Two feet

Hillwalking

Our three centres in Monmouthshire and Powys are all in or on the edge of the Black Mountains and the Brecon Beacons National Park which offers some of the best hillwalking in the UK. There are walks to suit all abilities, from short trails in the foothills to long mountain treks.

In Talybont village, the Vaughan Walk trail is a few miles long and suitable for younger children. The Monmouth and Brecon canal provides a flat, waterside route, or you can take a trip to the Brecon Beacons National Park Mountain Centre and base yourself there for a selection of walks varying in length.

Talybont is also near to the larger peaks of the Brecon Beacons, Corn Du, Cribyn and Pen y Fan, the highest point in southern Britain.

From Gilwern the Black Mountains are nearby–you may be tempted to take in 'Table Mountain' (Crug Hywel) or the three peaks in view, the Sugar Loaf, Blorenge and Skirrid.

Hilston Park is ideally placed to access the eastern Black Mountains. Llanthony Abbey and the Black Hill are both popular starting points for hillwalks. The Wye valley walk and Offas Dyke pass close by and can offer lower level routes in spectacular scenery.

There is a lot to learn whilst in the hills: map reading, geology, industrial history, land use, flora, fauna and simply enjoying the wide open spaces to roam, refreshingly well away from the nearest wi-fi hot spot.

Orienteering

Orienteering is a navigation challenge using a special map to find marker points. At the elite level the map is complex, the terrain rugged and competitors aim to run as fast as possible without making too many mistakes. At the novice level the pace is much more gentle! We have courses that are suitable for all abilities from year 4 right up to GSCE (and beyond) 

We can also provide training and assessment for the National Navigation Award Scheme and Young Navigator Star Awards. These progressive schemes is suitable for younger children just starting to learn about finding their way or adults who would like to learn new skills or hone rusty ones! Duke of Edinburgh Award groups would also find the NNAS very good training for their expedition section. 

We can also help schools to get their own site mapped and provide teacher training for both primary and secondary staff.

Geocaching

Using hand help global positioning system (GPS) devices, geocaching is a treasure hunt with a difference. The GPS device will guide you to a very precise location, sometimes a pile of rocks on a hill side, maybe behind a tree, perhaps under a bridge.

Caches vary and as well as the GPS location you will get a description to help you to find the 'treasure'.

Caches are usually found in a box and will contain a mixture of small momento's and a log book to record your visit.

Micro caches can be tiny and a real challenge to find, maybe disguised as a pine cone, small pebble or even a snail shell.

Our safety standards

What activities?

I enjoyed canoeing the most because we had to work together to succeed so I learnt a lot about how my friends work with me and as a team (plus we got to slide into the canal off the bottom of one of the canoes).
– Evan
Goytre Fawr Primary School