Cwm Llwch car park closed

I noticed in passing yesterday that the Cwm Llwch car park is closed “until further notice”, so any groups planning to access Pen y Fan from there will need to find alternatives (e.g the National Trust car park at Cwm Gwdi or the farmer’s field at Cwmcynwyn, both of which are open at present).

Dinas Rock Car Park closed from 24 Sep

We have received the following message from Natural Resources Wales: “In line with new Covid 19 local lockdown restrictions affecting Rhondda Cynon Taff, and bridge maintenance works scheduled to start on 28 September, Dinas Rock car park will be closed to vehicles for the foreseeable future, starting from 24th September”. Any groups using the Sychryd … Read more

South Wales Lockdowns

The local lockdowns announced recently in Blaenau Gwent, Bridgend, Caerphilly, Merthyr, Newport and Rhondda Cynon Taff will all affect outdoor activity to some extent, since the general guidance for visitors is that “you can drive through these Counties without stopping but cannot visit them without reasonable excuse”. Our understanding is that no-one may visit these … Read more

Rhondda Cynon Taff Lockdown

The lockdown in RCT that takes effect from 6pm on Thu 17 Sep will affect outdoor activity taking place in the County, including Dinas Rock and Sychryd Gorge (which are both entirely within the County); the River Hepste (inc. Sgwd yr Eira) and the Mellte Gorge south of the Hepste confluence (since both rivers form … Read more

Activities and Covid-19: Feedback from our Online Workshop for Providers and Instructors to Share Good Practice

Our online workshop last week, for Providers and Instructors to Share Good Practice around operating with Covid-19 precautions, was well-attended and generated some useful discussion and ideas, including:  Clients are often very relaxed about Covid, so we need to remind them that others (including the public & other groups) might not be so relaxed Younger … Read more

Using SWOAPG Workshops as CPD

Attending SWOAPG workshops can form a valuable part of instructors’ ongoing personal and professional development. We will now be issuing formal Certificates of Attendance for all our online and practical workshops, so you can use them as evidence in your CPD portfolios.

Contacting SWOAPG

SWOAPG wants you to contact us whenever you need to! However, our Coordinator only works part-time for around 4 hours a week (although he has been donating a lot of extra time during the Covid crisis!) – and every enquiry he deals with costs approx. 10% of one annual Membership fee. So if you do … Read more

Gorge-walking & Covid-19 workshop, Tue 15 Sep – Early Bird discount EXTENDED!

We have extended the ‘Early Bird’ discount for next Tuesday’s practical ‘Gorge-Walking and Covid-19‘ workshop (1-4pm at Dinas Rock) – one place per paid-up SWOAPG Member still available for ONLY £10. Book NOW! to take advantage of this offer (extra places @ £20 for Member businesses / organisations or £25 for non-Members). Click here for … Read more