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Islwyn Ramblers
rambling around the Ebbw and Sirhowy valleys.....



The Dungeon - 2013 Weekend and Mid-week Walks

DATE DETAILS LEADER
Tuesday 1st January 2013 Goose and Cuckoo
Another Grand Tradition! Bean Soup at the Goose and Cuckoo
which you've got to earn by walking the ridge in any weather.
Leave - Blackvein Road at 10:00 am.
Moderate - 8 miles.
Rob Southall
Saturday 5th January 2013 Ogmore
Easy, circular, 6 miles, countryside & open views
Leave Blackvein Road 9.30am
nice pub stop, topless barmaids (they're all fellas!!)
Ken Wiltshire / Clive Turner
Saturday 12th January 2013 Crosskeys
Leisurely linear walk, 7 miles appr
Leave Newbridge Station at 9.20 am
Andrea Price
Sunday 13th January 2013 Sugar Loaf
Moderate, 7-8 miles)
Leave Blackvein Road at 9.30am
Anne & Richard Beaugie
Saturday 19th January 2013 Monknash
(Open countryside, cliff tops, coastal view)
Easy, 5 miles (choice of 2 old pubs, nice food)
Leave Blackvein Road 09:30 am; or meet at Plough & Harrow at 10:30am
Clive Turner
Sunday 20th January 2013 Carmarthen Fans and Glacial Cwms
Strenuous, 9 miles
Leave Blackvein Road 8.30am
Start: 10am (GR855 223)
Simon Foster
Saturday 26th January 2013 14 Locks
Leisurely linear walk, 5 miles approx ( then walk back if interested)
Leave Spiritualist Church, Pontywaun at 9.30am
Andrea Price
Sunday 27th January 2013 Dragon’s Back, Crickhowell
Moderate, 9 miles
Leave Blackvein Road (please check for time of departure)
Andrew George
Saturday 2nd February 2013 Manmoel
Moderate, 6 miles)
Leave Blackvein Road 9.30am (car share to Manmoel)
Lynette Jenkins
Saturday 9th February 2013 Cwmfelinfach via Sirhowy Valley Country Park
Leisurely circular walk, 6 miles approx
leave Top of Waunfawr Park at 9.30am
Andrea Price
Sunday 10th February 2013 Patrishow
Moderate, 6 miles, woodlands/ fields
Leave Blackvein Road 9am
Rob Southall
Saturday 16th February 2013 Mynydd Maen
Moderate walk, 7 miles, 1 steep climb
leave Blackvein Road at 9.30am or Abercarn Primary School at 9:45am
Jill Jones
Sunday 17th February 2013 Pontneddfechan
Moderate / easy, 11 miles, rivers and waterfalls
Leave Blackvein Road at 9:00am or GR 902077 at 10:00am
Simon Foster
Saturday 23rd February 2013 Machen Woods
Leisurely walk, 6-7 miles
leave Blackvein Road at 9.30am
Phil Jenkins
Sunday 24th February 2013 Rhos Dirion
Energetic, 9 miles, rivers and waterfalls
Leave Blackvein Road at 9:00am
or Blaen-y-cwm Carpark GR SO252285 at 10:00am
Terry Wilkins
Saturday 2nd March 2013
THIS IS A CHANGE OF LOCATION
Dragon's Back, Crickhowell
Moderate walk, 9 miles
leave Blackvein Road at 9.00am
or Castle Inn, Pengenffordd at 10:00am
Andrew George
Saturday 9th March 2013 Pen-y-fan Pond
Leisurely circular walk, 6 miles
Leave Blackvein Road at 9:30am
or Pen-y-fan Carpark at 10:00am
John Venn
Sunday 10th March 2013 Nash Point and St Donats
Easy walk, 6 miles
coastal views and a very nice pub!
leave Blackvein Road at 9.30am
Clive Turner
Sunday 17th March 2013
THIS IS A CHANGE TO THE PRINTED PROGRAMME
Tintern
Moderate circular walk, 8-9 miles
Leave Blackvein Road at 9:00am
or Tintern old station at 9:45am
Anne and Richard Beaugie
Saturday 23th March 2013 Cwmfelinfach, Mynydd Islwyn and Hafod Tudor
Leisurely circular walk, 6 miles
leave Full Moon carpark at 9.30am
Maggie Thomas
Sunday 24th March 2013 Penyfan Pond
Moderate to strenuous, 9 miles, 1 steep climb
Leave Blackvein Road at 9:30am
or Penyfan pond at 10:00am
Terry Wilkins
Saturday 30th March 2013 Abercynon (The oldest railway in the whole world)
Leisurely walk, 8-9 miles
leave Blackvein Road at 9.30am
or Abercynon Railway Station carpark at 10:15am
Phil Jenkins
Saturday 6th April 2013 Tintern
Leisurely, 6 miles
Leave Blackvein Road at 9:30am
Peter Smith
Wednesday 10th April 2013 Quarterly Planning Meeting
for our Summer season in the sun
Risca Rugby Club at 7:15 pm
Lynda Nowaczyk
Saturday 13th April 2013 Craig-y-nos and Henrhyd waterfall
(this is a slight change to the printed programme)

Moderate walk, 9 miles and 2 climbs
Could be slippery underfoot
Leave Blackvein Road at 9.30am
Liz Holland
Saturday 20th April 2013 Penrhiw Warren
Leisurely circular walk, 6 miles
Leave Waunfawr Park carpark at 9:30am
Maggie Thomas
Sunday 21st April 2013 Trefil and the Chartist Cave
Moderate walk, 8 miles
Leave Blackvein Road at 9.00am
Rob Southall
Saturday 27th April 2013
THIS IS A CHANGE TO THE PRINTED PROGRAMME
Cwm Oerwen and Gist Wen
Strenuous walk, 9-10 miles
Leave Blackvein Road at 8:45am
or Grid Ref 071025 at 10:00am
Simon Foster
Saturday 4th May 2013 Linear Walk to Crosskeys
Leisurely, 7 miles
Leave Newbridge Railway Station at 9.20am
Maggie Thomas
Sunday 5th May 2013 Llanthony
Moderate walk, 10 miles
Leave Blackvein Road at 9.00am
or Queens Head, Cwmyoy at 10.00am
Andrew George
Saturday 11th May 2013 Local walk - must mean Risca, or Darren, or Danygraig, or....
Moderate, 9 miles
Leave Blackvein Road at 9.30am
Ken Wiltshire
Saturday 18th May 2013 Forest Roads
Up the Gwyddon and turn left, right, left again.... Leisurely, 6 miles
Leave Gwyddon Road Forest Car Park at 9.30am
Maggie Thomas
Sunday 19th May 2013 Fan Foel
Strenuous, 10.7 miles (bet you it's nearer 10.8 Miles)
Leave Blackvein Road at 8.30am
or Grid Ref. SN 855233 at 10.00am
Simon Foster
Saturday 25th May 2013 Kenfig to Porthcawl
sand dunes and beach (tides permitting) - ahh, life's a beach!
Moderate, 7-8 miles
Leave Blackvein Road at 9.30am
or Kenfig Burrows Country Park Visitors’ Centre at 10.15am
Jill Jones
Saturday 1st June 2013 Forestry Roads to Mynyddislwyn
Watch out for those Grizzly Bears!
Leisurely, 7 miles
Leave Abercarn Welfare at 9.30am
Maggie Thomas
Sunday 2nd June 2013 Castell Coch
Pull up the drawbridge! - Ramblers on the horizon.
Moderate, 7 - 8 miles
Leave Blackvein Road at 9.00am
Allan & Judith Elliott
Saturday 8th June 2013 The Canyons, Hafodyrynys (St Illtd’s circular walk)
Not quite the Canyons, Arizona, but as close as you'll get.
Moderate, 6 - 7 miles
Leave Blackvein Road at 9.30am
or Hafodyrynys Welfare car park at 09.45am
Rob Southall
Saturday 15th June 2013 Rhiwderin
There may be a pub stop, on the other hand, there may not...
Leisurely, 6 milles (it says milles in the programme!)
Leave Fields Road, Pontymister Road at 9.30am
Mary Hill
Sunday 16th June 2013 Llangorse
Hope it's not flooded this time! It was last year.
Moderate, 9 miles
Leave Blackvein Road at 9.00am
or Llangorse car park at 10.00am
Andrew George
Sunday 23rd June 2013 Grwyne Fawr
Up and around the reservoir - bound to be a drought.
Moderate, 10 miles
Leave Blackvein Road at 9.00am
or Blaen-y-Cwm car park at 10:00 am (Grid Ref. SO 252 285)
Terry Wilkins
Sunday 30th June 2013 Abersychan
Dam and Blast.... Furnace and Coalmine, I'll see what else I can dig up.
Moderate, 8 miles
Leave Blackvein Road at 9.30am
or Abersychan car park at 10.00am
Phil Jenkins
Wednesday 3rd July 2013 Quarterly Planning Meeting
for our Autumn season in the Indian Summer
Risca Rugby Club at 7:15 pm
Lynda Nowaczyk
Saturday 6th July 2013 Mewslade Bay
Ideal for cat lovers - the next one might be to Barking bay.
Easy, 6 miles, coastal walk
Leave Blackvein Road at 9.30am
or at the bay about 10:30 am
Clive Turner
Saturday 13th July 2013 Hollybush and Argoed
Down an old railway line and back up another, no trains though.
Leisurely, 7 miles and pretty flat
Leave Blackvein Road at 9.30am
Phil Jenkins
Sunday 14th July 2013 Llewellyn’s Dingle, Llanllowell
Llewellyn's just dangling this one in front of you.
Moderate, 8 miles
Leave Blackvein Road at 9.00am
or at the A449 underpass at 10.00am (Grid Ref. ST 395986)
Terry Wilkins
Saturday 20th July 2013
CHANGE OF PROGRAMME
Local walk from Blackvein Road
Due to the heat, a much easier walk today.
Moderate, 6-7 miles
Leave Blackvein Road at 9.30am
Ken Wiltshire
Saturday 27th July 2013 Llanhilleth
There's only one 'hill' in Llanhilleth - but we're not climbing it.
Leisurely, 6 miles
Leave Blackvein Road at 9.30am
Mary Hill
Sunday 28th July 2013 50 Shades of Gray Hill
There's no limit to the fun and games we Ramblers get up to.
Moderate, 8 miles
Leave Blackvein Road at 9.00am
or Woodlanders Tavern, Llanvair Discoed at 09.45am
Marion Tamplin
Saturday 3rd August 2013 Three Cliffs Bay
Cliff Richard, Cliff Thorburn and Cliff Michelmore, how's that?
Coastal, 6 miles (2 moderate climbs)
Leave Blackvein Road at 9.00am
or South Gate car park at 10.00am
Clive Turner
Saturday 10th August 2013 Ynys Hywel & The Tamworths
and who's going to be piggie in the middle?
Leisurely, 6 miles
Leave River Bridge, Cwmfelinfach at 9.30am
Maggie Thomas
Sunday 11th August 2013 Cwmcarn Forest Drive
Mandy? Oh, she'll make a drama out of a crisis, should be good!
Easy to moderate, 8 miles
Leave Lower Car Park, Cwmcarn at 9.30am
Mandy Haines
Saturday 17th August 2013 Bettws Newydd
Clytha Castle usually gets a look-in at some time.
Moderate, 6 miles
Leave Blackvein Road at 9.30am
Anne & Richard Beaugie
Saturday 24th August 2013 Linear Walk to Crosskeys
which is why we're going to Newbridge on the train.
Easy to moderate, 8 miles
Leave Newbridge Railway Station at 9.20am
Maggie Thomas
Sunday 25th August 2013 Trefil Quarries, Dolygaer
Over the hills, across the moorland and through the valleys.
Moderate to strenuous at a brisk pace, 10 miles
Leave Blackvein Road at 9.00am
Rob Southall
Saturday 31st August 2013 Clifton Suspension Bridge & Bristol
with local interest and shops (is the sale still on?)
Moderate, 8 miles
Leave Blackvein Road at 9.00am
or Bristol Observatory at 10.00am
Andrew George
Saturday 7th September 2013 Monknash (and Pub)
The usual open views and a touch of coastal scenery. Bring your bikini
Moderate with 1 climb, 5 miles
Leave Blackvein Road at 9.30am or Marcross at 10:30am
Clive Turner
Sunday 8th September 2013 Pontypool Ridge and The Folly
It's Folly to go on so you can stop at the Shell Grotto.
Moderate, 10 miles
Leave Blackvein Road at 9.00am
Maggie Thomas
Saturday 14th September 2013 Maen Llwyd (which happens to be a Pub)
You might even see Caerphilly Castle if it's not raining.
Moderate, 6 miles
Leave Blackvein Road at 9.30am
Anne and Richard Beaugie
Saturday 21th September 2013 Glamorgan Canal
Along the banks of the bonnie Taffy and the Glam Can.
Moderate, 7 miles
Leave Blackvein Road at 9.30am
Clive Turner
Sunday 22th September 2013 Olchan Valley
Just on the other side of Offa's Dyke - bring your passport
Moderate, 9-10 miles
Leave Blackvein Road at 9.00am or Carpark at Grid Ref 288328 at 10:00am
Andrew George
Saturday 28th September 2013 Nant Cwm Llwch
Mountains and reservoirs, the weather should be good if you're LLwchy
Strenuous, 14 miles
Leave Blackvein Road at 9.00am or Carpark at Grid Ref SO 007246 at 10:00am
Simon Foster
Sunday 29th September 2013 Hen Rhydd - The Waterfall Walk
River bank, woodland, farmland and waterfall-land
Easy, 9 miles
Leave Blackvein Road at 9.00am or Craig-y-Nos Carpark at 10:30am
Liz Holland
Friday to Sunday,
4th to 6th October 2013
Torquay weekend
Don't panic, it might be Torquay but we're not staying at Fawlty Towers!
Three easy to moderate walks plus steam train and boat trip
Leave Blackvein Road at 10.00am on Friday
for the Ashley Court Hotel, 107 Abbey Road, Torquay, TQ2 5NP, 01803 292417
then meet at Babbacombe Cricket Club, Walls Hill, TQ1 3LZ
at 01:30 for 02:00pm for the Friday afternoon walk
Clive Turner
Ken Wiltshire
Saturday 12th October 2013 Lisvane
Up to the ridgeway, or possibly the otherway
Moderate, 6 miles but long incline
Leave Blackvein Road at 9.30am or Ty Mawr Pub, Lisvane at 10:00am
Doreen Ford
Saturday 19th October 2013
SADLY CANCELLED
Twmbarlwm - Oh No it's not! - Sorry
It's downhill all the way back from the top.
Absoute doddle, 0 miles
Don't leave Risca Leisure Centre, lower carpark at 09.30am
Not Maggie Thomas
Sunday 20th October 2013 Llangynidr and Tor-y-foel
Fabulous views but this is real mountain walking
Strenuous to Moderate, 10 miles
Leave Blackvein Road at 9.00am or Coach and Horses, Llangynidr at 09.50am
Rob Southall
Saturday 26th October 2013 Cardiff Bay
Around the barrage and the bay front, something quite different
Flat, 6 miles
Leave Cardiff International Swimming pool at 10.00am
Andrew George
Sunday 3rd November 2013 Greater Gwent AGM - two walks
Mynyddislwyn and Ynysddu, Energetic, 7-8 miles
Blackvein and Mynydd Machen, Leisurely, 6 miles
Leave Crosskeys RFC at 9.00am for Mynyddislwyn
and 10.00am for Blackvein and Machen Mountain
Simon Foster
Phil Jenkins
Wednesday 6th November 2013 Annual General Meeting
and planning as Spring is just round the corner!
Risca Rugby Club at 7:15 pm
Lynda Nowaczyk
Saturday 9th November 2013 Ebbw Vale to Llanhilleth Rail Ramble
Take the train to Ebbw Vale and walk back down the valley
Moderate, 8 miles
Leave Llanhilleth Railway Station at 9.15am
Phil Jenkins
Saturday 16th November 2013 Blackvein and Mynydd Machen
A pleasant stroll to get the appetite going
Leisurely, 6 miles
Leave Waunfawr park, top carpark at 9.00am
To be confirmed
Sunday 17th November 2013
IT'S CHANGED AGAIN !!
Llwyn Hir and Buffet Lunch
Leisurely, 6 miles
Leave Blackvein Road at 09:30am
or Llwyn Hir carpark at 10.00am
(between Draethen and the Maen Llwyd - Grid ref ST 206866) at 10.00am
The buffet is at the 'Prince of Wales', Risca at 2:00pm
Please let Clive know if you want to join the bunfight as soon as possible
Walk - Anne Beaugie
Buffet - Clive Turner
and one extra walk FREE!

Saturday23rd November 2013
Roath and Llanishen
A surprise extra walk just thrown in - just like that!
Not too certain but I believe its the top end of Roath park
and around Llanishen Reservoir
Leave Blackvein Road at 10:00 am
Clive Turner
Saturday 30th November 2013 Rhyswg
Up through the trees to the ridge and down again
Leisurely, 6 miles
Leave Cwmcarn, lower carpark at 9:30am
To be confirmed
Sunday 1st December 2013 Cefn Mably and Ruperra
The lower Rhymney Valley at it's finest, very picturesque
Moderate, 8 miles
Leave Blackvein Road at 09:30am or the Cefn Mably Arms at 10.00am
Andrew George
Saturday 7th December 2013 The lost farms of the Nant Carn Valley
Exploring we will go, scrambling over fences and under trees
Moderate, 7 miles
Leave Blackvein Road at 09:30am or Cwmcarn, lower carpark at 9:40am
Rob Southall
Sunday 8th December 2013
CANCELLED - SEE 29TH DECEMBER
Monknash, Llantwit Major
Sorry, this is a duplicate of the walk on the 29th December with Swansea Ramblers
Easy, 8 miles
Leave Blackvein Road at 09:00am
Simon Foster
Saturday 14th December 2013 Gwyddon
The well-kept secret version of Cwmcarn, let's keep it that way.
Leisurely, 6 miles
Leave Gwyddon Road at 09:30am
Anne Beaugie
Saturday 21st December 2013 Mince Pie Walk
Pack the picnic hamper, uncork the bottle, warm up the mince pies...
Moderate, 8 miles
Leave Pontywaun Spiritualist Church at 09:30am
Ken Wiltshire
Thursday 26th December 2013 Boxing Day at Rhiwderin
Ramblers - 1, Turkey and Mince Pies - 0
Leisurely, 5-6 miles
Leave Fields Road, Pontymister at 10:30am
Allan and Judith Elliott
Saturday 28th December 2013 Cwmcarn Forest
Well, it's more of a large wood really, not quite a forest.
Moderate, 6 miles
Leave Cwmcarn, lower carpark at 09:30am
To be confirmed
Sunday 29th December 2013 St Brides Coastal Walk
with Swansea Ramblers

Only the brave need bring their swimming gear today.
Easy, 8 miles, band D
Leave Blackvein Road at 09:00am
or Plough and Harrow, Monknash at 10:00 (GR SS 920706)
Simon and Nina Foster

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