Representing providers of Outdoor Adventurous Activities in South Wales and the Brecon Beacons
SWOAPG Members who have paid their full membership renewal may now complete (after first logging-in to our website with your ‘business’ account): the 2026 Gorges Signup (required from 1 April), after which we’ll issue new gorge ID cards as soon as possible (in the meantime please keep using the dark blue 2025 cards); and the … Read more
Natural Resources Wales has advised us that they will once again be operating fish traps on the Upper Usk (on the Sennybridge-Aberbran section) during the period March-May 2026 (see attached document). Although we anticipate few paddlers using the river during this period, anyone contemplating a trip on this section needs to be aware of this … Read more
Further to our recent message, we we have been advised that although forestry work at Pont ar Daf may have been halted due to bird nesting, the forestry path between Pont ar Daf and Storey Arms is not yet re-opened (despite the earlier advice that it should be re-open for the Easter holidays….).
We’re still working on getting this year’s gorges sign-up form together- watch this space over the next few days – but in the meantime, here are some details about what’s new that we’ll be asking you to sign-up to – and a request to review and if necessary update your site-specific Risk Assessments: We have … Read more
Apologies for second alert of the day – meant to send this out in the same e-mail as the Clun Gwyn update… A couple of Providers have notified us that someone has used the wall of rocks at the Blaen-y-Glyn entrance to the tunnel as a toilet and left in the pool a lovely gift … Read more
Following yesterday’s message (repeated below), we’ve received further clarification from users (who know the area better than we do!) of the impact of the path closure at Sgwd Isaf Clun Gwyn. We now understand that the path that’s ‘officially closed’ affects the main route up and down the fall on river-left (usually accessed by crossing … Read more
Many thanks to those of you who’ve already renewed your SWOAPG membership; your early renewals have really helped us get ahead-of-the game. For those who haven’t yet renewed: Login to our website (opens in new tab); check and if necessary update your existing Membership Profile; then Apply for Membership – select the appropriate membership category, … Read more
Further to yesterday’s message (repeated below), DCWW has advised us that it was human error that resulted in SWOAPG not being alerted as usual to the planned release yesterday. They are investigating internally how this happened and will be putting in place measures to ensure it cannot happen again. They have also explained that the … Read more
Dwr Cymru Welsh Water usually warn us in advance when they are releasing water from Ystradfellte reservoir, so that we can warn cave and gorge users. Today there was a release that we had not been told about, which caught out a number of groups and could have led to very serious consequences, potentially even … Read more
A couple of incidents in the last few days have caused me to reflect on how we work together as outdoor professionals in South Wales, particularly as we start to ramp-up into this year’s busy season. Those of you who know me will be aware that I came late in life to the world of … Read more