Alerts

We’ve received the following messages from BBNPA and will send further messages when we receive confirmation: “We may be doing an air lift to Sgwd Yr Pannwr on Friday 2nd October, will confirm this on Wednesday, it’s all still up in the air (pardon the pun) as we are waiting to see if the helicopter … Read more

Following the ‘near-miss’ in March, when Dwr Cymru Welsh Water and Bannau Brycheiniog National Park staff failed to inform cave users of a planned water release, both organisations have – with SWOAPG support – reviewed their procedures to ensure that this can’t happen again. They will now: BBNPA has also considered ‘closing’ the cave on … Read more

NRW has advised us of a rockfall that has taken place river-right just below Sgwd Clun Gwyn (following a report received late yesterday afternoon from a member of the public regarding a rumbling sound followed by a splash in the river) – users will recognise the location from the attached photographs but in case of … Read more

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

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