The Outdoor Partnership asked Bryn Walking to provide an NNAS Bronze course after having provided 10 Social Prescribing sessions based in Llandrindod Wells. The Social Prescribing was very successful - the countryside and PROW offered a lot of options for a varied program of walks and was very popular.

So following on from this I was excited to provide the NNAS Bronze course in the Llandrindod Wells area along with Janet Greenslade (HML) who had led most of the walks for Bryn Walking on the Social Prescribing sessions.
​The NNAS stipulate to keep the distance short as there is so much learning to do, so the routes on both days were no more than 4km. The landscape is ideal with an urban start but soon out on to open fields, the land is undulating so plenty of vantage points for surveying and relating ground to the map. 

Janet Greenslade and I had therefore met some of the participants before and it was nice to catch up with them again, as well as welcome new participants who didn't know the area at all. ​I always endeavour to keep the course relaxed and fun whilst they are learning a whole load of new skills. If participants are having fun, then they will learn more and it is very satisfying for me.

All candidates were keen, receptive and great fun.
​Well done to all, happy navigating and hope to see you on NNAS Silver Navigator Award.

*** CONGRATULATIONS ***

So much to see on this walk - a walk through time! But unlike most of my walks we didn't visit a Bronze Age cairn. 

Aberedw Castle - Castle in Elfach Uwch Mynydd 1284 possibly replacing the near by motte and bailey
Aberedw motte and bailey  - Hen Castell- Medieval (1066 - 1540)
Llewelyn's Cave - 1282 Where Llewlyn ap Gruffydd the last native Price of Wales spent his last night before being captured in Builth Wells and beheaded by Adam Francton. His head was sent back to the King, Edward I.
Pantau 1843 - Grade 2 listed farm stead, now in terrible disrepair. 
Trig point (479m) with 360 views
​Cradle Rocks - amazing huge lone rocks - "sedimentary and volcanic rocks of Silurian age, which formed between approximately 470 and 390 million years ago." -https://webapps.bgs.ac.uk/Memoirs/docs/B06110.html
One penny coin find - 1912

The weather forecast wasn't the best with expected heavy rain at 1200 but we had  light drizzle that blew over quickly and then we had warm sunshine.
It was a great group with chatter and laughter all the way round. We had lunch in Cwm Lago before visiting the Trig and then on to Cradle Rocks. The down hill section is one of my favourite bits of the walk, looking over the Edw valley and sheltered from the SW winds, the green path slowly ambles down becoming a green lane and eventually tarmac that takes you back into Aberedw.

And back in time for a very nice coffee at Erwood Craft Centre.

A beautiful walk on the Powys Shropshire border and we had the sunshine to appreciate the views at their best. The 3 Trails that the walk uses are The Kerry Ridgeway, The Shropshire Way and Offa's Dyke. We started from Mainstone Village Hall car park. They had been extremely helpful in letting us park there and offering the opportunity for Bryn Walking to be a sponsor for their new floor - £5 a tile and your name displayed on the wall.

After a coffee stop we started on what must be the steepest bit of Offa's Dyke, the views of the surrounding hidden valleys are fantastic. The Dyke levels out a bit before descending into the Edenhope Valley. Then we picked up a bridleway through Nut Wood to take us across the field to meet The Kerry Ridgeway where we had outstanding views across Montgomeryshire towards Snowdonia.
I had asked the land owner if we could visit an Iron Age fort on their land which made for an ideal lunch  in a very unique location.

The Kerry Ridgeway section is on the road until we get to Bishop's Moat where there is a 13th century motte and bailey. Joining The Shropshire Way again through Henley Wood, this trail would eventually take us back to the start. On the way we stopped at the top of another old green lane with beautiful views south, and then through Knuck Wood after crossing the River Unk and back into Mainstone.

Thank you everyone who came and enjoyed this fabulous day with me.

The NNAS Silver Navigator Award offer the candidates to opportunity to learn compass skills to a greater degree, allowing them to venture off path on open access land and have a more in-depth understanding of the landscape. The syllabus is comprehensive and we cover other areas, for example - planning, emergency procedures, navigating in poor visibility and rucksack content.

We had 3 candidates, one of whom had passed her NNAS Bronze Navigator Award with Bryn Walking earlier in the year. The other two were both experienced walkers and map readers. They all were of a similar competence level so we got off to a very good start. The first hour or so we spent in the Visitor Centre for introductions and to cover areas of the syllabus that are easier taught indoors.

Transported to the start point in the Bryn Walking minibus, we started out on the route with some Bronze revision before heading up the mountain. Poor visibility on the top and high wind and rains put everyone to the test and they all coped extremely well - learning navigational skills in these conditions is not easy.

After a break to get dry and for refreshments we reconvened just before sunset for 'day into night' navigation. Alan Ward (IML) a good friend, colleague and fellow NNAS instructor, joined us for this part - his company and expertise were much appreciated.

Day 2 was a sunnier day and allowed the candidates to put all they had learnt on Day 1 into practice, working individually which allows for assessment. The terrain and geology were completely different to Day 1 giving variety and opportunity to learnt a bit about different environments. Both routes had points of interest too to make an informative and pleasurable learning experience.

NEXT COURSES AVAILABLE :
NNAS Bronze 9/10 October
MT Hills Skills 16/10 October

The highest point in the Cambrian Mountains is Pen Pumlumon Fawr at an elevation of 752m. It is  part of the Pumlumon massif that has  5 named summits which maybe once had beacons, hence the name. The height is retained at above 600m for nearly 10km across the top, of which we walked 7.5km. Pumlumon never fails to give its best - a remote but magical and spiritual place that always leaves you feeling very happy. Our walk was a linear 22km from Dyffryn Castell to Dylife.

The forecast was light rain all day and southwesterly winds at 20mph so we were well prepared for our long mountain day where shelter is limited. Access points are also very limited so everyone had to be competent and confident that they were ready for this experience.
As it turned out we didn't get a spot of rain. It was windy but the wind blew the clouds away at the right moment to reveal the spectacular views.

On reaching the ridge we could see the sea and down to Nant-y-moch Reservoir. We reached the summit in good time for our first half lunch and then striding out across the top we acknowledged the Source of the Wye on the way.
We had fabulous views of the Hafren Forest and beyond, and down to Hengwm looking the other way. The weather was kind and because  everyone  was 100%  we walked over Pumlumon Arwystli where there are 3 more large Bronze Age cairns and also detoured slightly to see the Source of the Severn before rejoining our route.

Our second half lunch was at Cairn Fawr before descending down into the Hengwm Valley which was as magnificent as ever. Even more blue sky by this time, well timed on our arrival at the two lakes making idyllic camera shots.

It is track much of the way back from here passing Glaslyn and the beautiful old mining valley of Clywedog. On reaching the Bryn Walking minibus we had flasks of coffee (thankfully still hot) and biscuits waiting for us.

A fabulous day with fantastic company - all experiencing one of the most beautiful places, that is right on our doorstep.

Thank you to everyone who took part.

This took place in the Elan Valley with two candidates. The Directors of this course were Helen Menhinick and Alan Ward.

Day 1
We met at the Elan Valley Visitor Centre for introductions, a talk through the course syllabus and theory covering weather, contours, environment, climate change and pre course papers.
 
Using the Bryn Walking minibus we took the candidates to SN900616 and from here we started the route up the Rhiwnant Valley, which refreshed Silver skills, up to the old mining area and on to Waun Lydan. We studied the terrain, ground, contours and features all the way, each candidate having an objective to navigate to in turn and also to work together. The area is remote and hard to navigate and had good micro features.

Night Navigation
We had a break before night navigation and then met at 2130 in Rhayader to take the candidates to SN933697 where they navigated up to the trig point on Crugyn Ci (533m) and nearby navigational features. Head torches were required from about halfway up. We gave each candidate objectives to navigate to in turn and also to work together. ​

Day 2
This was a route that the candidates had been asked to plan which we then discussed on day 1 and in the morning of day 2 in more detail.  We drove to SN900616 where the route started up on to Gorllwyn (613m). In turn the candidates navigated to their given objective and the other candidate tracked the route (not using electronics). The terrain was good for Gold and we also stopped often for discussions regarding environment, climate change, contingencies, emergency procedures and their action plans for future progression.
 
On finishing the route, we reviewed the post course papers at length any other questions that the candidates had.

I was really looking forward to this walk having been twice to the area to recce the route. On both occasions I had had spectaculars views and the pool looked beautiful and inviting, in fact on one of the visits there was a group of wild swimmers having a really fun time.

On the 27th June we didn't have the best of British summer weather, but reliably wet and it didn't improve. We braved it and continued the circuit ticking off the Bronze Age cairn, the short bit of the Wye Valley Walk, the trig point, the unusual spot height obelisk and Pant y Llyn itself. 

A lost land that is truly magical. Ok we didn’t bag the trig point (because there is no public right of way) but even better, we went from Caer Fawr an Iron Age fort  to a standing stone, to a Bronze Age cairn to another Iron Age fort (no name) and then a 3rd Iron Age fort Caer Einon. One of the participant’s surname is Eynon so I think this might be her ancestral home!!  Did she feel any communications I wonder.

We had 14 funny and chatty participants join us - the only males were Cooper and Dante the two dogs. All very good company. 

A fantastic day, warm and sunny at times. It was fairly strenuous covering 630m total ascent over the 12km. Definitely a place to go back to. 
​

Thank you to everyone who came, it was great to see so many from all over, travelling long distances. Participants making new connections and enjoying each other’s company in beautiful countryside is what it’s all about.
Relive link​

Bryn Walking provided this course for The Outdoor Partnership.

You would think the weather would have been better at the end of March, but we had no problem against the wind, cold, drizzle and mist - six strong and enthusiastic women keen to learn more about navigation skills. NNAS Silver is about going off the beaten track and that's exactly what we did.
A relaxed start at the Brecon Beacons National Park Visitors Centre cafe where we had introductions, a planning exercise and talked about useful resources for learning different aspects of the outdoors, navigation and weather forecasts.

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