent out ID cards to) current registered gorge-walking providers (see Gorge Walking) – if you’re not listed it probably means you’ve missed one of the steps below (or you’ve asked us not to publish your details)… Just to remind you, you’ll only be covered to … Read more
We have updated the list on our website of current (paid-up) Full Members – if you’re not listed it probably means we haven’t yet received your payment (or you’ve asked us not to publish your details), but if in doubt please do drop us an email… SWOAPG Members can now renew their membership for 2025/6 … Read more
The wardens in Waterfall Country occasionally get asked by visitors “how can we get to have a go at activities like caving or gorge-walking while we’re in the area” – so they’ve asked us whether we have a list of providers who they could direct people towards; not necessarily for same-day but perhaps next-day or … Read more
Dwr Cymru Welsh Water has now advised us that the works at Usk Reservoir, which will see the northern launch site closed (as advised in our recent post Usk Reservoir works at ‘slipway’ launch – starting April 2025), will start on 7 April and last until August next year. This means there will be no … Read more
Not for the first time, we’ve recently received from one of our members a report of poor water quality in the Sychryd gorge: “The pool was distinctly cloudy and had a bluey green tinge. On those levels it should have been completely clear with our favourite peaty brown tinge. Visibility was zero. Conversely we could … Read more
We’ve printed off the first few of this year’s ‘new blue’ gorge ID cards and they’ll be winging their way in the mail shortly to the lucky recipients! Just to remind you, you’ll only be covered to use the Waterfall Country gorges after 31 March if you’ve completed the sign-up process, which requires you to … Read more
As agreed at our recent AGM, SWOAPG is introducing a monitoring form so that we can gain information about significant ‘incidents’ that may be occurring with our members – particularly in the Waterfall Country gorges but also in other areas we use. The types of ‘incidents’ we’d like to monitor include: serious accidents to member(s) … Read more
SWOAPG Members may now complete the 2025 Gorges Signup (after first logging-in to our website with your ‘business’ account), after which we’ll issue new gorge ID cards as soon as possible. NB the former ‘Concordat’ has now been replaced with a revised Memorandum of Understanding; this is largely an administrative exercise by NRW and doesn’t … Read more
We’re still working on the 2025 sign-up form for Waterfall Country Gorge users, but can confirm that: Providers will need to have paid full membership before they’ll be able to sign-up (see SWOAPG Membership and Reservoir Passport Renewals now available). Providers using the gorges will be required to confirm that they have adopted all the … Read more