WALKING CLUBS IN SOUTH WALES

We organise activities catering for all tastes from the absolute beginner through to the committed enthusiast. At the heart of this are walking and youth hostelling, though we're equally adept at finding other outlets for our energetic members such as cycling, canoeing and gliding. We're always open to new ideas and like to make use of the interests, enthusiasm and expertise of our members.

The Ramblers is Britain's biggest charity working to promote walking and to improve conditions for all walkers. With 139,000 members in England, Scotland and Wales, we've been working for walkers for 70 years.

We are dedicated to:

• providing information to help you plan your walk and enjoy it in safety and comfort.
• increasing access for walkers - our work is helping to establish statutory rights of access to the outdoors.
• protecting the countryside and green spaces from unsightly and polluting developments so that walkers can enjoy their tranquility and beauty.
• educating the public about their rights and responsibilities and the health and environmental benefits of walking so that everyone can enjoy our wonderful heritage.

Our primary interest is walking in the countryside, mostly at weekends, with a walk virtually every Saturday and Sunday throughout the year. There is also a monthly Tuesday walk and some on a summer evening.

Each walk is led by a volunteer leader and the walks will be of varying length and take place throughout South Wales, Gloucestershire and Herefordshire. In addition, we organise between 8 and 10 coach trip walks per year when we go much further afield, 3 walking weekends away and a small number of social events.

All walk information (meeting time, destination, length and grade of walk, leader's name and phone number) is given in the walks programme issued to all members twice a year along with a Newsletter. We usually travel by car but owning and bringing along a car is not a prerequisite to joining us on a walk - we always have room for passengers. Cost of petrol is shared amongst those on the walk. There is no obligation to join the club immediately so please try a couple of walks with us first.

The objectives of the Society, as stated in the Constitution are:

Who are we? The LDWA is a national organisation whose aim is to further the interests of those who enjoy long distance walking in rural, mountainous or moorland areas. By joining the LDWA, you will meet other like-minded long distance walkers and gain access to information on walking events and long distance walking routes all over the UK.

One important way the LDWA achieves it's aims is via some 40 local groups that organise activities in their area of the UK. One of these is the South Wales local.

What do we do? The South Wales Group has successfully organised and carried out the following activities since it was formed in 1983:

- a regular programme of informal social walks in South Wales

- challenge events, for example the Caerphilly Summits Challenge

- walking weekends in other parts of the country

What are the walks like? Each walk in the programme has a leader who selects and plans the route, therefore no time is wasted in route finding on the walk itself. The walks are undertaken at a reasonable and sociable pace to accommodate people of varying abilities, nobody is ever left behind. We usually have two walks a month ranging in length from 14 to 30 miles. The average number of people on a walk is probably about 9 or 10.

The South Wales Mountaineering Club was established in 1960 and aims to encourage interest in mountaineering in all its forms and to bring together like minded people interested in mountaineering. The club's activities range from mountaineering and rock climbing to scrambling and hill walking, catering for all level of experience including total beginners.

The Gwent Mountaineering Club was established in 1976, and has a membership of over one hundred throughout South East Wales and beyond. We cater for all abilities and activities in mountaineering. Our members have a wide range of interests:- walking, backpacking, rock and ice climbing, alpinism, mountain biking, mountain marathon walking and fell running. We aim to give people the opportunity to take up new activities as well as to improve their own ability in mountaineering.

Our programmes offer many activities organised throughout the year, which take place in South Wales, North Wales, England, Scotland and abroad. During the winter we have weekly evening meets. Indoor meets are in a pub, talks and slide shows on subjects connected with mountaineering. Also in the winter we meet on Wednesdays at Boulders climbing centre, Cardiff. Outdoor evening walks take place monthly in winter. During the summer months there is a climbing meet every Wednesday and an evening walk every Thursday.

Weekend or longer bookings are made for club trips, staying in mountain huts, campsites, cottage accommodation and sometimes Youth Hostels.

Regular training meets are organised throughout the year in for example: mountain navigation and rope skills. Our equipment officer, or any experienced member, will be pleased to advise new members on equipment needed for climbing or walking. We have a very safe approach to mountaineering, which is reflected in all our activities. The club has a limited amount of equipment available for members to borrow.

The Mawr Walking Club was formed in March 2005 by the Mawr Development Trust when trust member, Terry Davies, was handed the task of encouraging local communities to take part in planned walks throughout south and west Wales.

The club now has more than 250 members and some 40 members regularly turn up to each walk. All the walks are planned by qualified leaders who walk the routes beforehand. They check all aspects of health and safety, including escape routes, and make sure walkers enjoy the countryside in a safe environment. Before each walk, the leaders explain relevant details of the terrain and conditions. They also recommend suitable footwear and clothing, so that all walkers are well prepared. Qualified first aiders are always in attendance on every walk.

Our programme starts in March with a social evening for members at the Village Hall in Felindre, Swansea. Throughout the walking season, which ends in November, members can choose from over 40 walks. The walks take place on Wednesdays and Saturdays and vary from 12 to 15kms (7.5 to 9 miles). The walks are graded and anyone with a reasonable amount of fitness should be able to take part without any problem. However, we do have a "Short Walks Programme", coordinated by Richie J J Williams. These shorter walks are on the flat and are less than 8kms (5 miles). The walks are particularly suited to members recovering from illness or injury and also help with fitness levels before taking part in the main walks programme.

Included in the membership is a membership card, a list of the main and short walks programmes and an information brochure.We look forward to you joining one of our walks this season.

Pontarddulais Walking Club was established on the 13th of September 1997. On that day only 2 intrepid walkers turned up to walk. Since then, however, the group has grown and has gone from strength to strength. Joining a group is, without doubt, the best way of visiting the most beautiful places in Wales.

It is also a fantastic way of keeping fit and make new friends. We have approximately 50 members and walks are held every weekend. We have between 15-20 members that walk regularly and we visit all parts of South Wales including the southern areas of Mid Wales. We are fortunate that Gower is on our doorstep and the Brecon Beacons and the Pembrokeshire Coastal Path are only an hours drive away. We visit North Wales every year. We have also visit Ireland, Cornwall, Devon and the Lake District.

The university walking clubs all have very active programmes of events, both walking and social. See each uni walking clubs website for full details.

Mynydd-Du Mountain Running Club - Founded in 2004, Mynydd-Du is a club run for mountain runners by mountain runners in Wales.

defined in the Club Constitution, the objectives of the club are to:

• Promote the sport of mountain/fell running
• Support members to participate in mountain running activities and events at all levels
• Organise a Club calendar of races and training events
• Organise a Club championship series
• Elect a Committee to manage and develop the Club
• Develop Club members through individual and team competition/training/coaching events.