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Llanwrtyd Wells The smallest town in Britain
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lanwrtyd Wells lies at the heart of one of the last remaining wilderness areas in Great Britain. Official figures have proven that the area has the cleanest air in the land, and the low light pollution levels make it one of the few remaining places in which you can still observe the Milky Way and other constellations at night. It lies astride the River Irfon on the A483 between Builth Wells and Llandovery. The River Irfon begins in a Site of Special Scientific Interest (SSSI) and is an upper tributary of the River Wye, to which salmon return to spawn each year. The river flows through mountains, hidden valleys and many conservation sites surrounding Llanwrtyd, which provide habitats for many rare species of flora and fauna. If you are lucky enough you may have the privilege of spotting a rare red squirrel. With the successful re-population of the Red Kite following its near extinction, they are frequently to be seen soaring wild and free in the skies above the town, the area in which the few remaining birds in the middle of the last century survived. If you enjoy the outdoors, Llanwrtyd Wells is a fantastic centre for activities such as mountain biking, walking, fishing and bird watching. We have miles of unspoilt scenery and wonderful hills and river valleys to walk. Many of the routes you can follow are old Drovers’ roads, used for over 500 years by farmers to ‘drove’ their flocks of cattle, sheep, geese and other livestock to sell in the profitable markets of England. For the more leisurely inclined, the mountains, valleys and surrounding villages can be explored by scenic car tour or using the Heart of Wales railway line. In close proximity there are old Roman roads, ancient standing stones, tiny chapels and churches to discover, as well as small market towns and local farmers’ markets. For the visitor with an interest in history, why not explore our links with Bromsgrove in the west Midlands, Ĉzeský Krumlov in the former Czechoslovakia, and Mériel in France. A SHORT HISTORY OF LLANWRTYD WELLS Llanwrtyd Wells began its life as a tiny hamlet called PontRhyd-y-Fferau (Bridge over the ankle deep ford). The original Llanwrtyd, known today as Old Llanwrtyd, is centred around the church of St David’s a mile or so up the valley towards Abergwesyn. It was the discovery of the mineral waters in 1732 that originally brought fame to Llanwrtyd. Today the town is better known for eccentric sports such as The World Bog Snorkelling Championships, The Man Vs Horse Marathon and The Real Ale Wobble! There were numerous mineral springs in the ancient volcanic area around Llanwrtyd Wells, but it wasn’t
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until 1732 that the benefits of the sulphur spring waters at Dolycoed were discovered by the Rev. Theophilus Evans, vicar of Llangammarch Wells. The Rev. Evans suffered from scurvy, and whilst walking through the Dolycoed Park, he saw an extremely healthy looking frog in the spring. Supposing that, despite its foul smell, the water in the spring might have helped the frog, he decided to take the water himself, and his scurvy was cured. From then on the fame of such treatments spread until a group of four wells dominated Llanwrtyd: Dolycoed, Victoria, Abernant and Henfron. The Dolycoed Wells have recently undergone extensive renovation and can be viewed by the public. The Victoria Wells opened in 1897 to celebrate the Diamond Jubilee of Queen Victoria and the site still remains as a log cabin holiday centre. There is very little remaining of the Henfron Wells on the Llandovery side of town, which were only opened in 1922, but burnt down in the 1950s. The Abernant Lake Hotel still stands and is now an outdoor adventure holiday centre for school groups who can benefit from the lake, which was created by damming an ox-bow lake of the Irfon in 1903. The arrival of the railway turned the town into a fabulous holiday centre attracting huge numbers from the mining communities of south Wales. Trains began to run through Llanwrtyd Wells, along what is now the Heart of Wales Line, on 8th June 1868. Prior to this the town was on a stagecoach route (now A483) between Swansea and Llandrindod Wells. Some of the visitors formed entertainment committees and held Eisteddfodau. One of these resulted in the composition of Sospan Fach – now heard at every rugby match the Welsh team plays. Famous sons of Llanwrtyd include Rev. Williams of Pantecelyn, who served as curate here for 3 years in the 18th century. It is said that whilst walking over the Epynt Mountains to preach in Llanwrtyd, the words of his most famous hymn came to him, ‘Guide me O thou Great Jehovah’. This hymn is sung the world over to the tune of Cwm Rhondda. He lies at rest in Llanfair ar y Bryn on the northern outskirts of Llandovery. Another famous preacher, Rev. Kilsby Jones, built a school here in the mid-19th century, but his controversial policy of educating children in English made him unpopular. He was also instrumental in setting up the Commission of 1848 into Welsh Education, known as ‘The Treachery of the Blue Books’. Another luminary from Llanwrtyd was Thomas Powell, the first Professor of Welsh at Cardiff University, who was born in Glanirfon Farmhouse.
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Events
2014 2015
Saturnalia Ramble World Mountain Bike Chariot Racing Championships Lord Crawshaw Memorial Walk Welsh Open Stone Skimming Championships Man versus Horse Marathon Drovers’ Walks Red Kite Bash Summer Cider Cycle Bogsnorkelling Triathlon Corinthian Stone Skimming Championships
11th January 11th January 1st February 25th May 14th June 28th June 8 – 10th August 9th August 23rd August 23rd August
Corinthian Mountain Bike Chariot Racing Champioships
23rd August
TBC TBC
World Bogsnorkelling Championships Welsh International Four Days’ Walks Ron Skilton Memorial Half Marathon Real Ale Wobble Real Ale Ramble New Year Walk In
24th August 17 – 20th September 26th October 15 – 16th November 22 – 23rd November 31st December
30th August 16 – 19th September 25th October 14 – 15th November 21 – 22nd November 31st December
If you require any further information regarding the events in this brochure, please contact us either through our website, or by phoning the voluntary Tourist Information Centre on 01591 610666. Events information, photos, past results and entry forms can be found on our website at www.green-events.co.uk, where it is also possible to enter online. More information about the town is available from the voluntary Tourist Information Centre, which can provide other local information as well. Email: info@llanwrtyd.com Telephone: +44 (0)1591 610666 www.llanwrtyd.com
(Provisional)
10th January 10th January 7th February 24th May 13th June 27th June 7 – 9th August 8th August 29th August
Getting Here By Road:
Llanwrtyd Wells is on the A483. Leave the A40 either at Crickhowell, and take the A479 joining the A470, or at Brecon and take the A470, both joining the A483 at Builth Wells. From the North pick up the A483 from Chester. From the East take the A44 from Worcester, A481 to Builth Wells and the A483 to Llanwrtyd.
By Rail:
Llanwrtyd Wells is on the scenic Heart of Wales railway line between Swansea and Shrewsbury. Contact the Railways for more details.
Disclaimer:
Green Events Ltd accepts no responsibility and reserves the right to change or amend any event due to unforeseen circumstances.
Accreditation to Photography: Many thanks to all contributors – Chris Prichard, George Garnier, Lindsay Ketteringham and Pip Morison Other photography – Mid Wales Tourism and © Visit Wales Brochure Design – Welsh Country Design **Please support the businesses that have supported us, through their advertisements in this brochure**
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Saturnalia Winter Warmer Beer Festival
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s the winter solstice approached, with the long cold nights and short days, many ancient people feared the sun would not return, so special rituals and celebrations were held to ensure it did. The Romans celebrated their god Saturn during December and January with a festival called Saturnalia, decking their halls with garlands of laurel and green trees lit with candles. There would be festive meals, masquerades, visits to friends, the exchange of good luck gifts, and role reversals when masters would swap roles with their slaves.
Saturnalia Real Ale Ramble
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he Saturnalia Real Ale Ramble is part of the Saturnalia Winter Warmer Beer Festival Weekend held every January in Llanwrtyd. A one day event, the Ramble follows way marked routes with a choice of distances between 10, 15 and 25 miles, beginning in the town square after a short briefing at 8:00am, and ending at the Neuadd Arms. The walks try where possible to incorporate sections of the old Roman roads which crossed the area in ancient Britain, and because it is in conjunction with a beer festival there is free real ale provided at the checkpoints. In the evening you can rest your feet, sample a selection of the winter warmer ales available in the town and enjoy free live entertainment at the toga party. Those who finish their chosen walk receive a certificate marking their achievement. 11th January 2014 10th January 2015
BWF 05/E2/14 BWF 05/E2/15
Entry Fees: Pre-entry (closing date 7 days prior to event) On the day entry
£11.00 £13.00
World Mountain Bike Chariot Racing
Championships
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n conjunction with the Saturnalia Winter Warmer Real Ale Festival, celebrating the ancient Roman rituals of the New Year, Green Events presents the world’s only mountain bike chariot race. Special chariots have been built using traditional Roman mild steel, vulcanised rubber and welding techniques, and will race against each other and the clock to determine the World Championship team. Designed to be pulled by two mountain bikes alongside each other, the winning team will have to demonstrate exceptional skill and courage, and will need to coordinate and cooperate fully as a single unit to overcome all other challengers. The event is open to teams of three people (2 riders + 1 charioteer), all over the age of 16 years. The event takes place in the grounds of the Abernant Lake Hotel, near to Llanwrtyd railway station. The course is partially on tarmac road, partly on rough tracks. N.B. There are also speed bumps to contend with! Chariots race against each other in qualifying heats, two at a time, which are also timed. The fastest four teams from the heats will take part in a two lap grand final to determine the overall World Champions. A world cup and medals will be awarded to the winning team, with medals for the second and third teams. There are also prizes for the best Roman costumes. 11th January 2014 Entry fee: £18 per team 23rd August 2014 10th January 2015 Racing commences at Noon
Corinthian Stone Skimming Championships
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tone Skimming, also known as skitting, is the art of throwing a ‘flattish’ stone across the surface of a body of water and attempting to bounce it as many times as possible. However, because of the impossible task of counting skims once a stone begins to aquaplane, an ability to skim will not be enough to make you champion. Instead, so long as the stone has managed three skims, it’s the distance travelled that counts. This of course means that a stone can skim 100 times, but still not win! Stone skimming is one of the more intricate events, in which stone selection and technique are just as important as brute strength. Slate is the ideal stone and the preferred shape is triangular, thin and flat with a slight concavity, but if it is too light it could blow away. The best skimmers usually aim for their first skim at the 30 metre mark. Skimming the stone into the water too soon will sap its momentum, while over-shooting the stone will expose it to the wind, often blowing it out of range. Serious contenders who wish to prepare that bit more than their rivals should consider the scientific research by Frenchman Lyderic Bocquet. He proved the optimum angle for entry of the stone into the water is 26 degrees… just don’t forget to bring your protractor. Furthermore, if you can also launch the stone faster than 25mph, at a spinning speed of fourteen times per second, while accounting for gravity and with an ounce of beginners luck, then you have a very good chance of winning. For those desperate for success and low enough to stoop to cheating, drilling tiny holes in the stone will reduce the water drag and thus make the stone skim further. This is why golf balls have dimples, although you may attract suspicion at the start line as you reach for your cordless power drill… At the Welsh Open Championships we will be using manufactured trial-standard stones which will give every competitor an equal chance, but you can still bring your own stones if you prefer. The event takes place at the Abernant Lake Hotel by kind permission of Manor Adventure Ltd, and has different classes for men, women and children. In 2014 we will also be staging a Corinthian Stone Skimming Championships on the 23rd August as part of the World Alternative Games, for those of you who cannot make it in May or just want to have another go! Sponsored by Little Dragon Stones.
Lord Crawshaw of Aintree Memorial Walk
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nother event in our Annual Challenge Walks programme, the walks are organised in memory of Lt. Col. The Lord Crawshaw of Aintree O.B.E., T.D., D.L., in recognition of his contribution to walking. Dick Crawshaw was a great friend, a fellow walker of the Llanwrtyd Wells Walking Club, and a past President of the Long Distance Walkers Association. He established the world nonstop walking record of 255.8 miles in 1972, and in1974 added the world non-stop walking record (literally non-stop) of 231 miles. Among other achievements he commanded the 12/13th Battalion, The Parachute Regiment TA from 1954 to 1957, and was the MP for Toxteth, Liverpool from 1964 to 1983. Sadly, Lord Crawshaw died suddenly on 16th July 1986, and in 1987 Lady Crawshaw unveiled a plaque in his memory, which can be seen on the wall of the Neuadd Arms Hotel in the centre of Llanwrtyd Wells. A winter walk, entrants must be properly equipped and carry survival gear. Snow was falling during the 2009 walk, transforming the landscape and putting a completely different outlook on the beautiful scenery around the town. Walks start at 8am. Saturday 1st February 2014 Saturday 7th February 2015
BWF05/E3/14 BWF05/E3/15
Entry Fees: 2014 £8 pre entry, £10 on the day entry 2015 £9 pre entry, £11 on the day entry
25th May 2014 23rd August 2014 24th May 2015 Competition commences at 10 a.m. Entry £5 for 3 stones, best stone counts.
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Man VS Horse Marathon
powered by Whole Earth Peanut Butter
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he Man v Horse Marathon has been an annual event since 1980, when Gordon Green, then the owner of the Neuadd Arms Hotel, overheard a discussion between two men in the bar as to whether over a significant distance a man was equal to a horse. It wasn’t until the twenty fifth anniversary of the first contest that the premise was proven, when Huw Lobb beat the first horse home in 2 hours, 5 minutes and 19 seconds. The feat has since been repeated in 2007, when 2 human competitors outpaced the first equine competitor by a full 11 minutes. At 24.8 miles for horses and 23.6 miles for runners the course is slightly shorter than a traditional marathon, but covers much rougher terrain. Increasingly popular with horse riders, the numbers of horses has had to be capped for safety reasons on the course, but with an allowed field of 60 horses it is the largest horse race in the UK. Whilst there is a small core of serious contenders for first place, both horses and runners, most of the 700+ competitors enter for the pleasure of taking part and simply enjoying the atmosphere of what has become an iconic event, famous not only throughout Wales and the UK, but around the world as well. You do not have to run all 23.6 miles to have a taste of the event. Relay teams of 3 people are able to enter, running 6.1, 7.6 and 9.9 miles respectively. However for logistics reasons we have had to cap the number of relay teams at 150, so you will need to get your entries in sooner rather than later. Because demand for places has become so great, we will be closing online entries on 31st May, and there will no longer be any entries on the day allowed. There is no longer a cash prize, but the first individual competitor home receives a Champion’s trophy. There are also many separate trophy categories for ages, teams and clubs,
and all finishers receive a Man v. Horse medal. We have decided to re-introduce the escalating prize fund for the first runner who comes in before the first horse, starting with £500 in 2014 and increasing by £500 each year until it is won. The previous escalator reached £25,000 before it was scooped by Huw Lobb! Included in your entrance fee is a ticket to a pasta party held at the Neuadd Arms in the centre of Llanwrtyd Wells on the night before the race, so that you can stoke up with this energy giving food. 14th June 2014 13th June 2015 £25 Individual Runners Horse and Rider
Race Start 11am
£60 Relay Team of 3 Runners £35
Green Events would like to thank all the local Landowners for their generous support in allowing this event to take place across their land, Running Imp for providing the medals, and Whole Earth Peanut Butter for generously sponsoring the event. “We are really excited to be sponsoring the ‘ManVHorse’ event and understand the importance of good nutrition to fuel sports performance. Whole Earth peanut butter has no added sugar and is naturally high in protein. When eaten with a good source of complex carbohydrate and fibre such as wholegrain toast it provides a filling breakfast or snack for any athlete. With 97% peanuts and made with natural ingredients athletes can feel satisfied that they are consuming a wholesome product as part of their training regime”.
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Drovers Walks
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hese walks are part of our Annual Challenge Walks programme and follow in the footsteps of the Drovers of old who used to drive their livestock many hundreds of miles across the mountains of Wales to the profitable market towns of England; even, in some instances, as far as London! Droving is a very old profession, attested to by the numerous clues such as the settlements which grew up around the Drover’s meeting places; the towns and inns (usually called The Drovers) along the route which flourished from their business; the tracks they took form the footpaths and even roads of today. The easiest way to transport meat, skins and hides was on the hoof; therefore driving the animals to markets and abattoirs closer to heavily populated areas increased the farmer’s incomes. From the 13th Century, cattle were the main form of transportable wealth and by the end of the 16th Century a well organised trade in livestock droving began which involved the movement of large numbers annually to the main markets in England. This trade continued well into the 20th Century. To keep the animals fit during the journey, they were shod; the Welsh Black Cattle were fitted with curved iron shoes like small horseshoes cut in half called “cues”, pigs had woollen boots with leather soles and ducks and geese had their feet dipped in tar and then covered with sand. Drovers of old also had to have somewhere to keep their money safe and The Black Horse (symbol of Lloyds Bank) is a reminder of the ponies that Welsh Drovers used. Bank notes distributed by banks most closely associated with droving carried signs of that association. The Black Ox Bank set up by David Jones of Llandovery (just 12 miles from Llanwrtyd) in 1799 with its notes depicting the Welsh Black breed of cattle was one of a number of Drovers’ banks set up in Mid Wales. On these modern day Drovers’ Walks there is a choice of 10, 15 or 25 mile way marked routes and all start from Llanwrtyd square at 9:00am, following a short briefing. Every year an old Drovers’ Inn is reopened for the occasion and will serve you with refreshments throughout the day. Saturday 28th June 2014 BWF05/E4/14 Saturday 27th June 2015 BWF05/E4/15 Entry Fees: 2014 £8 pre entry, £10 on the day entry 2015 £9 pre entry, £11 on the day entry
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Summer Cider Cycle/
Red Kite MTB Bash
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ollowing the success of our first Summer Cider Cycle last August, it is set to become a permanent event in the Green Events and Llanwrtyd Wells calendar. We will be combining it as part of the Annual Red Kite MTB Bash which has taken place in Llanwrtyd since the 1980s, so there will be the usual guided rides and fun stuff on the Friday and Sunday, with the Cider Cycle taking place on the Saturday. A fun bike ride through the surrounding hills, forests and valleys in this delightful part of mid Wales, there will be a choice of distances (14 or 25 miles), and at the checkpoints we will be providing both keg cider and some traditional farmhouse ciders and perries for your refreshment. 8 – 10th August 2014 7 – 9th August 2015
Rides start 10am
Entry Fees: £20 per day or £50 for all 3 days. £5 per day surcharge for on the day entries.
VISITING LLANWRTYD? You can easily get there by rail using the Heart of Wales Line.
Four trains a day from Swansea and Shrewsbury, with connections to and from the rest of the UK
Details on www.heart-of-wales.co.uk
World Mountain
Bike Bog Snorkelling
Championships
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ne of the events in the Llanwrtyd Wells Bog series is the madcap cycle through a 6ft deep and 45yd long trench in the peat bog. The event has to be completed on a specially prepared bike (the frame is lead weighted and it has water filled tyres), while wearing a snorkel, mask and cycle helmet. A lead belt and weighted backpack are also worn to avoid buoyancy. Entrants have to complete two lengths of the bog – no easy feat! In 2014, the event is being run as part of the World Alternative Games again, where a host of alternative sports and activities which are not recognised by the Olympics will be brought together over a two-week period. All competitors will receive a Corinthian medal as well as the usual Bog commemorative medal. The competition starts at 1pm. 23rd August 2014 29th August 2015 Entry fee: £15 adult, £10 junior (14 – 17yrs)
World Bog Snorkelling
Triathlon
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he Bog Triathlon first ran in 2005, following a demand for more dirty fun around our famous Waen Rhydd Bog. The event - the most unusual in the Triathlon calendar, starts with an 8 mile run followed by 2 lengths of the 60 yard peat bog trench and then a 12 mile mountain bike ride including technical descents. The event is open to individuals and relay teams of three (one discipline each). In 2014 the event will once again be held as part of the World Alternative Games. In order to make the events accessible to a wider audience, we are introducing a “Bite Size” Triathlon, ideal for junior competitors or those athletes who are perhaps not so dedicated to multi-discipline sports. This will comprise a 3 mile run, a 60yd bogsnorkel, and a 6 mile mountain bike ride. Again it is open to individual competitors or relay teams of three, and is perfect for sampling the delights of this event without the need to be a hardened athlete. Races start at 11am at the Waen Rhydd bog. Entry Fees: Bite Size
£15.00 Individual £12.00 Individual
2014 – Saturday 23rd August 2015 – Saturday 29th August
£25.00 Relay Team £20.00 Relay Team
Hooper’s World Bog Snorkelling Championships
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ugust Bank Holiday Sunday sees the annual World Bogsnorkelling Championships taking place in the sport’s birthplace, Llanwrtyd Wells. The event has been selected by the Lonely Planet Guide as one of its Top 50 ‘must do’ activities around the world in 2014, and this in conjunction with it once again being part of the World Alternative Games in Llanwrtyd means that we are expecting a record turnout of hundreds of competitors and spectators from around the world this year. The current World Champion is 18 year old Dineka Maguire from Northern Ireland in a time of 1 minute 23.13 seconds, which is a new World Record beating the previous record time held by Andrew Holmes of 1 minute 24.22 seconds by over a second. The Junior World Champion is 14 year old Jack Everist in a time of 2 minutes 20.38 seconds, and the fastest male competitor and second overall was David Williams in a time of 1 minute 32.68 seconds, just one tenth of a second faster than the third placed competitor Bjorn Fjellstrom from Sweden. In 2013 the bog snorkellers included participants from France, Germany, Australia, New Zealand, USA, Canada, Eire and Mali, making this a truly International World Championships. As usual there were plenty of fancy dress entries, with the first prize for fancy dress going to 2 girls dressed as the ‘Happy Flappers’, complete with feather boas. The event takes place at Waen Rhydd bog on the outskirts of the town, getting underway at around 10am. The site is signposted from the town for those who don’t mind about a mile walk, and there is also a shuttle bus running from the town square to the bog and back, beginning as soon as we can manage between 9 and 10 am. There are food and drink stalls, crafts, a bouncy castle, live music and a bar on the site, so it’s a great day out even if you don’t fancy taking the plunge. Online entries close 7 days before the event, so don’t leave it too late!! Entry fee: £15 2014 - Sunday 24th August 2015 - Sunday 30th August
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The Welsh International Four Days’ Walks
T Ron Skilton
Memorial
Half Marathon
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his half marathon event was added to the Green Events calendar in 2006 following the death of the longtime treasurer of Green Events, Ron Skilton, to Motor Neurone Disease the previous year. In his younger years Ron was a keen cross-country runner, time-trial cyclist and later a horseman so the hard work he put into Green Events with its emphasis on running, cycling and its unique Man-versus-Horse competition is understandable. The committee felt that a half marathon would be a fitting tribute and a way to remember his contribution. For runners used to urban areas the location of this race will come as a pleasant surprise and its scenic route generated praise the first year it was run. Its figure of eight course is centred on the town square and starts and finishes at the Neuadd Arms. Approximately 13 miles long, much of it is off-road on paths through adjacent valleys and hills, on land not generally open to the public but kindly made available by the landowners for this event. One runner dashing past a marshal in the 2007 event was heard to say “What tremendous views, I’m sorry I can’t hang about to admire them”. The route is marshaled and signposted with water stations at regular intervals, and there are toilets at the start and finish. The event has been successful in raising money for the South West Wales Motor Neurone Disease Association. The race starts at 11am, and is open to individual runners and 2 person relay teams. There are trophies for the first male and female runners, male and female veterans, junior, and 2 person relay. 26th October 2014 25th October 2015 Entry fee: £10 per person in advance, £12 on the day
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he Welsh International Four Day’s Walks are a series of walks held in September each year, with a choice of distance each day of either 10, 15 or 25 miles (15, 25 or 40km). Each day will explore a different area of the beautiful countryside around the town of Llanwrtyd Wells. These non-competitive walks aim to provide a focal point for people from around the world who enjoy walking, to encourage physical activity of the kind that everyone can enjoy, and to show off this scenic area of mid Wales. Every individual who completes their chosen walk will receive a certificate for their achievement. The walks mostly start and finish at the Neuadd Arms Hotel in the town square, OS Landranger Map 147, Grid Ref. SN879467. On some days it may be necessary to travel by minibus to the start point or from the end point of your chosen walk, and this service is provided free by the organisers. Walks start at 9am on the first day, and from 8am onwards on the remaining three days. Refreshments are provided at the checkpoints along the route. Each evening there is free entertainment, culminating on the Saturday night with the “Blister Ball”, a dance with live music, held at the Neuadd Arms Hotel. 17th to 20th September 2014 Entry fees: Pre entry:£8 per Day or 4 Days for £25 On the day entry: £10 per Day or 4 Days for £30 16th to 19th September 2015 Entry fees: Pre entry:£9 per Day or 4 Days for £30 On the day entry: £11 per Day or 4 Days for £35
Real Ale
Wobble
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hether you are a hardened mountain biker or a fun rider who happens to like a drop of real ale, the Real Ale Wobble will be right up your street. The Wobble is a non-competitive event marking the beginning of the town’s 10-day Mid Wales Beer Festival. The Beer Festival is on throughout the week and the following weekend, when you can try the Real Ale Ramble at its conclusion– so why not make a holiday of it!? With courses for both serious bikers and enthusiastic amateurs, anyone can give the event a go. Routes are waymarked and marshalled, with 2 checkpoints along the way where tokens can be exchanged for locally brewed real ale. The main feed station will also have a Coffee Pod and BBQ where you can buy more refreshments so please remember to carry money. When you return to the finish there is also another opportunity to have another beer and get some more food. There are showers at the hall available for a small charge. The scenery is exquisite, with the routes through some of the most delightful unspoilt mountains and forestry in this hidden gem of a location at the heart of Mid Wales. Evenings offer an opportunity to try out many of the huge range of Real Ales, Ciders and Perrys available across the Festival venues, as well as enjoy some excellent local bands that provide entertainment on Friday and Saturday evenings. For safety all participants MUST check in on the morning. At check in you will receive your number board and (perhaps more importantly for you) your beer tokens.
Real Ale
Ramble
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he Real Ale Ramble marks the second weekend of the Mid Wales Beer Festival which takes place for ten days during November each year. The Saturday and Sunday Rambles follow way marked routes with a choice of distances between 10, 15 and 25 miles each day, beginning in the town square after a short briefing at 8:30am, and ending at the Neuadd Arms. The walks are strictly non-competitive, the aim being to enjoy the unsurpassed scenery of this little known part of Mid Wales as well as the free real ale provided at the checkpoints. In the evening you can rest your feet, sample a selection of the 100+ real ales and ciders available in the town and enjoy the entertainment provided free in the pubs. Those who finish their chosen walk receive a certificate marking their achievement, and can purchase a commemorative badge. 22nd – 23rd November 2014 21st – 22nd November 2015
BWF 05/E9/14 BWF 05/E9/15
Entry Fees: Pre-entry (closing date 7 days prior to event) £11.00 for 1 day £18.00 for 2 days
Routes - Long route approx. 28 miles and shorter route approx. 15 miles. Both will have technical sections, but these will be marked with easier options available - the ride will be suitable for all abilities. Check in times - At the Bromsgrove Hall Saturday 8.00 until 9.30am Sunday 8.30 until 10.00am Mass start from Bromsgrove Hall on Saturday at 10am with a short briefing just before. Sunday is a far more relaxed day as I’m sure that there are many bad heads about! Start at 10.30am from the hall. Please note that there is only a small amount of parking at the Bromsgrove Hall, however there are other car parks in the town. Please ‘like’ our facebook page ‘The Real Ale Wobble’ for more updates. Pre booking is advisable - online entry up until 7 days before the event. 2 days riding £25 or 1 day ride at £18. Friday night pre-entry will be available from 6pm until 9pm at Bromsgrove Hall. Entry on the is day available at a £5 surcharge. 2 days riding £30 and 1 day ride £23. 15th – 16th November 2014 14th – 15th November 2015
On the day entry : £13 per day
Enter any event(s) online:
www.green-events.co.uk
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New Year
Walk In
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n New Year’s Eve there is a short walk lit by burning torches, starting from the town square at 10:30 pm and returning in time for the New Year celebrations at midnight. During the walk there is a re-enactment of the ancient Welsh tradition of Mari Lwyd. Mari Lwyd (Grey Mare / Holy Mary) was the name given in Wales to the horse-figure carried from door to door by wassailsinging groups during the Christmas season. The attendant ritual began with the singing of traditional stanzas by the Mari Lwyd group at the door, soliciting both permission to sing and entry into the house, and issuing a challenge to a versifying contest. Next followed the pwnco, the debate conducted to the same music in a combination of traditional and impromptu stanzas, between a member of the group and an opponent within the house. This usually amounted to heavy leg-pulling in which the contestants mocked each other’s singing, drunkenness, niggardliness, etc. Victory in the debate would ensure admission into the house for the Mari Lwyd group, to partake of cakes and ale and perhaps collect a money gift as well. All are welcome to come along and join in, and torches are available to purchase. There is also a guided walk on New Year’s Day (around 8 miles), starting at 11am from the square. 31st December BWF 05/E1/14(15) Free Entry Torches £3 each