A GORGE-OUS DAY

ON THE WAY TO WALES it was raining and the activity day planned was looking like a bad idea. We were to be in the water!

Our accommodation, a bunkhouse, of which there are many in the Brecon Beacons National Park, was clean, dry and near a watering hole of a pleasant kind. After a meal, a selection of refreshing beverages through the evening and a good nights sleep, we were greeted at what seemed like the crack of dawn by our instructor for the day.

Wiping away the sand from the corners of our eyes we followed our instructors car to Dinas Rock car park where a huge quarried cliff towered above us. Much to the amusement of passers by we changed into our wetsuits as discreetly as possible, topping our sleek (?), black appearance with a bright orange safety helmet! Next seasons catwalks may feature a few surprises if the photos get into designers hands. Our Hen Party was now ready for the job in hand.

First off, our instructor felt that we needed an ice breaker and so, to get us used to touching each other we had a go at 'bum surfing'. I will let you imagine the scene...... next we had a chat about safety procedures. At this point a few of us asked each other what have we let ourselves in for, looking like seals with sore heads, then, without a chance to drop out, we were off into the gorge. We clambered over rocks, traversed along walls above the water, squeezed ourselves through craggy gaps between boulders.

Then a lunch in the local community hall, where, if you could get out of the skin tight wetsuits, a comfort break could be enjoyed.

Our accommodation, a bunkhouse, of which there are many in the Brecon Beacons National Park, was clean, dry and near a watering hole of a pleasant kind. After a meal, a selection of refreshing beverages through the evening and a good nights sleep, we were greeted at what seemed like the crack of dawn by our instructor for the day.

Wiping away the sand from the corners of our eyes we followed our instructors car to Dinas Rock car park where a huge quarried cliff towered above us. Much to the amusement of passers by we changed into our wetsuits as discreetly as possible, topping our sleek (?), black appearance with a bright orange safety helmet! Next seasons catwalks may feature a few surprises if the photos get into designers hands. Our Hen Party was now ready for the job in hand.

First off, our instructor felt that we needed an ice breaker and so, to get us used to touching each other we had a go at 'bum surfing'. I will let you imagine the scene...... next we had a chat about safety procedures. At this point a few of us asked each other what have we let ourselves in for, looking like seals with sore heads, then, without a chance to drop out, we were off into the gorge. We clambered over rocks, traversed along walls above the water, squeezed ourselves through craggy gaps between boulders.

Then a lunch in the local community hall, where, if you could get out of the skin tight wetsuits, a comfort break could be enjoyed.

In the afternoon we traversed waterfalls and swam through pools, the climax of the day being a 20 foot high jump into a black as pitch and icy cold pool.

We all looked a bit disheveled at the end of the day but amazingly the instructor remained impeccable, something about professionalism he said... hmmmm...

We laughed in the pub about the day over a pint or few and still talk about our gorge-ous day.

GORGE WALKING OPEN DAY

9th February 2008 - South Wales - £35 pp - Book using the paypal shop, there is an item £35 for activity open days, or email ME and I will send an invoice.

NOTES ON GORGES

Please be aware that the gorges of the Brecon Beacons National Park are fragile and contain some rare plant life. We use only one location for this activity, chosen because of damage caused by industry, now only visible as interesting remnants of past activity.

A BIG UP TO US

Wales Outdoors Limited subscribe to the guidelines as described in the Brecon Beacons Environmental Charter Group and as such run gorge walking sessions in as sustainable manner as possible.

We also offer the most comprehensive range of kit and industry leading staff ratios to clients, check this against other suppliers if you are ringing round:

• Staff to Clients 1:8
• Viking Dry Boots
• Full rashproof wetsuit
• Over suit
• buoyancy aid
• Canoe helmet

Furthermore, our first aid kits and client care kit bags go far beyond HSE advice.

Woohoo - We are good at this!!

In the afternoon we traversed waterfalls and swam through pools, the climax of the day being a 20 foot high jump into a black as pitch and icy cold pool.

We all looked a bit disheveled at the end of the day but amazingly the instructor remained impeccable, something about professionalism he said... hmmmm...

We laughed in the pub about the day over a pint or few and still talk about our gorge-ous day.

GORGE WALKING OPEN DAY

9th February 2008 - South Wales - £35 pp - Book using the paypal shop, there is an item £35 for activity open days, or email ME and I will send an invoice.

NOTES ON GORGES

Please be aware that the gorges of the Brecon Beacons National Park are fragile and contain some rare plant life. We use only one location for this activity, chosen because of damage caused by industry, now only visible as interesting remnants of past activity.

A BIG UP TO US

Wales Outdoors Limited subscribe to the guidelines as described in the Brecon Beacons Environmental Charter Group and as such run gorge walking sessions in as sustainable manner as possible.

We also offer the most comprehensive range of kit and industry leading staff ratios to clients, check this against other suppliers if you are ringing round:

• Staff to Clients 1:8
• Viking Dry Boots
• Full rashproof wetsuit
• Over suit
• buoyancy aid
• Canoe helmet