Penderyn Distillery, has been acclaimed as one of the world’s best after winning Gold at the 2011 International Wine and Spirit Competition – the spirit industry’s “Oscars”. 

Brecon Gin claimed Gold in the Worldwide Gin category at the most prestigious competition of its kind in the world, but that’s not the only award of the season: Penderyn whiskies have scooped two gold medals at the World Whiskey Masters 2011, staged by Spirits Business magazine and judged by a panel of whisky experts and critics.

The Bourbon Single Cask edition, which won gold medal in the super-premium single malt category of the Whiskeys of the World Masters 2011, was released to commemorate Penderyn Distillery’s tenth year of operations, and was bottled from one of the first barrels that we produced – it’s also the first Cask Strength Bourbon finish that we’ve released.

For more information visit their website.

Brecon & Monmouth Canal © Kevin Walker

This week’s Walk Wednesday is a trot down the canal from Crickhowell by our Walk Wednesday hero Kevin Walker, Mountain Activities.

A STROLL ALONG THE CANAL (& BACK!)

A gentle and diverse stroll through the Usk Valley near Crickhowell.  Allow about 2 hours.

DISTANCE – 7kms (5 miles)
HEIGHT GAIN – 100 metres (300 feet).
START POINT – Crickhowell.
GRID REFERENCE – SO/219183.
MAPS – OS Explorer OL13.  OS Landranger 161.

DESCRIPTION:  A wonderfully scenic and varied walk along lanes, footpaths, and the canal, with stunning views and an awesome tree!

PARKING:  The main (pay & display) car park in Crickhowell is well signposted off the main road at the eastern (Abergavenny) end of the town.  The pedestrian exit through the disabled bays leads directly to the CRiC – the Crickhowell Resource and Information Centre – which is well worth a visit.  There is an excellent gallery upstairs.

ROUTE:  Leave CRiC and turn right along the main road past Castle Garage, go across the entrance to Standard Street (where Henry V’s sheriff’s raised his Standard to muster Welsh Archers prior to the Battle of Agincourt), and pass the Crickhowell Adventure shop on the right – a haven of delights for all outdoor enthusiasts.  A short distance further, note The Bear Hotel on the right (it is here that you can enjoy a well-deserved drink later), then cross the pedestrian crossing and continue straight on down the right side of the High Street, with its marvellous collection of shops.  It would be invidious to single out any shop in particular, for there is so much quality here that if you decide to explore, you will never start the walk, let alone finish it!  So resist the temptation (for the moment), follow the High Street away from the shops and past the impressive mound of the Norman Castle towering above the Dragon Hotel and the cottages to the left, soon reaching a junction by the tiny police station.  Turn right down Bridge Street, and follow this through a Georgian time-warp to reach the famous Crickhowell Bridge, which has 12 arches on the near side, and (bizarrely) 13 on the far side!  Turn left across the bridge.

On the far side, cross the road, go through a kissing gate, and continue straight ahead along a surfaced footpath across the field.  Go through another kissing gate to reach a fork, turn right across a footbridge, and continue to Llangattock Church, one of the oldest churches in Britain, with a wonderful Norman Tower and two incredibly old Yew trees.  At the far side of the lytch gate, bear slightly left along the narrow main street of Llangattock village, soon reaching a T-junction where you turn right.  Carefully follow the slender pavement along the right side of the road, then cross onto a wider pavement to the left and continue straight ahead for some distance, passing to the left of a chapel and climbing gently to reach a narrow bridge over the Brecon & Abergavenny Canal.

© Kevin Walker

On the left at the nearside of the bridge, jutting stones allow an unlikely (and perhaps nervous) descent onto the canal towpath, which you follow (with the water to your right) for about 1km.  Immediately before the first bridge, look to the left and be amazed… there is an unexpected and stupendous tree here – a Giant Redwood of such amazing proportions that it is Tolkienesque in stature.  Having walked around it in awe, continue along the towpath to the next bridge – Pont y Parc.

© Kevin Walker

Leave the canal here, cross the bridge and the stile beyond, then continue straight ahead on a faint footpath, heading for a gate and a stile which soon appear on the far side of the field.  Cross the stile (watch out for the unexpected stream during or shortly after wet weather), and walk up the left side of the field beyond, soon reaching another stile in the top left hand corner.  Cross the stile and  turn right along the narrow country lane with superb views over the Usk Valley and up onto the Black Mountains.  Continue around a sharp double-bend, past a farm entrance, and down a steep hill, soon reaching a junction where you go straight ahead.  Follow the lane around a sharp right-hand bend, and continue to regain the same canal bridge that you met earlier.

Climb down onto the canal again, but this time, turn right and go under the bridge with the water to your left, then continue under the next bridge to reach Llangattock Wharf, with its impressive battery of limekilns.  You can, if you like, cross the road bridge to explore the limekilns more closely – there are excellent information boards on both sides telling you about the history of the wharf.

© Kevin Walker

Exploration over, continue along the towpath with the canal to your left, until you reach the next bridge.  Leave the canal here, and walk steeply down the lane, soon passing the Old Rectory Hotel and re-entering Llangattock Village.  The church and lytch gate soon become obvious on the left, and it is then an easy task to retrace your earlier steps back to Crickhowell Bridge.

Instead of going back up Bridge Street, bear left at the far side of the bridge, and walk up New Road – the Victorian Crickhowell by-pass!  Towards the top of the hill, and just opposite the amazingly narrow and very obvious terraced houses (old weaver’s cottages), turn hard right up the stone steps, and follow the footpath alongside the church.  Go straight on to regain the High Street next door to the delightful Bookish shop.

Turn left and continue straight into The Bear Hotel for some well-earned refreshment!

This is one of the walks followed by Kevin on his Walking Breaks.  Check out what else he has to offer at www.mountainacts.co.uk

With so many diverse scenes from a UNESCO geopark,  magnificent mountains, jaw dropping valleys and plenty of waterfalls you’re almost guaranteed to get at least one memorable picture.

So we asked local guide Kevin Walker, the man who spends more time roaming the National Park than being indoors to give us his top 5 places to get a good photo…. Here’s what he came up with….

Number 5 - Central Beacons from Fan y Big. Click for info on walk.

ALL PHOTOS COPYRIGHT © to Kevin Walker

Number 4 - On the Cat’s Back, eastern Black Mountains. Click here for walk.

ALL PHOTOS COPYRIGHT © to Kevin Walker.

Number 3 - The magnificent Llangattock Escarpment overlooking Crickhowell. Click here for walk.

ALL PHOTOS COPYRIGHT © to Kevin Walker.

 Number 2 - Llyn y Fan Fawr, Black Mountain (Carmarthen Fan), click here for walk.

ALL PHOTOS COPYRIGHT © to Kevin Walker.

 Number 1 - Sgwd Clun Gwyn Isaf, Afon Mellte, Waterfall Country.

If you’d like to learn how to take better photos in the Brecon Beacons National Park than how about trying out a photography course with Will Lewis.

Photography Tuition offers an exciting range of photography courses in the magnificent Brecon Beacons and mid Wales.
The courses are suitable for everyone – from beginners to enthusiasts and advanced photographers.
The aim of the courses is to improve your camera skills and move you on to the next level, at your pace.
Tuition is available all year round. From ½ day upwards. Short notice availability possible.  SPECIAL OFFER: quote BBT and get £10 off!

Or for a guided tour or learning experience Kevin Walker offers a great range of activities.

For all other activities in the Brecon Beacons visit the Brecon Beacons Tourism page for great accommodation click here.

Felicity Aston has become the first woman ever to ski across Antarctica solo.  She completed her journey Monday morning, after pulling two sledges for 59 days across 1,084 miles of ice and snow.

The Brecon Beacons is lucky enough to be hosting her in Hay-on-Wye where she will be giving presentations about her experiences - about sheer survival and solitude. Her talk will be at The Swan Hotel, Hay-on-Wye on the 1st of Match; Eardisley village hall on the 2nd of March and Hereford Courtyard on the 3rd of March.   Felicity was last in Hay-on-Wye as a special guest for the first ever Hay Walking Festival. Her success has attracted the attentional of global media.

A bit more about Felicity Aston…

Felicity Aston led the Kaspersky Lab Commonwealth Antarctic Expedition, the largest and most international women’s team ever to ski to the South Pole. The team included women from Brunei Darussalam, Cyprus, Ghana, India, Jamaica, Singapore, New Zealand and the UK in the 38-day, 900km journey at the end of 2009. Felicity was responsible for selecting and training this diverse, multicultural team of ‘ordinary’ women for one of the most arduous journeys on Earth. Her book about the expedition, ‘Call of the White: Taking the World to the South Pole’ was published in March 2011.

Previously, Felicity has led several other notable expeditions including the first British women’s crossing of Greenland, a 700km winter crossing of Lake Baikal in Siberia and an adventurous expedition in Iceland for young people with a brain injury. She was also part of the first, ever, all-female team to complete the Polar Challenge, a 360-mile endurance race to the magnetic north pole.

Trained as a Physicist and Meteorologist, Felicity’s first polar experience was as a scientist with the British Antarctic Survey. Based for three years on a remote research station on the Antarctic Peninsula, her job was to monitor climate and ozone. Visit her website.

Dates of events 

The Swan will be the venue for one of Felicity's talks

1/3/12 – The Swan Hay. 7.30.  - Introduction/Call of the White/interval/ recent expedition. Tickets £6.50 (available from 01544327598 or dbennett195@btinternet.com).
2/3/12 – Eardisley village hall. 7.30. Format as above. Tickets £5.00 (available as above)
3/3/12 – Hereford Courtyard Theatre. 7.30.  Available from box office – 01432-340-555.
For more information on the event please contact dbennett195@btinternet.com or 01544327598 or the venue.

The Felin Fach Griffin are hosting a joint Santes Dwynwens Day/ Burns Night Celebration on Wednesday 25^th January. Banish those “January Blues” away with a great foodie night using a blend of the best Welsh and Scottish Traditions!

We will be celebrating with a Traditional Burns Night Feast but using the best of Welsh ingredients.

Please feel free to wear your family Tartan.  (Or smootch away to celebrate the Welsh Patron Saint of Lovers!)

We will be kicking off the evening at 7-7.15pm with a warming cocktail. Join us in front of our roaring fire to start off the evening in style.

The evening is priced at £26.50 per head to include pre dinner libations and coffee or tea to follow. All dietary requirements will be catered for, but please do let us know when booking!

 Cullen Skink

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Venison Callops & Clapshot

Cauliflower Soup & White Pudding (can be made V)

Stovies & Horseradish

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Rumbledethumps & Creamed Cabbage (V)

Haggis, Bashed Neeps ‘n Tatties

Finnian Haddie & Boiled Egg

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Cranachan, Apples & Figs

Fattie Cutties & Marmalade

Black Bun & Whisky Ice Cream

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Cafetiere Coffee or Tea

We do hope that you can join us at The Felin Fach Griffin on Wednesday 25^th January.  To book your place call  01874 620 111

This week’s Walk Wednesday is all about the highest peak in the national park and southern Britain.  Here’s another great guide, from the man everyone would want to be with in a survival situation! Who struggles to get lost come fog, snow or rain, known in the adventure world as Kevin Walker. 

DISTANCE – 7kms (4 miles)
HEIGHT GAIN – 460 metres (1500 feet).
START POINT – Pont ar Daf Car Park.
GRID REFERENCE – SN/987198.
MAPS – OS Explorer OL12.  Harvey Superwalker – Brecon Beacons East.  BMC Mountain Map – Brecon Beacons.

DESCRIPTION:
Pen y Fan is 886 metres high – the highest point in southern Britain.  It is a mountain in every sense of the word.  Although some people climb it wearing little more than shirts, shorts and trainers, this is far from ideal as the weather here can change with frightening speed and ferocity.

Even in the height of summer when you may wish to wear only T-shirt and shorts, you should carry extra clothing to cover your arms and legs, a full set of waterproofs (jacket & trousers), plus a hat and gloves.  Trainers are less than perfect – sturdy walking boots are strongly recommended.  You will get hungry and thirsty, so take something to eat and plenty to drink.  It would also be prudent to carry a small first aid kit, a polythene survival bag (to provide protection for anyone who has an accident), and a whistle with which to signal in case of emergency.

Finally, although the paths are well-defined throughout, it is easy to become disorientated if the mist descends (which it can do rapidly).  Do not be afraid to turn back at the first sign of bad weather – the mountain will always be there for you to enjoy some other time – you may not!  Ideally, you should carry a map & compass (and know how to use them!)

PARKING:
The walk starts from a large lay-by on the A470 over the Brecon Beacons, between Brecon and Merthyr Tydfil.  The lay-by is set back from the road near its highest point, just to the south of the Storey Arms Outdoor Education Centre.  There are public toilets here, and there are usually snack and ice-cream vans in the area.

ROUTE:

The path to the Tommy Jones obelisk

Take the obvious path from the lay-by, cross the footbridge, and follow the well-defined track up the mountainside beyond, soon passing a National Trust marker.  The path continues to climb, sometimes steeply, sometimes less steep, eventually reaching the obvious saddle of Bwlch Duwynt (the aptly named “Windy Pass”) where the views really open out.  Ignore paths to the left (towards Corn Du) and the right (towards Duwynt), instead continuing straight ahead on the main track, which traverses the right-hand slopes of Corn Du, soon reaching a wide saddle between the two flat-topped summits.  Continue straight ahead up one final slope to reach the summit of Pen y Fan.  Keep your eyes open for sections of fossilised beach!  Assuming reasonable weather, the views from the top are spectacular in every direction, but beware of the vertical cliffs beyond the summit cairn!

Fossilised beach on Pen y Fan

When you decide to leave, retrace your steps to the saddle, then trend right and make the steep, short ascent to the flat summit of Corn Du, another fine viewpoint.  Watch out for the steep cliffs to the right.

Leave Corn Du by scrambling carefully down the rocks on the western side to gain the obvious pitched path that leads down the ridge towards the small lake – Llyn Cwm Llwch.  Although you can

The descent route from Corn Du

detour straight ahead in order to visit the Tommy Jones Obelisk (see one of my previous blogs in September 2011), the main track soon curves to the left, away from the edge, and descends gently into the valley, eventually crossing the stream at the bottom – where you may get wet feet in or shortly after unsettled weather!  On the far side of the stream, the path climbs steeply up the southern slopes of Y Gyrn, then descends to the road at Storey Arms, with fine views down Glyn Tarrell and across to Fan Fawr.  At the road, turn left and follow the wide verge back to the Pont ar Daf Car Park.

This is one of the routes followed during Kevin’s astonishing walking breaks.  Check out what else he has to offer at www.mountainacts.co.uk

The Angel Hotel, Abergavenny - High Tea

Special offer: afternoon tea bookings get a free upgrade to High Tea up to 31 January 2012.

The Angel Hotel in Abergavenny are members of the prestigious UK Tea Guild having previously held an ‘Award of Excellence’ since 2008. Only nine hotels outside of London have achieved this. In 2011 they were proud recipients of The Tea Guild’s top national award, the Oscar of the tea world. Afternoon teas, with scones, cakes and pastries from their specialist baker, Sally Lane, are served from 3.00 – 5.30pm (Saturday/Sunday from 3.30pm).

They have bone china, silver cake stands and linen in the Restaurant and Sitting-room. The Full Afternoon Tea: £16.80. (FREE UPGRADE TO HIGH TEA IN JANUARY 2012).

The Angel High Tea: £19.80 (with savoury items).

Add a glass of house champagne for £7.00.

Especially at weekends and holiday times, we recommend you make a reservation. Contact us or call 01873 857121.

Brecon Beacons National Park helping to celebrate Monmouthshire and Brecon Canal 200^th Anniversary

Does your dog have what it takes to win the Canal Dog of the Year competition?

Do you think your dog has what it takes....?

Don’t deny your dog the shot of newspaper fame!  Enter your candid canine canal snapshots in the Canal Dog of the Year competition  which is being organised by the Brecon Beacons National Park Authority and the Brecon & Radnor Express Newspaper to celebrate the Monmouthshire and Brecon Canal’s milestone 200^th Anniversary.

All you have to do is take a photo of your dog walking, running, posing or even riding on a canal boat along any part of the Monmouthshire and Brecon Canal or towpath and send it into the Brecon Beacons National Park Authority to give your dog the chance to win instant fame.

The Canal in 1904

All that’s left to do then is vote!  Each month the dog with the most votes online will be chosen from the entries and published in the Brecon & Radnor Express.  The monthly winners will then go forward for the ultimate accolade of ‘Canal Dog of the Year 2012’ which will be announced by a panel of judges in January 2013.

The Canal Dog of the Year 2012 winner will receive a winter break away in a beautiful Brecon Beacons Holiday Cottage, three one hour dog walks from Smart Pets plus a £40 voucher to spend at the Hay and Brecon Farmers in Brecon.

The competition is being organised jointly by Brecon Beacons National Park Authority and the Brecon & Radnor Express as part of the ongoing celebrations for the Monmouthshire and Brecon Canal’s 200^th Anniversary.

The canal in 2011

To enter all you have to do is visit this link www.breconbeacons.org/visit-us/things-to-do-and-see/canal-dog-competition-1 and send a photo of your dog along the Canal.  Tell us your dog’s name, your name, email address and phone number.  Your dog’s photo will then be published online on our website and all that’s left to do is vote for your favourite dog.  Seasonally themed photos, like Christmas pictures or Easter pictures are encourages where appropriate.  And who doesn’t appreciate a good puppy picture?

To find out if your dog is a monthly winner all you have to do is pick up a copy of the Brecon & Radnor Newspaper to find out if your dog is a star!  Winners will also be notified by email or telephone.

For more information about how you can enter please visit www.breconbeacons.org/visit-us/things-to-do-and-see/canal-dog-competition-1

For more information about the bicentenary celebration activities  and events happening along the length and breadth of the Monmouthshire and Brecon Canal during 2012 please visit www.waterscape.com/monandbrec200

Pictures:  Copyright of Peter Williams

In 2012 the Monmouthshire & Brecon Canal celebrates the 200th anniversary of its opening in 1812. The canal winds its way 35 miles from Brecon south to Cwmbran, passing through both scenic countryside and a World Heritage Site that recognises the areas important industrial past. The canal is a 200-year-old feat of engineering, originally built as a corridor for coal and iron; now it supports a thriving leisure industry and is much-loved haven for people and nature.

Through a series of activities and events, organisations, local groups and national bodies will be celebrating the canal’s history, enjoying its beauty and looking forward to its development beyond 2012 as a cherished asset to the communities through which it passes and connects. For more information www.canalrivertrust.org.uk/monandbrec200

©Kevin Walker

A very Happy New Year to our followers.  We are starting 2012 with our first Walk Wednesday of the year.

A big welcome back to Kevin Walker,from Mountain Activities, who we have missed over the last two months.  Poor Kevin has been at the perils of BT who took over nine weeks to install his broadband Internet.

At least he has spent the time putting together a spectacular walking programme including special walks and events for St. George’s Day, the Olympics and what looks like some amazing night-time/ stargazing walks.  Check out his website for more information.

Here’s a fine ridge walk to ease any excesses of the past few weeks.

MACNAMARA’S CIRCUIT

DISTANCE – 21kms (13 miles)
HEIGHT GAIN – 600 metres (2000 feet).

The route can be shortened to 15 kilometres with 450 metres of ascent by following the escape route from Pen Twyn Glas,

START POINT – Rough lay-by at hairpin bend.
GRID REFERENCE – SO/234229.
MAPS – OS Explorer OL13, OS Landranger 161.

DESCRIPTION:  A lovely walk of contrasts, starting in the confines of an increasingly wild valley before soaring onto a superb ridge with open views in all directions, and visiting some of the Black Mountains’ summits.

PARKING:  Leave Crickhowell along Llanbedr Road, which leaves the A40 just to the west of the Shell petrol station. Follow this road and the narrowing continuation lane for some about 5kms (3 miles), ignoring all turnings, until you reach a narrow bridge and hairpin bend.  Park in the rough lay-by on the left, just after the bridge.

ROUTE:  Leave your car and walk along the lane for a further 3½kms (2 miles) bearing right at the far end to reach a “no vehicles” sign and gate (usually open).  Just beyond, to the right, are the ruins of the Hermitage, allegedly built by John Macnamara, squire of Llangoed Castle, in the early 1800’s as a love-nest for his mistresses.  The route you are to follow for the next 6½kms (4 miles) is known as Macnamara’s Road, and is purported to have been built by the squire (a member of the notorious Hellfire Club) so that he could visit his mistresses more easily from Llangoed.

©Kevin Walker

The lane soon deteriorates into a rough track.  Follow it to the left and climb out of the woodland.  Where the track swings right towards Tal-y-maes Farm alongside a plantation, continue straight on along grassy track with a field boundary to the right, and shortly descend to the river and a superb old stone bridge – Tal-y-maes Bridge.  The track continues on the other side, and works its way along the increasingly wild valley, eventually reaching an obvious saddle via a hairpin bend.  The views here are excellent.

From the saddle, follow the obvious ridge-top path in a southerly direction, soon reaching Mynydd Llysiau, it’s mediocre summit marked by a low pile of stones.  Continue along the sometimes peaty ridge path with extensive views in all directions, and keep your eyes open for old boundary stones along the way.  Although some of these have fallen over, two are still standing on a narrow rocky ridge, and are often mistaken for gravestones.  According to local legend, these stones were erected by Mrs Macnamara, who took over the running of the Llangoed Estate after her husband was killed during a race. It is said that the fatal accident occurred when his coach overturned at the hairpin just below the saddle.

Ahead and to the right looms Pen Allt-mawr.  Just after the standing boundary stones, just before Pen Twyn Glas, bear right along a good path which curves around the head of the valley to reach the final steep slope leading to Pen Allt-mawr.

If you wish you can shorted the walk at this point by descending to the left along the Tal Trwynau spur.  The path takes you through some old tilestone quarries, and becomes better defined the further you descend, eventually becoming a good track which drops steeply alongside a conifer plantation.  At the bottom of the field below, bear right onto the continuation of the track which descends between stone walls.  After a couple of hundred metres you come to a waymarked stile on the right, beyond which a faint but waymarked path heads steeply down a grassy field.  Turn left at the bottom to return to the parking area.

©Kevin Walker

Back up on the ridge, continue towards the brooding hulk of Pen Allt-Mawr and climb steeply to gain the summit.  This is not so bad if taken slowly and direct, and the views from the top amply repay the effort.  To my mind, this is the best viewpoint in the whole of the Black Mountains.

Leave the summit on the path running along the right edge of the plateau, and continue, rocky in places, to Pen Gloch y Pibwr where you turn hard left, eventually bearing left away from the edge of the plateau to climb through a low outcrop of limestone to reach the obvious rounded summit of Pen Cerrig-calch, with a trig point and huge cairn.  Continue in a southerly direction along a rocky, peaty path which skirts the right edge of the summit boulder-field, then descend more easily to a sudden sharpening of the spur after which it is a simple matter to gain the obvious flat but sloping summit of Table Mountain (Crug Hywel), the original Iron Age settlement which became Crickhowell.

©Kevin Walker

Leave Table Mountain through the old “gateway” to its east, and work your way down towards the enclosed farmland below.  At the boundary wall, turn left onto a reasonable path and follow this for some 2kms (1¼ miles) to where a waymarked path on the right (not shown on OS maps!) leads down to a lane.  A further path continues down the field and reaches the road within a few metres of your car.

You can find more detailed information about this walk and the landscape through which it travels in my book, “Undiscovered Wales”, published by Frances Lincoln.

This is another walk followed on Kevin’s popular walking breaks.  Check out what else he has to offer at www.mountainacts.co.uk

Day Twenty Five of Brecon Beacons Advent Calendar is a poem to celebrate Christmas by one of Brecon Beacons greatest sons, Henry Vaughan.

The True Christmas

So stick up ivy and the bays,
And then restore the heathen ways.
Green will remind you of the spring,
Though this great day denies the thing.
And mortifies the earth and all
But your wild revels, and loose hall.
Could you wear flowers, and roses strow
Blushing upon your breasts’ warm snow,
That very dress your lightness will
Rebuke, and wither at the ill.
The brightness of this day we owe
Not unto music, masque, nor show:
Nor gallant furniture, nor plate;
But to the manger’s mean estate.
His life while here, as well as birth,
Was but a check to pomp and mirth;
And all man’s greatness you may see
Condemned by His humility.
Then leave your open house and noise,
To welcome Him with holy joys,
And the poor shepherd’s watchfulness:
Whom light and hymns from heaven did bless.
What you abound with, cast abroad
To those that want, and ease your load.
Who empties thus, will bring more in;
But riot is both loss and sin.
Dress finely what comes not in sight,
And then you keep your Christmas right.