ISLWYN RAMBLERS CERDDWYR ISLWYN www.islwynramblers.org GUIDED WALKS PROGRAMME Summer 2018 Ramblers Cymru Y-cerddwyr Registered Charity Number 1093577
GENERAL INFORMATION We normally meet at the car park adjacent to the mini rugby field at Blackvein Road, Crosskeys (Grid Ref: ST 226914, nearest postcode is NP11 7AL) Unless otherwise stated dogs are welcome but must be well behaved and under control at all times, preferably kept on a lead. Strong boots or shoes should always be worn and suitable waterproof clothing should be brought. On long walks, It is sensible to take food and drinks but please take ALL your litter home with you. Those participating in the group s activities do so at their own risk. Whilst leaders will take every care for the safety of the walkers in the group, they cannot accept liability for injury, or take responsibility for those who choose to leave the group during the walk. Please satisfy yourself that you are fit and well equipped for the walks you choose to join. The walk leaders reserve the right to cancel or alter the walk without prior notice. NB. If you intend to join the walk at the actual start of the walk or if adverse weather is forecast, please confirm the situation with the walk leader beforehand. KEY TO WALKS LEISURELY: Moderate walks that are taken at a leisurely pace EASY: Easy going at a reasonable pace with no difficult uphill pulls MODERATE: One or two uphill pulls that will be taken at a steady pace ENERGETIC: Good pace of walking and some steep climbs STRENUOUS: Steep uphill pulls and/or long walks that require a good level of fitness and stamina Energetic and Strenuous walks are not suitable for anyone wishing to walk at a leisurely pace. All distances and grades are approximate and may change. CAR SHARING Car Sharing is encouraged and a band code is used to allow walkers to make a fair voluntary contribution towards travel costs. The Band is marked alongside each walk Band A ( 1-20 miles) 2.00 Band D (61-80 miles) 5.00 Band B (21-40 miles) 3.00 Band E (81-100 miles) 6.00 Band C (41-60 miles) 4.00 Band F (100-120 miles) 7.00 Ramblers Cymru Registered Charity Number 1093577
IMPORTANT NOTICE This programme is prepared over five months in advance and is very likely to have changed since printing. Our up-to-the-minute programme is always available on our website :www.islwynramblers.org both online and either to download or print out. Please always check the website or confirm with the walk leader that you have the right day for the right walk, Also, if you are travelling directly to the starting point of a walk, check on the day that the walk is still taking place. Unfortunately due to the ravages of British weather we often have to make alternative arrangements or cancel at the very last minute.
MAY 2018 Tuesday 1st Evening walk at 6.30pm from Blackvein Road Thursday 3rd Location Risca 6 miles, Leisurely No travelling today, we're there already John Venn 01495 271953 Saturday 5th Bettws Newydd Bluebell Wood 6 miles, Moderate, band B Clytha Castle and the iron-age fort to see the bluebells at their bluest and best Blackvein Road at 09.30am or NT carpark at SO 361085 at 10.15am Richard and Anne Beaugie 07905 062329 Tuesday 8th Evening walk at 6.30pm from Risca Leisure Centre Thursday 10th Hensol Castle 6 miles, Leisurely, band C Old churches, forest paths, and open views Blackvein Road at 09.30am or Hensol Forest carpark at ST031768 at 10.15am Phil Purnell 07729 221799 Saturday 12th Caerphilly Challenge 10 Miles, Moderate to Energetic It's our turn to host this year's Caerphilly Challenge. If you are helping to lead or backmark, there is no need to register, just turn up. If you want to walk any of the other Challenges then you must register on the Council website. Crosskeys College at 08.45am Richard and Anne Beaugie 07905 062329 Tuesday 15th Evening walk at 6.30pm from Spiritualist Church
MAY 2018 Thursday 17th Ochrwyth and Machen Mountain 6 miles, Leisurely An ancient bridge and up to the mountain Fields Park Road by the river, Pontymister at 09.30am Sonia Thomas 07814 006646 Saturday 19th Barry and Rhoose 8 miles, Easy, band C returning to Barry by train with a late breakfast or early lunch at Porthkerry Cafe Blackvein Road at 09.30am or Jackson Bay, Barry Island at 10.30am Clive Turner 07802 231371 Tuesday 22nd Evening walk at 6.30pm from Blackvein Road Thursday 24th Abergavenny and Govilon 6 miles, Leisurely, band C Along the river, railway and canal banks or Byefield Lane car park, NP7 5DL, at 10.15am Mike Showler 07814 006646 Sunday 27th Patrishow and Cwmyoy 7 miles, Moderate, band D Crooked churches and moving mountains. or or the crossroads at SO 284211 at 10:15am Andrew George 07840 743791 Tuesday 29th Evening walk at 6.30pm from Risca Leisure Centre Thursday 31st Local walk from Blackvein Road 6 miles, Leisurely No driving involved unless its to a golf range
JUNE 2018 Friday 1st to Sunday 3rd Llandudno and Caernarvon and the Welsh Highland Railway Train rides and walks in spectacular Snowdonia and a world heritage aqueduct on the way Details to follow watch the website Clive Turner 07802 231371 Tuesday 5th Evening walk at 6.30pm from Spiritualist Church Thursday 7th Cefn Mably 6 miles, Leisurely, band B Refreshments at the pub afterwards Helen Menzies 07773 143944 Saturday 9th Crook Peak, Axbridge 7 miles, Moderate, band F plus Bridge toll One long but not steep climb with views for 80 miles Nice pub in Axbridge afterwards Clive Turner 07802 231371 Tuesday 12th Evening walk at 6.30pm from Blackvein Road Thursday 14th Llanwonno 6 miles, Leisurely, band B Climb past a waterfall to 'Ole Smokey' for 360 views of the valley or Brynffynnon Hotel lower end of carpark, Llanwonno, CF47 3PH at 9.45am Ceri Waters 07815 308118
JUNE 2018 Saturday 16th Cefn Onn 7 Miles, Moderate, band B Up to the ridge for some great views Blackvein Road at 09.30am or Cefn Onn Park at 10.15am Doreen Ford 01633 761849 Tuesday 19th Evening walk at 6.30pm from Risca Leisure Centre Thursday 21st Nantcarn Valley 7 miles, Moderate, band B To the top of the valley and back or Lower carpark, Cwmcarn at 9.45am Robin Williams 01495 246733 Sunday 24th Skenfrith 7 miles, Moderate, band D River bank along the Monnow, muddy fields and meadows, one climb but a nice pub at the end. Liz Holland 01485 200673 Tuesday 26th Evening walk at 6.30pm from Spiritualist Church Thursday 28th St Nicholas 7 miles, Leisurely, band C A haunted field near some ancient places or St Nicholas ST090743, CF5 6SN at 10.30am Cilla Hobbs 01495 246189 Ceri Williams 01633 666529 Saturday 30th Malvern Hills 8 miles, Moderate, band F and now, somewhere completely different... Blackvein Road at 8.30am Simon Foster 07816 450 893
JULY 2018 Tuesday 3rd Evening walk at 6.30pm from Blackvein Road Thursday 5th Hafodyrynys 7 miles, Moderate, band A Along the ridge to St Illtyd's Church or Hafodyrynys Rugby Club at 9.50am Robin Williams 01495 246733 Saturday 7th Goytre Wharf 8 miles, Moderate, band B Roman Roads, Canals and a spring with a legend via hilltops and woodland and a little industry or Goytre Wharf at 10.15am Phil Purnell 07729 221799 Tuesday 10th Evening walk at 6.30pm from Risca Leisure Centre Thursday 12th Tintern Abbey 7 miles, Moderate, band C Along the River Wye to the Devils Pulpit and Offa's Dyke, Brockweir and the old station cafe. or 400yds North of the Abbey on A466 at 10.30am Mike Showler 07814 006646 Saturday 14th Llangynidr and Tor-y-Foel 8 miles, Moderate, band C Around the foot of Tor-y-foel or up to the top if you want Blackvein Road at 9.00am or Llangynydr village car park, NP8 1LS, at 9.45am Mike Showler 07814 006646 Tuesday 17th Evening walk at 6.30pm from Spiritualist Church
JULY 2018 Wednesday 18th Autumn Planning ing Contact Update and Autumn walks planning Risca Rugby Club at 07.15pm Phil Purnell 07729 221799 Thursday 19th Llantwit Major 7 miles, Moderate, band D Coastal walk along the clifftop to Nash Point and back past the Atlantic College or Llantwit Major beach carpark at 10.30am Mike Showler 07814 006646 Saturday 21st Bridgnorth by steam train 6 miles, Leisurely, band H From Kidderminster to Bridgnorth on the Severn Valley Railway then time to walk or explore the town and river Blackvein Road at 8.00am Clive Turner 07802 231371 Tuesday 24th Evening walk at 6.30pm from Blackvein Road Thursday 26th Morlais Castle 7 miles, Moderate, band C Stunning views from the head of the Taff Vale or Cyfarthfa Castle, Merthyr at 10.15am Robin Williams 01495 246733 Saturday 28th Newland and the Wye Valley 7 miles, Moderate, band D The wonderful 'Cathedral of the Forest' Blackvein Road at 9.00am or Redbrook carpark, SO 536099, at 10.00am Richard and Anne Beaugie 07905 062329 Tuesday 31st Evening walk at 6.30pm from Risca Leisure Centre
AUGUST 2018 Thursday 2nd St Brides Major 7 miles, Leisurely, band D Through the villages and fields to glimpse the sea. or St Brides Major carpark at 10.30am Phil Purnell 07729 221799 Sunday 5th Mewslade Bay 8 miles, Leisurely, band G Bucket and spade time or your speedos if you're brave Ups and downs along the coast and over the cliffs or Mewslade Bay carpark at 10:30am Clive Turner 07802 231371 Tuesday 7th Evening walk at 6.30pm from Spiritualist Church Thursday 9th Cwmsychan and The British 6 miles, Leisurely, band B A lost village and dam up in the hills Phil Jenkins 07704 116518 Saturday 11th Ebbw Vale to Llanhilleth Rail Ramble 8 miles, Moderate, band A Train to Ebbw Vale and walk back to Llanhilleth for bird's-eye views down the valley Blackvein Road at 09.30am or Llanhilleth Station at 10.00am (10.10am train) Phil Jenkins 07704 116518 Tuesday 14th Evening walk at 6.30pm from Blackvein Road
AUGUST 2018 Thursday 16th Pontypool Park 6 miles, Leisurely, band B To the shell grotto and along the canal or Pontypool Leisure Centre at 10.00am Mike Showler 07814 006646 Sunday 19th Bishopston 8 miles, Moderate, band D Down to the Gower so you might glimpse the sea Blackvein Road at 9.00am or Caswell Bay carpark SA3 4RY at 10.30am Andrew George 07840 743791 Tuesday 21st Evening walk at 6.30pm from Risca Leisure Centre Thursday 23rd Risca's byways and highways 6 miles, Leisurely Interesting paths right on our own doorstep John Venn 01495 271953 Saturday 25th Candleston and Merthyr Mawr 7 Miles, Moderate, band C from the castle across the dunes to Newton or Candleston carpark at 10.15am Jill Jones 07718 751475 Tuesday 28th Evening walk at 6.30pm from Spiritualist Church Thursday 30th Libanus 7 miles, Moderate, band D Stunning views from an Iron-age hill fort or Tair Bull layby on A470, just past the Brecon Mountain Centre turn-off, at 10.15am Robin Williams 01495 246733
GROUP OFFICERS CHAIR Jill Jones SECRETARY Phil Purnell Tel. 07729 221799 Email. islwynsec@virginmedia.com TREASURER Mike Showler Tel. 07814 006646 MEMBERSHIP SECRETARY Judith Elliott Tel. 01633 612521 Email. islwyn.ramblers@gmail.com WALKS PROGRAMME CO-ORDINATOR & WEBMASTER Phil Jenkins Tel. 07704 116518 Web Address. www.islwynramblers.org RIGHTS OF WAY OFFICER Liz Holland MINUTES SECRETARY Liz Holland Group meetings are held at Risca Rugby Club, Tredegar Street, Risca NP11 6BY Date of next meeting Wednesday 18th July 2018