Representing providers of Outdoor Adventurous Activities in South Wales and the Brecon Beacons
We’re aware that’s it’s been a long time since we posted a general update about the Glasbury-Hay canoeing situation – largely because things haven’t really moved on much since our last post in November 2024 (River Wye Glasbury-Hay Update when we said pretty much the same thing!). However, Powys County Council is at last taking … 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
SWOAPG Members will already be aware of various messages in the last 3 months relating to issues with gorge-walking groups in Waterfall Country – particularly in the Sychryd / Dinas Rock area: we have reported problems with litter (including within the changing areas); with group behaviour; with parking and changing; and with trespass on the … 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
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.