A fell run at a walking festival? You could get up really early to join the RAF fitness instructors for a 24 mile run over the Black Mountains! Or you could do a two day charity walk covering 36 miles! But for the less adventurous there is more than enough to do at Crickhowell’s Walking Festival, which takes place from 25th February to 4th March 2012.
Now in its fifth year, Crickhowell Walking Festival has established itself as one of the leading events in Wales, and aims to provide a wide range of walks for all ages, abilities and interests with a supporting programme of events for everyone.
The core of the Festival is, of course, a range of guided walks in and around the Black Mountains in the Brecon Beacons National Park. Some are for the experienced hill walker, but there are easier ones as well.
David Thomas, Festival Organiser, says “This beautiful area provides some wonderful mountain and moorland walking with sweeping views across Wales and back into England as far south as the Bristol Channel. All the guides know the area well and can point out local landmarks and points of interest.”
A special feature of the Festival is the combination of an evening talk by an expert and a walk to further illustrate the subject the next day. Such combination talks and walks this year include “Why Stone Walls?” – a history of their origin – “Artists of the Llanthony Valley” – amongst them, JMW Turner and Eric Gill – and “A Woollen Line” – a novel way of restoring upland erosion with sheep’s wool. This year marks the 200th anniversary of the Brecon & Monmouth Canal, and this also features in the series, as well as history, poetry and natural history.
For people who would like to improve their confidence on the mountains there are workshops on map reading and navigation as well as opportunities to practice your skills under expert guidance in the open.
Each year the Festival has supported a national charity and this year it is the turn of the Alzheimer’s Society. Takings from the St David’s Day Concert, featuring local musicians and the Crickhowell Choral Society will contribute to the charity or you may want to take on a two day walking challenge covering the whole of the Black Mountains, whilst raising funds yourself! There will be a number of other fund raising events during the week.
The social side of life is not neglected at this eclectic Festival with a jazz concert/dance and a Twmpath (a Welsh Ceilidh) as well as a “Social Hub” each evening at a different local pub where you can meet fellow Festival-goers in a relaxed atmosphere with a drink and/or a meal.
So, if you want to shake off those winter blues, get your boots cleaned up, find your waterproofs and book a few days stay in Crickhowell with a selection of walks and events to keep you busy! You can book Festival walks and events and find your ideal accommodation at the website:- www.crickhowellinfo.org.uk.
Book early as popular walks fill up quickly and spaces are limited so as to provide you with the best walking experience.
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