Nearly 50 people turned out to enjoy the day’s challenge and were made welcome by members of the congregation from Llangorse Church who provided refreshments and cheery encouragement half way round the route – enjoying some delicious cakes from sponsors Clams Cakes. The day finished with a fantastic BBQ sponsored by the Welsh Venison Centre with guitarist and vocalist Ian Day from Newbridge providing the entertainment.
Rhys Champion, owner of Beacons Backpackers and the New Inn summed up the day: “This is the first Challenge event we have organised and I am delighted with the response we have had from not only local people but visitors too. A family from Spain who was staying in the bunkhouse joined in the challenge with their family, the youngest being only 3 years old! We will definitely be running the event next Bank holiday Saturday. The ‘Bwlch with Altitude’ challenge has emerged from a partnership approach to working with other businesses and community groups and is part of the COLLABOR8 Project which is part funded by Interreg IVB NWE.”
Reverend Alan Jevons one of the organisers said: “It was great to see so many walkers coming into Llangors and Llangasty Churches trying to puzzle out the answers to the questions, it also offered an opportunity for visitors to find out more about the location whilst walking.”
-ENDS-
Pictures: Copyright of Bannau Brycheiniog National Park Authority
Back row – Rhys Champion, owner of the New Inn and Beacons Backpackers, Greig Wilkinson, manager of the Star Bunkhouse and Reverend Alan Jevons
Front row – Pamela Jones, Christina Scurr and Gary Jones
NOTES TO EDITORS
• ‘Bwlch with Altitude’ is the brainchild of Rev. Alan Jevons who first approached Bannau Brycheiniog National Park Authority last year with a view to getting more visitors to his Parish of Llyn Safaddan. Eventually, an idea developed to promote a new sustainable walking break to unite the local community and welcome more visitors into the area. With his two Churches of Llangors and Llangasty firmly featured in the walking break, the New Inn (Beacons Backpackers) and the Star Bunkhouse in Bwlch came on board to provide welcoming accommodation and hearty food.
• The walk was originally developed as a three day walking experience encouraging visitors to arrive sustainably by train or bus and then takes them on a journey across two mountain ridges, Llangors Lake, the two Churches of Llangors and Llangasty, and a protected Nature Reserve.
• The ‘Bwlch with Altitude’ leaflet was published in March and is the first tourism venture to be funded by the new COLLABOR8 project which aims to develop new tourism strategies for managing local business clusters in the fields of creative arts, culture, outdoor activities, local food and hospitality providers.
• ‘The COLLABOR8 Project is 50% funded by the ERDF Interreg IVB North West Europe Programme. For further information about COLLABOR8 please contact Nick Stewart on 01874 620 490