..you should ask real walkers instead (image: the ancient brit)

So here is the official line….

“Walking holidays in Wales are great. We’ve got thigh-tremblingly steep mountain walks and gentle coastal strolls, gloriously muddy nature trails for children, and craggy cliff tops for grownups who are looking to blow off a few cobwebs. There’s something for everyone.”

‘OK thats fine….’  we hear you say

‘But I get the same PR blurb from other UK Walking destinations, whats so special about Wales?’ We asked ourselves the same question. Is Wales truly a great place to go for a Walking break ? So we did what any customer should do, we went online and looked for real reviews of real walking holidays, by real people who love walking. We were pleasantly surprised. We have picked out some stories for you that mix great walking with a bit of local culture and folklore. We hope that you will seek out some more for yourself. Story #1 | London Escapees Chris and Anna from New Zealand share their experience of a weekend walking the Brecon Beacons and a hike to the book-lovers paradise of Hay-On-Wye:

After a ridiculously big breakfast the next day, we set off to find the start of the waterfalls loop near Ystradfellte. We decided against the 6.4km loop of the falls and choose to add on a 15.3 km route that included a few more falls and an area of moor land. This was a fantastic walk that covered so many different types of terrain and had a pub conveniently located at the half way point!

Story #2 | Walking in the footsteps of Merlin This lady spent a great day walking in Snowdonia National Park and discovered both giant artwork and the home of an Arthurian legend.

Legend has it that Merlin spent a lot of time at the fort…… in fact he lived there for a while. The ground is quite sacred! It was also the scene of a battle between the White Dragon of England and the Red Dragon of Wales – the Red Dragon won hence the Welsh flag!

These boots are made for walking. And having a nice sit down too.

Story #3 | The Ogres Tomb Neddy and her friends braved the Snowdon Horseshoe ridge walk on a birthday weekend for her younger brother, and found more Arthurian legends waiting for them at the top.

Mt Snowden is the tomb of Rhita Gawr, an ogre who would kill kings and make cloaks out of their beards – lovely. (Apparently the ogre was defeated when King Arthur climbed to the top of Mount Snowdon and killed him – I am not sure if this was before or after his encounter with the Lady of the Lake, which is also meant to have happened here).

It wasn’t all myth and magic for Neddy, but the Horseshoe route is great for those looking for a challenge!

The walk is officially graded as a ‘Grade 1 ‘Scramble”. What is a ’scramble’? A ’scramble’ is essentially, a ‘walk’ that lies between a walk and a rock climbing. Scrambles are graded from 1 (easiest) to 3 (hardest), but a basic requirement of all of them is that the ascent requires use of your hands (for more than just balance). If only I had known this before I dismissed the ‘hard’ ranking with a flippant ‘Hard? Schmard.’

Got any reviews to share? We would love to hear from you.

What to wear Coasteering

Off surfing, sea kayaking or coasteering?

Be sure to make a splash

They’ve gone all ‘Trinny and Susanna’ over at Preseli Venture.

Not only do they offer a guide on the essential kit for activity holidays in Wales but also let us know what not to wear !

You can follow their fashion tips and other adventures on their Facebook page

Crampons?

When it comes to hiking and climbing, some dog walkers appear to be better prepared than the people regularly hauled off mountainsides in Wales by rescue teams.

People continue to venture out onto the mountains of Wales, ill-equipped and in complete ignorance of the danger they are in.

News of a father and son who set off to climb Cwm Idwal in Snowdonia wearing trainers, with no map and setting off in the evening, has illustrated the strain put on emergency mountain rescue teams in Wales by careless climbers.

Preparing for an activity holiday

It’s worth mentioning that Wales offers a lot more than climbing for the individuals and families planning an activity holiday in the UK.

And, while we don’t expect everybody visiting the Welsh mountains and coast to be Ray Mears, a little planning helps everybody out.

Consider using an activity provider

Using an established activity provider not only gives people reassurance, they also provide an essential guide to the best that the local environment has to offer.

More Information

A good place to start is our outdoor activity website which gives you an overview of the things you can do in Wales and links to more information. You can also find activity providers using our new search facility on the site.

If you are going walking in Wales the ramblers offer some practical advice for walkers and the BBC has advice for climbers.

Half term holidays, several days in and maybe the cracks are beginning to show. A family walk in picturesque autumnal surroundings can be a great way to enjoy some unpressured family time together and burn off that excess energy.

Here’s a selection of short but stimulating walks that are neither too hard on the foot or the eye.

Merthyr Mawr Sand Dunes
A fantastic ramble through this extensive sand dune system from the car park to the coast. This giant sandpit is great for rolling and sliding down, especially The Big Dipper, the highest single sand dune in Europe.

Haroldstone Woods
An unusual wooded circular walk that takes in some of the Pembrokeshire Coast Path passing the Haroldston Chins and Settling Nose on your return with spectacular views guaranteed.

Pontcysyllte Viaduct and the River Dee
Beginning in Ty Mawr Country Park a gentle stroll through the Denbighshire landscape brings you to to the hugely impressive Pontcysyllte Viaduct. Finish with an amble alongside the River Dee.

Pwll yr Wrach Nature Reserve
Head out for the “Witch’s Pool” in the unspoilt Brecon Beacons. Skirting the River Ennig you may catch sight of dippers, wagtails and the unusual treecreeper.

Beddgelert Forest
Wide forestry tracks lead to stunning views of the surrounding mountains of Snowdonia. A gentle descent to Llyn Llywelyn lake and maybe a sighting of the Welsh Highland Railway in action round off an invigorating trip.

More information

More ideas for your walking holiday

"A broader look at the MTB phenomenon from a beginner's viewpoint"

What about the beginner?

The popularity of mountain biking just keeps on shifting up a gear. And why not? Having fun on a bike in the great outdoors is something almost anyone can do. Guy Kestevens’s authoritative blog post admirably covered the experienced rider’s view of Wales’ trails. Well, 1 good blog post deserves another. So let’s have a broader look at the MTB phenomenon from a beginner’s viewpoint.

Off-road rough-riding has been around for as long as there have been bikes to do it on. You’ll need:

• A knobbly-tyred mountain-type bike
• A helmet
• And a willing pair of legs

When you’ve got those, you’ll want a trail through some stunning scenery to start pedalling in.

A Q & A with Tyred Out

The Tyred Out team

To guide us further we had a chat with the good folks at tyred-out.com, they offer a range of courses aimed at people with all levels of mountain biking experience.

Q: How difficult are the trails?

A: Trails vary in difficulty, depending on the quality of the trail surface, to the design of the trail and its location, as well as the ability of the rider. Generally speaking, a novice rider would be better off starting on a cross-country trail, as these tend to lend themselves to more gentle contour-following riding, with the option of opting out of more technically-demanding sections by riding the forest road adjacent. Once the rider’s confidence and skill level have grown, more ambitious rides can be undertaken, and at greater speed!

Q: What level am I? Intermediate or beginner?

A: From our point of view, a beginner is anyone who can ride a bike and who wants to develop their mountain bike riding skills. An intermediate rider would be someone who has a good level of fitness and some experience of mountain biking, but who wants to develop their skills and techniques to enable them to ride the trails better.

Q: Why do I need a course? Can’t I just get my bike out and ride?

A: Snowdonia has a number of excellent waymarked trails, where riders can turn up and ride on their own. However, having a guide allows you to maximize the day, concentrating on learning and developing the skills and techniques required to ride the trails with speed and confidence, without the dangers of getting lost, hurting yourself and losing confidence. Also, a guide can take riders to places off-the-beaten track – hidden gems of riding where skills can be developed away from the crowds!

Q: What are your favourite trails in Snowdonia?

A: Snowdonia, and Wales as a whole, has some of the best mountain biking in the world, with the Penmachno Trail arguably one of the best cross country trails in the country, suited to a wide range of mountain biking abilities. Set deep in the Gwydyr Forest, the trail offers breath-taking views, rolling scenic riding and technical sections, appealing to both adrenaline seekers and leisure riders alike.

Tyred Out operate from their base in the Glasgwm valley, Penmachno, in the heart of Snowdonia National Park. They say they are ideally placed for mountain biking at all levels of ability, in some of the most breathtaking scenery in the country.

More info

MB Wales

Wales in Motion audio slideshow

"If you think Mountain biking is still all about bad neon outfits, getting lost down muddy lanes and 'You’ve been framed' crash clips, then you’re in for a big shock" - Guy Kesteven

It was about time  we had  a feature on the Visit Wales blog about mountain biking. We needed honest answers from an expert,

How does Wales stack up as a top UK mountain bike destination and how would somebody ‘get into’ mountain biking ?

I asked regular Mountain Bike Wales blogger and ‘bike trail guru’ Guy Kesteven…..

If you think Mountain biking is still all about bad neon outfits, getting lost down muddy lanes and “You’ve been framed” crash clips, then you’re in for a big shock.

You might also be surprised that Wales is leading the world in the knobbly rubber revolution too. How do I get involved and why is a whole lot more interesting than a history lesson though, so here’s the need to know.

Coed y Brenin – origins of a mountain bike mecca

Working as a pro bike tester is a weird world and I first met Dafydd Davies in a dense, damp forest in 1997 when a planned bike test in the Falklands went blubber side up. I’m normally wary of men with a manic excited look and a chainsaw, but the purpose built mountain bike trail he’d created at Coed y Brenin in his spare time was incredible.

Rideable whatever the weather and pitched to challenge, charm and carve a big grin on your face with every hard earned metre. Even more incredible was the immediate popularity of this small ribbon of rock hidden near Dolgellau.

Suddenly previously deserted local hotels were full of mountain bikers. Unlike ramblers, having wheels, helmets, and pumps to remember meant riders bought stuff from local shops and emptied the cellars and larders of local pubs and restaurants at night. In fact at the first Glyncorrwg mountain bike weekender locals told us there wasn’t a biscuit or loaf of bread to be found between Neath and Newport by Monday morning.

That meant us mountain bikers weren’t grubby track tearing, granny scaring hooligans anymore, we were the ultimate unconventional tourists. Next thing we know Dafydd and others have turned into pro trail builders, local enterprise schemes love us and suddenly there are better and better purpose built trails are opening up all across Wales. Lovely, eco friendly lolly stick built visitor centres mean you can finish the ride of your lives with a latte and local bacon butty too. Fully graded trails from family to fearsome double black mean you’ll never get unexpectedly get out of your depth either.

UK Mountain bike trails

"Nowhere matches the consistent super high quality, individuality and convenience of Welsh mountain biking "

Unsurprisingly, Scotland and the borders area has jumped on the bandwagon too. To be fair they’ve got some damn good trails if you can be bothered to drive all day to get there and even England has built some squirrel chasing routes too.

Nowhere matches the consistent super high quality, individuality and convenience of Welsh mountain biking though. That’s before you even start talking about the whole world of Old Skool wild riding that’s wrapped round the beautifully rugged Welsh landscape.

Guy’s guide to the mountain biking trails of Wales – from ‘novice to plain nuts’

So you’re now itching to get started mountain biking in Wales but where should you go?

1. For the original full on shake, rattle and roll experience: Coed y Brenin.

Coed y Brenin – The forest where Dafydd started it all now has a full range of stunning trails from the family river run to the savage ‘Beast’ radiating out from a state of the art visitor centre.

2. Hundreds of Kms of World class trails in the last place you’d expect: Afan Forest Park.

Afan Forest Park – Weaving through the tight streets of South Wales the last thing you expect to find at the end of the valley are the incredible multi trail centres of Afan and Glyncorrwg. Now complete with a vibrant demo an event calendar, state of the art café, bike shop and superb purpose built accommodation from hostels to hotels.

3. Novice and/or plain nuts northerners after the ultimate bike and butty experience: Coed Llandegla.

Coed Llandegla – Just past Wrexham is a visitor centre/bike shop that’s more welcoming than your own lounge and serves award winning bacon butties. They’ll also hire you a bike to hit the range of family friendly or whoop and holler black and red run trails or even organise a kids MTB party!

4. The ultimate immediate, convenient adrenaline fix: Cwm Carn

Cwm Carn – A few minutes past the Severn bridge you could be sat on the uplift bus ready to hit a national champs level downhill course. Either that or climbing up the stunning cross country loop, ready to regroup overlooking the Bristol Channel before railing the winding trail back down.

5. For breathtakingly wild birds and bikes: Nant yr Arian.

Nant yr Arian – For the ultimate mix of handmade singletrack and old skool wild riding come and join the Red Kites on this wild ridge high above Aberystwyth. Keep it local or head north to Machynlleth for the ultimate weekend epic.

More info

MB Wales

Upload and share your mountain bike images

Want to know where to take your horse on holiday in Wales?

The Brecon Beacons has plenty of good bridle ways to take your horse on and if you and your steed need to stop for a spot of lunch together look no further than the Brecon Beacons National Park Tea Rooms at Libanus.

Andrew Powell  who is the  Catering Manager can cater for your horses every need (well nearly)! From Carrot Cake to  fresh Welsh Carrots and apples.

You can decide on a candelabra setting or check cloth & napkins.

The idea is to pre-order your lunch whilst completing the popular Three Rivers ride route which enters the National Park at Hay Bluff near Hay on Wye, ending at the Visitor Centre, Libanus.

Most make it a two day holiday break with their horse & friends as there are several Bed & Breakfasts that cater for horse & rider along the route.

More info

Equestrian Wales

Horseriding in the Brecon Beacons

Accommodation in Brecon Beacons

Preseli Venture – Activity Centre to be Awarded 5 Stars by Visit Wales

News today that Preseli Venture is the first Activity centre in Wales to gain 5 stars from Visit Wales.

Wales has always been a pretty green place. Verdant, in fact. And we’re aiming to keep it that way.

Preseli Venture Eco Lodge in Pembrokeshire has taken giant strides toward a greener future and as a result become the first activity centre in West Wales to receive a coveted 5 star VisitWales accreditation.

Green Technology

The lodge renovations invested in low-carbon technology to cut emissions and to help protect the delicate balance of the Pembrokeshire Coast National Park’s pristine environment.

This is no mere greenwash.

• The lodge is constructed from a super-efficient Insulating Concrete Formwork system that keeps the heat in and the cold out.
• All the hot water and heating in the lodge is provided by a ground source heat pump saving up to 6½ tonnes of CO2 every year.
• Revolutionary LED bulbs, non-toxic and incredibly efficient, provide illumination in the lodge whilst the electricity to power them is sourced from Ecotricity.
• Waste is dealt with by the Klargester BioDisc system, a complete sewage treatment device that releases only outflow that has been completely treated and is free from pollutants.

The new eco lodge has proved popular with both new and returning guests and offers the chance to show visitors that sustainable living practices are accessible to everyone and not just the remit of the few.

What else can you do at Preseli Venture Eco-lodge

Preseli Venture does coasteering, sea kayaking, surfing, biking, and hiking adventures, and also offers high ropes courses, golf, and stand up paddle boarding.

Transport to adventures is in buses that run on local bio diesel made from used chip oil, with free bus and train transfer to the lodge to encourage people to use public transport, and all the food is sourced as locally as possible.

more information:

www.preseliventure.co.uk
Search for activities and outdoors centres on Visit Wales
Find out more about visiting wales for a holiday or get some great ideas for your UK break.

Activity Provider Profile: Tree top Adventure, Snowdonia

To celebrate the arrival of our new activity search why not have a look at one of Wales’ best adrenaline activity providers?

tree top adventure

Tree Top Adventure opened in April 2007 in the surroundings of Wales’ famous Snowdonia National Park. The High Ropes Course (Adventurers) is one of the UK’s highest and most exciting, offering visitors a chance to experience a high level ropes course in a safe and controlled environment.

what are high ropes courses all about?

Ropes courses invite you to surmount obstacles and physical puzzles at a range of heights above the forest floor. High beams, rope bridges, zip wires and climbing walls are great fun and can promote personal growth and teambuilding

parachute simulator

June 2008 saw the installation of the fearsome “Tree Top Tower”, home to the world’s highest Powerfan parachute simulator. Climb the 33 metres to the jump platform, check out the panoramic view and then launch yourself into the freefall experience of a lifetime.

sounds fun but is it safe?

The continuous safety system allows participants to move between obstacles without the need to unclip which means this all-weather course is suitable for all ages and abilities (height restrictions apply).

And on top of all this March 2009 sees the opening of a new visitor centre that will give visitors a place to reflect and refresh after their high wire antics.

more information:

http://www.ttadventure.co.uk/

Search for activities and outdoors centres on Visit Wales

Holiday Accommodation in Wales

Accommodation in North Wales and places to stay in Betwys-y-Coed

….people in Ceredigion should be problem-free from now on because they can now trek the length of the county along the coast

The new section from Cwmtydu to Llangrannog is the key to opening up the charms of the Cardigan Bay Coast.

Ceredigion has long been the walking enthusiasts ’secret . It offers stunning coastal scenery and wildlife including seals and dolphins.

The Welsh Assembly Government hopes to link up the entire Welsh coastlines coastal walks by 2012.

For now, Ceredigion Ramblers are planning a 6 day walking programme to celebrate the opening of the new coastal path.

Here are the details should you want to join in: -

04 July 2008
Cardigan – Mwnt (6 miles C grade)
Meet at 9.30 am Prince Charles Quay; Cardigan SN177459

04 July 2008
Mwnt – Aberporth (6 miles C grade)
Meet at 1.30pm Mwnt Car Park SN195519

05 July 2008
Aberporth – Llangrannog (4.5 miles C+ grade)
Meet at 9.30 am South Beach Car Park; Aberporth SN258516

05 July 2008
Llangrannog – Cwmtydu (6 miles B grade)
Meet at 1.30pm Llangrannog Beach SN310542

06 July 2008
Cwmtydu – New Quay (4 miles B grade)
Meet at 9.30 am Cwmtydu Beach SN356575

06 July 2008
New Quay – Aberaeron (6 miles C+ grade)
Meet at 1.30pm New Quay Information Centre SN390601

07 July 2008
Whole day walk: Aberaeron – Llanrhystud (7 miles C+ grade)
Meet at 10.00 am Harbourmaster Hotel; Aberaeron SN456630

08 July 2008
Whole day walk: Llanrhystud – Aberystwyth (10 miles B grade)
Meet at 10.00 am Bus stop at Black Lion Hotel; Llanrhystud SN539697

09 July 2008
Aberystwyth – Borth (6 miles B grade )
Meet at 9.30 am Bandstand on Aberystwyth promenade. SN583823

09 July 2008
Borth – Ynyslas and to Golf Club for end of walk tea (4 miles D grade)
Meet at 1.30pm Borth Railway Station SN609901

For further details please contact the Ceredigion Ramblers on (01970) 624475 or visit the Ceredigion Web site

Useful Links:-

Walking Areas in Wales

Ceredigion Tourism

BBC Information about Wildlife in Cardigan Bay

Walking Resources for Mid Wales

Holiday Cottages, Hotels and Accommodation