The former Countryside Council for Wales expressed concerns about the use of the River Mellte for gorge walking and its impact on the environment. To safeguard both the environment in the gorge and our use of it, a process of surveying and assessing, similar to that of the Sychryd use, was actioned.
Funding was granted from BBNPA to have the Mellte surveyed to identify what species are resident in the gorge and how the actions of gorge walkers might impact on them.
From 1 June 2025 the requirement for Technical Adviser sign-off for the Upper Mellte gorge has changed:
- Organisations delivering Gorge Walking in the [Upper] River Mellte must [now] hold a current AALA License covering Gorge Walking at this site, hold an equivalent inspection scheme License, such as Adventuremark, or be assured through the Visit Wales Adventure Activity Assurance Scheme (VWAAAS) Adventure Activity Assurance Scheme | Industry Visit Wales
This means that, for providers wishing to deliver gorge-walking in the Upper Mellte:
- AALA licence holders need do nothing new (since they will confirm their AALA licence as part of our annual gorges sign-up process) – as long as their licence remains valid.
- Non-AALA licence holders (including those whose licence expires) will need to send SWOAPG evidence of their ‘independent’ assurance (covering gorge-walking as an activity) through Adventuremark etc. or the VWAAAS – although the timing of this will depend on whether you have previously been signed off via a TA report to SWOAPG:
- from 1 June 2025 if your AALA licence expires or you have not previously been signed off with SWOAPG;
- by 1 April 2026 if you were signed off with SWOAPG prior to 1 April 2023; or
- within 3 years of the date you were signed off with SWOAPG, if this was on or after 1 April 2023.
- NB: MOD users will remain covered by their existing TOPL arrangement with NRW, so need do nothing new.
The Mellte Access Rules and Code of Conduct can be viewed here (NB the above change to Technical Adviser sign-off will be reflected in the next issue of these rules):
NB a new ‘fragile – no go zone’ area has been added by NRW in November 2024 above Sgwd Clun Gwyn Isaf – see Upper Mellte gorge: new ‘fragile – no go zone’ (access map amendment) for details.
Upper Mellte Evacuation Map
Thanks to Quest Adventures and the Mountain Rescue Teams who were involved in the creation of this resource, designed to detail the evacuation spots along the Mellte that MR have identified as most ideal for their access. This document was designed to assist gorge leaders and is not suitable for the public. This resource is to be used in line with Providers’ own Risk Assessments and Operating Procedures:
