Representing providers of Outdoor Adventurous Activities in South Wales and the Brecon Beacons
We have received the following message from Brecon Beacons National Park Authority: “The phone line has now been fixed at Cwm Porth and visitor numbers are creeping up. Please could Providers ring Cwm Porth (01639 722309) before 10am if they plan on using the car park. This will enable us to ensure space is available … Read more
Powys County Council has confirmed that its Habitat Regulations Assessment (HRA) in relation to canoe launching at Glas-y-Bont Common in Glasbury is still underway but very unlikely to be completed by Easter (more likely to be “months” from now…). Discussions have, however, begun between SWOAPG and the Council about a concordat arrangement (similar to our … Read more
Please could all Providers avoid using the ‘traverse’ along the stone bridge structure below Bwa Maen on the Sychryd Gorge until further notice. We’ve received a report of dippers nesting once again in the old bridge structure (just downstream of the ‘jacuzzi’). These nests are extremely rare and it’s critical for the dipper population to … Read more
From Brecon Beacons National Park Authority: “Huw Jones who has been a car park attendant in Cwm Porth for the last 18 years is leaving the Authority. If any SWOAPG members would like to leave a message in his leaving card please ask them to email the message to me at jon.pimm@beacons-npa.gov.uk and I will … Read more
We have received the following message from Brecon Beacons National Park Authority: “We are going to be starting some maintenance and improvement works to the attendants building and toilets at Cwm Porth. Work is due to start on Wednesday 9th March and last approximately 3 weeks. “Disruption to caving groups will be minimal, the biggest … Read more
Hay Town Council is seeking to agree a ‘code of conduct’ for ‘commercial’ paddlesport operators (including Outdoor Education Centres) using ‘The Gliss’ (the public access point downstream of the bridge on river-right). The code – which is based on the one that Powys CC previously applied at Glasbury Bont – is currently being finalised with … Read more
We are in the process of sending out SWOAPG membership renewal invitations for 2022 – please look out for the e-mail request from our ‘LoveAdmin’ membership system (Full Member renewals are being sent now; Associate Member renewals in due course). Please pay online by ‘GoCardless’ Direct Debit if possible (as this minimises our administrative costs), … Read more
SWOAPG has published a new online training course comprising 2022 updates to our Gorge-Walking Code of Conduct Training for the Dinas Area (Sychryd and Lower Mellte gorges); which can only be completed once the ‘main’ (2021) training courses have been completed. Representatives of all Gorge-Walking Providers are required to complete this training before they will … Read more
A new Mountain Training qualification, Camping Leader, replaces the Expedition Skills Module which will be phased out on 1st June 2022. Everything you may wish to know is on the website page:https://www.mountain-training.org/qualifications/walking/camping-leader
Nature and Us is a year-long project starting TODAY to involve the people of Wales in a national conversation about the future of our natural environment. The aim is to develop a shared vision for the year 2050, by encouraging people of all ages to share views about their relationship with the natural environment and … Read more