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Featured Article
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Countryside Escapades from This Week Wales |
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Adfwyio-Revival! Assisted by the Countryside Council for Wales and the Wales Tourist Board.
The 2001 foot and mouth epidemic wrought huge damage to the |
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rural Wales economy. Agriculture and tourism suffered most and a unique scheme named Adfwyio-Revival was delivered by the Countryside Council of Wales and Wales Tourist Board to restore the fortunes of hard-hit rural communities. Here's news on eighteen new countryside developments that resulted. |
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A local rambler rediscovers the many walks around Aberdyfi. In addition to documenting the walks, the writer has incorporated local history and culture, together with myths and folklore to create an enhanced walking guide. For more information contact John Reynolds on 01654 767274.
2. Abergwynant Farm & Trekking
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Livery accommodation is provided at Abergwynant Farm, with suitable tracks for visitors to ride or walk along. Colour brochures are available, one covering the livery and self-catering visitor accommodation at the trekking centre, a second giving information on local hotels, guest houses and B&B providers as well as details of the the livery and trekking services. For more information contact Frank Rupert Jones on 01341 422377.
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3. Brecon Beacons
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Beacons Bus is running again in 2004. The 'One-Way Walks' booklet is still available as is 'Discover the Brecon Beacons', a guide for visitors using public transport, and a Travel Guide containing timetable information. Useful information can also be found at www.visitbreconbeacons.com.
Brecon Cycle Breaks offer short breaks with cycling on quiet lanes around Brecon. The accommodation is cycle-friendly, as one might expect, with information on where to hire bikes and interesting background to each of 5 routes. There's a booklet available for £5.99
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from the Brecon Beacons National Park, Plas y Ffynnon, Cambrian Way, Brecon LD3 7HP.
Taff Trail is an off-road waymarked route through the heart of the Brecon Beacons. It's suitable for families, short distance cyclists circling Tal-y-Bont Reservoir, or keener cyclists who can cycle from Brecon to Cardiff in a day. The trail links with the Cardiff Beacons Bus, which has a cycle trailer. Cyclists can get the bus to Brecon with their bike on the back and cycle back to Cardiff.
Mountain Biking is available along 15 signed, waymarked routes in the Brecon Beacons linked to cycle-friendly accommodation. |
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4. Cwmerchon Nature Park
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Natural beauty, woodland, hills, deep gorges and fast flowing streams are there for all to enjoy at Cwmerchon Farm in Carmarthenshire. More information is available at www.cwmerchon.co.uk. |
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5. Dysynni Valley Cycling
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A heritage cycling route in the Snowdonia National Park for recreational and touring cyclists. The signed route links rural communities, enabling cyclists to enjoy and access the countryside, language and history of Dysynni. Cyclists can combine a cycle ride with a train journey by using the scenic Talyllyn Railway, which also provides a link to the Dolgellau cycle touring hub. For further information on Lon Dysynni and other cycling routes in Snowdonia contact Richard Glynne Jones on 01286 679455. |
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6. Exploring Kilvert Country
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A brand new full-colour, 250-page guidebook (£12) from Chris Barber of Blorenge Books in Monmouthshire contains car tours and walks relating to the countryside surrounding the village of Clyro, which is widely known as 'Kilvert Country'. It's the first-such guidebook to have been compiled in response to a world wide interest in the subject. For more information contact Chris Barber on 01873 856114. |
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7. Llandysul Angling Association
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Three new car parks are available for local and visiting anglers in the Teifi Valley, Pembrokeshire, fishing and accommodation can be arranged through the club's website at www.fishing-in-wales.com/llandysul-aa, and an interactive CD is available, which gives 200 pages of video films and animated information on angling, canoeing and the scenic beauty and wildlife of the Teifi Valley.
Leaflets and special newsletters can be obtained from Pat O'Reilly, Chairman of the Llandusul Angling Association at Swyn Esgair, Drefach Felindre, Llandysul SA44 5XG. Tel 01559 371879. Email pat@first-nature.com.
Visitor fishing permit sales and membership of the angling association have improved markedly following the association's efforts to improve |
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communications. This includes 'Welcome Days', improved signage, self-packaging holiday information, wildlife and recreation promotional material, 'Young Conservationist' projects, and assistance for Deaf people and those with mobility constraints. All this activity is supported by accommodation providers, Ceredigion Deaf Club, Llandysul Paddlers canoe club, local schools, scouts, farmers, and local conservationist groups. All in all, a superb example of a local community reaching out to any visitors to Wales with an interest in angling. |
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8. Lleyn Watercolour Competition
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Run by the Lleyn Tourism Association, this new competition is designed to attract some of the best professional and amateur artists to North West Wales. Artists are asked to paint scenes throughout the area, with the aim of attracting trade to local community businesses.
In February 2003 Caernarfon-based artist William Selwyn scooped the £2,000 top prize and led the 2004 panel of judges accompanied by Mary Lloyd Jones RCA, Keith Bowen RCA and Siân Hughes (Assistant Director at Oriel Plas Glyn-y-Weddw). The 2004 prize-winners were: |
1st Prize (£2,000) Wendy Murphy from Fairbourne; 2nd Prize (£1,000) Clive Burnell, originally from South Wales; 3rd Prize (£750) Audrey Hind from Anglesey. The Young Artist Prize of £750 went to 20-year-old Therese Urbanska from Rhydyclafdy, near Llanbedrog for her Dacw'r Bwthyn Gwyn / Behold the White Cottages (see below), and the People's Prize of £500 went to James Williams from Flintshire. Over 190 artists entered the competition this year.
Competition organiser Gwyn Jones said: 'The competition certainly exceeded all expectations and I'm grateful to the sponsors and for the co-operation and hard work of the staff at Oriel Plas Glyn-y-Weddw. We certainly hope to carry this forward for as long as artists want us to'.
Artists wishing to receive information about next year's competition can phone Oriel Plas Glyn-y-Weddw on 01758 740763, or email gwyn@iechyda.com. |
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9. Llynnon Mill
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Llynnon Mill is the only working windmill in Wales. As a working rural museum, it is staffed by a full time Miller and two assistants. The mill produces stoneground flour and is an active testimony to the rural traditions of Anglesey - Môn Mam Cymru.
The site boasts a traditional tea room, craftworkers outlet, car parking and disabled facilities. For more information go to www.anglesey.gov.uk/english/culture/llynnon.htm, or contact Alun Gruffydd on 01248 752009 or at agxlh@ynysmon.gov.uk.
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10. Monnow Valley Walk
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This descriptive guide (£4.95) covers the scenic 40-mile (65-km) linear walk through the valley of the river Monnow, from Monmouth- shire to Hay on Wye, including suggestions for 12 circular walks complete with hand-drawn maps.
The walk, which uses public rights of way that have been selected to provide a special blend of quietness, interesting features, and a variety of scenery and terrain, connects with other established routes. For more information contact Eira and Harry Steggles on 01600 714401.
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11. National Showcaves Centre
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This complex, with its high interpretative and educational value, has received the 'Top Day Out' award from the Wales Tourist following transformation and modernisation of museum displays, which are the major educational elements of the site. The museum, which is run in partnership with the Countryside Council for Wales, has also won a Brecon Beacons National Park award for its interpretive and educational values.
The origin museum was constructed over 14 years ago and, though good at the time, had become jaded. There was a need to improve the overall conservation message, and make it more friendly for schools and 'hands on' for children.
Several of the main displays enable children to activate various conservation |
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messages by pressing buttons; while in the larger displays various movements have been put into the models that bring the whole thing to life. Excellent comments have been received from teachers and visitors in general.
The complex has also received the Sandford Award, which is the is the main educational award in Britain, and the Green Apple award, presented in the House Of Commons, London, for the top environmental tourist project in Britain. |
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12. Parc Glynllifon
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Improvements at Parc Glynllifon near Caernarfon in North Wales have seen the opening up of two underused areas of Parc Glynllifon. One of the areas - where rare bats feed - has new footpaths and interpretative signage; while the other has a new 'green' gym using timber with wood-shreddings produced when making the bat-area paths.
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13. Countryside for All
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A new brochure entitled 'Countryside for All' provides information on accessing the beautiful and unique Pembrokeshire countryside on foot, by bike, bus and train. For more details contact the Greenways Officer on 01437776313, email greenways@pembrokeshire.gov.uk, or go to www.pembrokeshire-greenways.co.uk. |
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14. Wales Country Holidays
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Wales Countryside Holi-days offers an introduction to rural Wales with a wide selection of package and discovery holidays. Comfortable farm and country guesthouse accommodation provides a warm welcome, and the perfect base from which to explore, discover, relax and be inspired.
The holidays offer long-distance walking, leisurely back-road cycling, local heritage and culture and take care of accommodation booking, station and luggage transfers, cycle and safety equipment hire, itinerary and maps.
For further information visit www.holidays-in-wales.com, phone 01834 861116 or email enquiries@holidays-in-wales.com. |
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15. Greenways Holidays
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Greenways Holidays offer an introduction to the people, heritage and natural landscape of Pembrokeshire through a wide selection of packaged and tailor-made holidays.
A vast area of Pembrokeshire is covered by the Pembrokeshire Coast National Park, the only coastal National Park in Great Britain, famous for its spectacular seascapes, peaceful inland waterways, moorland and wooded valleys bursting with wildlife, and colourful flora and fauna. Pembrokeshire's historical landscape meanwhile boasts medieval castles, abbeys, a cathedral, ancient hill forts and Neolithic monuments.
There are standard itineraries for walking, cycling, or simply relaxing and soaking up the local atmosphere, or holidays can be specially tailored. For any of the tours, travel to Pembrokeshire can be by car or train. For further information go to www.greenwaysholidays.com, phone 01834 862109 or email enquiries@greenwaysholiday.com. |
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16. Red Kite Centre
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Gigrin Farm, near Rhaeadr in Powys is where the Red Kite Feeding and Rehabilitation Centre can be found.
Owned and run and by Eithel and Lena Powell, and son Chris, Gigrin Farm became the red kite feeding station in 1993 following a request from the RSPB. Red kites were roosting at Gigrin in winter at the time and were being fed as and when the farm's dogs caught a rabbit. Kite numbers had risen from around a dozen in the first year to over 300 in the winter of 2002/3 and it was realised that public interest would better be focused away from the nesting areas.
Recent additions have been a new hide (bringing the total to five), with improved access for disabled visitors, providing better weather cover and enabling Gigrin to stay open all year round; an extension and upgrading of information facilities to help visitors learn more about these beautiful birds, and a new viewing point near the elevated picnic area, which allows kites to be watched from above.
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Feeding takes place at 2pm in winter and 3pm in summer, the meat fed is beef 'fit for human consumption' and the kites get through anything between 1/4 an 1/2 tonne per week depending on the time of year.
The red kites seen at Gigrin Farm are native to Wales and haven't been introduced from continental stock, as is the case in other parts of the country. DNA results have revealed that all those tested were descendants of a single female!
The Kite Feeding Centre has developed into one of the top wildlife attractions in Great Britain, with over 30,000 bird lovers from all over the world visiting last year. There are about 100 of species of birds on the farm and with 3 acres of well-established wetland the number is likely to increase. There's 1.5-2 miles of way-marked nature trail with information at various points along the route, a children's play area, and interpretative centre where live-video footage of red kites and badgers in the wild can be watched.
There are other attractions in the area too, and good food and accommodation is also available close to the farm. For more information go to www.gigrin.co.uk, email kites@gigrin.co.uk, or phone 01597 810243. |
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17. Snowdonia Cycling Holidays
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Snowdonia Cycle Hire provides circular cycling holidays in Snowdonia with Youth-Hostel accommodation. Family cycling is generally on quiet country roads or cycle tracks such as Lôn Los Ogwen and National Cycle Route No. 5 along the coast. Itineraries include points of interest; places to visit, eat and shop, and local history and the environment. Adrenaline-pumping, off-road mountain biking is available too, using the centres at Coed-y-Brenin and the Gwydyr Forest.
Whatever the preference, Snowdonia Cycle Hire has the right bike for the occasion and expert advice to go with it. The hire company doesn't
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work out of a shop; instead, bikes are delivered and collected free within 6 miles of Llandudno. For group hire bikes can be delivered to a wider area including the Gwydyr Forest with its miles of purpose-built mountain bike trails. Experienced mountain-bike leaders can tailor the perfect route for any group whatever their age or ability. For more information go to www.snowdoniacyclehire.co.uk or phone 01492 878771. |
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18. Usk Valley Walks
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A new walkers' guide and public transport/accommodation fact file is available for £6.95 covering the relatively unknown Usk Valley Walk that runs the 50 mile/80km distance between Caerleon and Brecon. Walkers benefit also from improved waymarking and strategic information panels along the route.
For more information go to www.uskvalleywalk.org.uk or phone Chepstow Tourist Information centre on 01291 623772. Copies of the guide can be ordered over the phone and paid for by credit card, or can be found in branches of Ottakars and Waterstones. |
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Associated Features
National Nature Reserves in Wales
National Trails in Wales
A Walk in the Park
Welsh Wildlife Reserves; RSPB
The Countryside Code-Yr Côd Wledig
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