for the best in nordic walking, guided walks and weekends away

Friday 27 - Sunday 29 June

(2 nights) (B grade: 8 miles daily)

One of Britain’s most beautiful National Parks with

wild mountain landscapes accessible to

the average walker

The Bear Hotel, Crickhowell

A privately-owned former coaching inn, The Bear is renowned for its welcoming atmosphere, historic character, dating back to 1432, and good food. Its restaurant has won many awards including two prestigious AA rosettes, the “Taste of Wales” Restaurant of the Year and “Pub of the Year” awards. Many superior and deluxe rooms are situated off a balcony overlooking the delightful courtyard.

Most superior and deluxe rooms are large, well-appointed and situated off a balcony overlooking the delightful courtyard and gardens. At The Bear there are no single rooms, only doubles for single occupancy. Those at the front of the hotel could be subject to traffic noise with double-glazed windows open.

Alternative accommodation is available at The Dragon Hotel, a few minutes away on foot. Whilst the rooms are not as well appointed as those at The Bear, they are clean and comfortable and away from the main road.

Price per person for 2 nights:

The Bear:  Standard Double for single occupancy (at the front of the hotel) £284; Superior Double for single occupancy (at the back of the hotel) £304

Deluxe Doubles £253, Superior Twin £242

The Dragon: Singles £234; Standard Double for single occupancy £255, Superior Doubles for double occupancy £229

Accommodation at The Bear: 6 standard doubles for single occupancy at front of hotel, 4 superior doubles for single occupancy at back of hotel, 2 superior twins and 6 deluxe doubles

1 single room available at The Dragon Hotel and 1 double room for single occupancy, a few minutes walk away

Itinerary

Friday
A welcome meeting followed by dinner in the Bear Hotel’s award-winning restaurant.

Saturday
We climb 1,300 feet by minibus, the easy way to gain the tops, to an absolutely superb walk up to the highest peaks in southern Britain. After a steep but relatively short climb to start, punctuated with stops for commentaries and rests, once up the remaining gradient is gentle. We cruise easily along the finest ridge walk imaginable, never dropping below 2000 feet, to the broad summit plateau of Corn du. Then to the majestic peaks of Pen y Fan and the Cribyn, with the option to bypass either or both peaks if need be. As you look down on the lonely lakes below and the scooped-out valleys, you feel you are standing on top of the world. The views which extend to the Malvern Hills, the Bristol Channel and the hills of Somerset and Devon are awesome. Seeing buzzards, raven, or red kite circle overhead, one feels the presence of nature in the raw. This is mountain walking at its best, physically exhilarating and spiritually uplifting. We finally descend grassy slopes to join an old Roman road back to our transport.  (Picnic lunch supplied). (8 miles, 'B' grade)

Sunday
We drive to the Mountain Centre, the starting point of today’s walk, which takes us through diverse landscapes. At first we cross a stretch of ancient heathland then the path meanders through a beautiful valley dotted with small farms and woodlands which stretch like long green fingers into the heart of the mountains. Today a different aspect of the Beacons unfolds before us as we ford streams and cross green and gold meadows with the steep slopes of Fan Frynych rising above us. We follow a winding path on an easy gradient to reach our picnic spot below the high peaks, marvelling at the scenic splendour, and beautiful remote valleys below. Buzzard, sparrowhawk or kestrel provide an aerial display. We wind down easily on a grassy path to the flat expanse of the common below to rejoin the moorland path back to the Mountain Centre, a fitting finale to this wonderful walk. Here we take tea in the award-winning tearooms, while continuing to enjoy superb mountain views.  (Picnic lunch at own cost from the Mountain Centre).  (8 miles, ‘B’ grade)

Travel & Transport

By rail: hourly trains from London Paddington to Abergavenny via Newport (2.12 hours) with onward travel by bus or taxi (6 miles). We can arrange shared travel or taxi-sharing if required. By road, total mileage from central London: 176 miles (3.30 hours). We may be able to arrange car-sharing if required. Car parking available at the hotel.

Transport to the walk on Saturday is by minibus; on the Sunday it will be necessary to use cars for the 17-mile journey, mostly on main roads, to the start of the walk. Lifts available for rail travellers.

Brecon Beacons    Black Mountains    Dovedale    Dorset & Jurassic Coast    New Forest & Isle of Wight