Caerphilly County Borough Council’s Countryside and Landscape Service is once again offering a challenge to walkers of all abilities at this year’s ‘Walk-in Caerphilly‘ event.
The popular event will co-inside with the Ramblers Association’s 75th anniversary and will be held on Saturday 22ndMay. There is a route of 22 miles and one of 12 miles for the more experienced walkers. The council will run both of these walks, they will be way marked and self lead with checkpoints on route.
The Islwyn Ramblers will also be running a guided walk of 8 miles on the day. All of the walks will start at the Waunfawr Park Pavilion, Crosskeys and end at the Crosskeys Youth Centre (adjacent to Crosskeys rugby club where refreshments will be available to purchase).
The walks will take participants through the spectacular valleys landscape of the county borough through woodland, farmland, and across open moorland. Weather permitting walkers will be treated to some fantastic views over the county borough towards the Brecon Beacons and over Cardiff Bay and the Bristol Channel to Somerset and North Devon, and past some interesting and unique historical sites, (Twmbarlwm Iron age hill fort), and 3 of the highest points in the county, (Twmbarlwm, Mynydd Machen and Mynydd Islwyn).
We expect as in previous years that demand to take part will be very high so early entry is strongly recommended. Please note that the low entry charge of £6.00 is made possible by grant aid from the Rural Development Plan, which is financed by the Welsh Assembly Government and the European Union.
If you don’t fancy so many hills, then there will be a range of shorter flatter walks along the Monmouthshire- Brecon canal. These walks start from Waunafawr Park and head along the canal towards Fourteen Locks Canal Centre. They range from 1mile to 4.5 miles. If you are feeling particularly energetic then you can walk back making your walk 9 miles in total. If 4.5 miles is as much as you want to do then a mini bus will be available to ferry you back to the start. This walk will be led with help from Get Going volunteer walk leaders. The shorter walks programme is funded by grant aid from the Sports Council for Wales Lets Walk Cymru Project. As a result there is no charge for the canal walk. No pre entry is required, just turn up at 10.15 on the 22nd, fill in a registration form and health questionnaire and be ready to walk by 11am.
Please Note – No entries will be accepted on the day for the 22 or 12 mile routes.
If you need any further information or advice, please call Phil Loveless on 01443 838632 or Andy Powell on 01495 235375.
More information on the Islwyn Ramblers can be obtained by calling Maggie Thomas on 01495 273057.
