A very enjoyable walk with a great bunch of women - such good fun

A link to the Aberedw Hill walk
​https://www.facebook.com/groups/548218895867939

A fantastic two days in the Brecon Beacons - Lots of fun providing The NNAS Bronze Navigator Award to two very competent and keen women who made both days so enjoyable for me. We crammed plenty in and dodged the low cloud and drizzle. I hope they have recovered from 2 days of learning (including plenty of laughing) and now feel enthusiastic about getting out and about, putting their new skills into practice.

If you interested in learning about map reading and navigation then email:
helenmenhinick@hotmail.co.uk   or click here

I am now a REC L2 Outdoor First Aid training provider. This was my first REC First Aid course solely delivered on my own. Richard Batten from  Venture Outdoors came to assess, for the afternoon session of the second day. All lessons plans, power points and assessment methods have to be accepted by REC before the course commences. Last year I completed an AET (Award in Education and Training)  Level 3 course as part of the criteria to become a REC provider.
All the candidates except one had done numerous first aid course before and some were highly qualified in medical professions. 
Both days were filled with group work, group discussions and scenarios in a relaxed and fun environment.
All being well I will be accepted as a provider for Rescue Emergency Care.
Next course dates:
4th and 5th April 2023 Brecon
22nd and 23rd July 2023 Brecon
31st Oct and 2nd Nov 2023 Brecon

One of those days where everything goes right - a day that is firmly fixed in your memory bank, a day that was fun, successful and had a massive sense of achivement.

I had asked some BWFW members for their involvement for what would be a very tough walk - the whole of the Pumlumon massif using the Cambrian Way, with a view to offering this walk later in the year. This part of the Cambrian Way is remote and, especially the northerly section, is little walked. I briefed the group that if we had blue skies it would spectacular but if the weather was bad, then the walk would be very tough.

The weather was bad....but we had a lot going in our favour - it wasn't cold and the wind direction was SW and we were walking from the SW. When we were on the mountain, ie in the clouds the rain wasn't heavy, just foggy and damp. The wind and driving rain increased as the day went on but we just kept going, nothing dampened our spirits, and there was a feel of elation the whole way. Even in these conditions the walk was spectacular - Pumlumon never fails to disappoint and arriving at Hengwm Valley reaffirmed my love for it's unique and mystical remoteness - it was a pleasure to bring others to this valley and then to see a solitary heron battling against the wind to take flight added to our fantastic experience.

We set off at 0830 and bang on 1530 we reached the van at the end point (the minimum time I had estimated) and we hadn't see one single other person, not one!

On arrival back at the Bryn Walking Van I had left flasks of coffee and chocolate digestives for our return - the Bryn Walking Cafe!

I was felt so proud of the group - notice on every photograph they are smiling. Thank you so much for joining Bryn Walking for Women on this fantastic walk and especially to Anabel who made the linear logistics possible.

I intend to offer this walk again later in the year: Distance 22km and total ascent 947m

After a slippery start we did eventually get a good walk in. Not exactly the planned route but fabulous all the same. Unfortunately we were missing one participant but they were safe and well. Some difficulties in communications but there are always lessons to be learnt and Bryn Walking certainly learnt one yesterday - it's always easy to think how things could have been done better in hindsight but that is unfortunately how we learn. All was well in the end and thank you to everyone for being good sports and understanding.

As part of my mentoring scheme to become a REC provider I held two courses 'back to back' which was quite tiring but very enjoyable nevertheless. Alan Ward is my mentor so he was there to supervise and assess.
The first was held at Brecon Scout Hut and the second at the brand new tourist hub in Newtown - Hafan yr Afon. Both venues are very suitable for such events, giving ample space and areas for scenarios.

Thank you to everyone who attended either course and I hope to see you all again in 3 years time.

''Your delivery for both courses was exceptional, very well delivered, particularly the outdoor scenarios"  - Alan Ward
​
"The best first aid course ever! A good balance of activities, practical and theory. Helen put everyone at ease" -  Heather Maling

I was providing this course through the Outdoor Partnership in the Brecon Beacons National Park. We all met at the visitors centre for introductions, a coffee and some theory before heading out onto the hills. The weather was forecast changeable and breezy but it was going to be cold on those mountain tops.

The group of candidates consisted of 7 women who proved to be very well kitted out, expertly equipped and all very competent. They all had really interesting occupations and amazing stories to tell of their own experiences and travels making very good company - and not forgetting a good sense of humour too.

The photographs below say it all  - mountains skills mastered in the beautiful Brecon Beacons.

Well done everyone! It was very enjoyable for me.

Day 1 - Fan Fawr (734m) and a night walk up to Twyn y Gaer from the visitors centre.
​Day 2 - Cribyn (795m) and Fan y Big (717m)

A very successful event; great accommodation, a fantastic group of participants, interesting routes, bbq, pub meal, abbey tour and lots more.

Read all about it here on Alan Ward's blog.

Already planning the next event at Beili Neuadd Bunkhouse!! 

A beautiful, undulating walk packed with points of interest. 
Parts of the Shropshire Way, Offa's Dyke and the Kerry Ridgeway
St. John the Baptist Church with the 'main stone'
​Fantastic views

Meeting point: Mainstone Village Hall SO 274 873 postcode SY9 5LQ
Time: 10am
Distance: 12km
Total Ascent: 452m (one fairly steep ascent)

Essential kit:
Walking clothes - no jeans please
Walking boots
Ruck Sack
Your own food and drink
Poles if you use them
Personal first aid kit advisable

An extremely enjoyable two days spent in the Brecon Beacons delivering Hill Skills on behalf of The Outdoor Partnership. This is a Mountain Training course - a personal skills course.

 'A Hill Skills course is your key to getting started in countryside and moorland walking. No previous hill walking experience is required because the content of the course is aimed at beginners.'

The group of 6 women who joined me this weekend were fantastic and very keen to learn lots about getting out on the hills. Two of the group were ecologists which was an added bonus to all the input from all candidates. All candidates did fantastically well, and all contributed with theirs own views and experiences which made our group discussions inclusive and very interesting. 
We had so many interesting discussions from the hazards of cows, to first aid on the hills, to the life of a fox moth caterpillar. All candidates contributed massively and it just shows that with one common interest (the outdoors) we can learn so much from each other, support each other and smile all day.
The candidates learnt about planning, navigation, the weather, the environment, equipment and emergency procedures.
The feed back from the candidates was that they now have much more confidence when going outdoors onto the hills having learnt proper planning and navigational skills. They can also appreciate the environment around them and know how the weather might change their plans and what to do if something goes wrong.