Gorge-Walking in ‘Waterfall Country’ – Dinas / Sychryd and Mellte Gorges
NB to access our online Code of Conduct training courses, providers and gorge leaders must:
- Login (or Sign Up as new user) – using a ‘personal’ account on our website (not a ‘corporate’ provider account), then
- Visit our Courses page.
“Organised groups can gain permission to operate in the area from Natural Resources Wales through agreement with a Concordat”
The land within ‘Waterfall Country’ is owned by Natural Resources Wales (NRW), the Brecon Beacons National Park Authority (BBNPA) and a number of private landowners. While much of the site is designated Open Access land, this only allows for general public access on foot, not commercial or otherwise organised activities. Private land may not be fenced or marked but there is no right of access to these areas.
Organised groups can gain permission to operate in the area from Natural Resources Wales either by:
- through agreement with a Concordat / Memorandum of Understanding (updated for 2025) and compliance with a Template Risk Assessment; or
- applying directly to NRW via their bureaucratic and costly ‘Woodlands and You’ permitting scheme.
As much of the area in and around the gorges is legally protected for the high quality and rarity of its habitats, activity groups must follow simple Codes of Conduct (see Dinas / Sychryd Access Arrangements and Upper Mellte Access Arrangements) to minimise the environmental impact of a visit. Compliance with these Codes is a requirement of being permitted to access the sites.
This Concordat and the accompanying Code of Conduct and guidelines were developed between representatives of Outdoor Activity Providers and BBNPA and NRW working collaboratively. This work took place from 2008, with Seminars in January 2009 and May 2010 and the finalised Concordat was one of the key factors in the launch of SWOAPG in July 2010.
Outdoor Providers wishing to use the Sychryd and Mellte gorges for Gorge Walking are required to first join SWOAPG (including sign-up to the Concordat to enable them to use the site with Landowner permission), then they and all their gorge leaders must complete the relevant Code of Conduct training. For the Upper Mellte an AALS licence or technical advisors statement is also required.
This agreement and collaborative approach to environmentally sustainable use of a SSSI and SAC by Activity Providers was the first of its kind in the UK and has been a template for what can be achieved by working together.
Registered Gorge-Walking Providers
The following table lists the providers who are currently registered with us to use the Sychryd & Lower Mellte (“Sychryd”) and / or Upper Mellte (“Mellte”) gorges (and have agreed to publish their information on this website – for contact details see our Full Members list):
NB providers are listed by default in random order. Last updated 13 April 2025.
| Business / organisation name | Gorges |
|---|---|
| RipnRock Ltd | Sychryd & Mellte |
| Steve Rayner Outdoor Pursuits | Sychryd |
| Rock UK Summit Centre | Sychryd & Mellte |
| Storey Arms Outdoor Education Centre | Sychryd & Mellte |
| Longtown Outdoor Learning Trust | Sychryd & Mellte |
| Hawk Adventures | Sychryd & Mellte |
| Black Mountain Activities | Sychryd & Mellte |
| Savage Adventures | Sychryd & Mellte |
| Argoed Lwyd Outdoor Education Centre | Sychryd & Mellte |
| Atlantic Experience | Sychryd & Mellte |
| Gorge Walking Wales | Sychryd & Mellte |
| Severnside Adventures | Sychryd & Mellte |