Buzz Magazine October 2013 | Page 54

sport ALL WALKS OF LIFE With beautiful mountains and world renowned landscapes Wales is built for waling. Make the most this month with Wales’ walking festivals. For a far-flung adventure... A little closer to home... SNOWDONIA WALKING FESTIVAL MONMOUTHSIRE WALKING FESTIVAL Settled in the Snowdonia National Park, a mere 15 miles from the highest peak in England and Wales, the small village of Betws-y-Coed is a popular location amongst mountain walkers and this year will be hosting the Snowdonia Walking Festival. In an area which looks like a world away from the plains of the south, with its sweeping mountain ranges and hidden lakes, visitors will find a land in which the possibility of a supernatural lake is far more believable than it would be in Swansea. During the festival walks will be guided by the organisers, the Cadets of Betws-y-Coed, along with an experienced expert accompanying each walk. With local s sharing their wealth of knowledge on the forests, lakes and mountains of the area, whilst keeping the trips short and sweet, this festival is great for hill walkers who haven’t yet broken in their walking boots or found the perfect hiking stick. LS The fourth Monmouthshire Walking Festival boasts several routes which cover all areas of Monmouthshire, ideal for the keen ramblers of south Wales. The festival promises a scenic experience, from stunning landscapes to quaint buildings to Welsh woodland. This festival is clearly designed to appeal to people of any experience, not just the hardcore walkers of the world. You can take it easy around Abergavenny, visiting a cider house as you’re guided through three parishes. Head west and you could visit the borders of Gloucestershire and dwell on the unspoilt landscapes, or instead, walk through ancient forests around the Wentwood reservoir, which all sounds very fairytale-esque. If you want more of a challenge, then unsurprisingly, the festival’s ‘challenge walk’ is perfect for that. Spend two eight-hour days in the Black Mountains where you can discover the peaks of Bal Bach, Chwarel y Fan and Hay Bluff. Not one for the faint hearted! BG Snowdonia Walking Festival, Betwsy-Coed, Sat 26 + Sun 27 Oct. Admission: £2 per walk. Info: www. snowdoniawalkingfestival.co.uk Monmouthshire Walking Festival, Fri 18-Sun 27 Oct. Info: 029 2021 8029 / www.walkinginmonmouthshire.org pic: MICHAEL WARREN BIKEPARK WALES BikePark Wales embraces South Wales’ reputation as a mountain bike destination and provides the riders of Wales with the UK’s first full-scale mountain bike park. BIKEPARK Wales is the first full-scale mountain bike park in the UK. Located in the South West Wales valleys, “built for riders by riders,” the company’s goal is to make mountain biking accessible to everyone from the extreme to the serene. BikePark Wales opened in this summer after five long years of dedicated planning. The park offers mountain bike trails for varying abilities and pride themselves on having the very best network of downhill and lift-assisted trails in the UK. Their varied routes are said to include swooping, tight rock sections, jump trails, drop offs, and a 1km loop specifically designed for families (quaintly named the ‘Badger Run’). Tickets are priced at just £5 for the day, or, if you want fun over fitness you can fork out for one-day ride pass with an ‘uplift’ minibus that can take you to the top of BikePark’s mountain. Buying an uplift ticket means that you’ll get transported, along with your bike, to the top of the mountain all day. The service is a great BUZZ 54 choice for those who want the fun downhill speeding without the uphill slog. The site also promises to provide a bike for every rider, and offer a number of reputable bike brands including Trek, Orange and Fox. All bikes are professionally maintained by mechanics, and are in a suitable condition for use. Those that have a feeling they’re going to work up quite an appetite during their trail can look forward to sampling some of The Woodland Café’s menu. Those keen on bringing their furry friends along for the ride will be thrilled to hear that the cafe is also dog-friendly, and various activities are available to entertain the children. All that you need, according to BikePark, is “a bunch of energy and a sprinkle of fun!” ALICE HART BikePark Wales, Merthyr Tydfil. Tickets: £5 day pass, £30 including uplift. Info: www.bikeparkwales.com pic: ANDY LLOYD