Cwmcarn Forest Drive

Two more mountain bike trails are open at Cwmcarn Forest Drive!

Cafall  and a new downhill trail (presumably no name yet,) have been added to the Twrch Trail and Y Mynydd downhill trail.  These routes are part of the Cognation project which has heavily invested in mountain biking in South Wales over the past three years.

South Wales is now one of the leading places to ride in the UK.

A lone biker on a misty Gelligaer Common

"With the addition of the new cross country and downhill trails, Cwmcarn is sure to be on most bikers must-ride list, ensuring South Wales remains one of the top mountain biking destinations."
                                                                         Peter Cloke, Forest Dist Mgr. Natural Resources Wales


As well as mountain biking, there are picnic sites and opportunities for walkers, with glorious views over the welsh valleys.  One special walk takes you to the historic site of Twmbarlwm with all its mystery and charm.  The lower your starting point on the mountain, the harder the cardiac workout to get there.  Or park in the top car park and after a short uphill slope, its flat all the way, across the crest of the ridge.

Cwmcarn Forest site also offers glamping, a lake and visitor's centre for those all important mementoes.


http://your.caerphilly.gov.uk/cwmcarnforest/content/welcome

Mrs Margaret Mackworth, Lady Rhondda

Despite being born into money at the turn of the century, with the choice of living a life of ease and pleasure, she chose to become an excellent welsh female role model for today's generation. This rather feisty lady worked hard for votes for women, holding offices in the Women's Social & Political Union, whilst being a successful business woman and journalist.

Professor Angela V John has published an excellent biography Turning the Tide, which documents Lady Rhondda's achievements.  This book will become part of a project to introduce school children to her role in history and encourage participation in local and national politics, as well as business.

In a detailed lecture at Caerleon Campus, as part of A bird in a Cage project, Professor John gave life to the name of Margaret Mackworth.  From loaning her outfit to an actress who became "The Pink Lady," to igniting letters in a Risca postbox and finally despite not being allowed to take her seat, having her portrait hanging in the lobby of the House of Lords, all whilst editing a newspaper and holding the position of Director on the boards of forty companies, this lady never stopped.




http://www.walesonline.co.uk/whats-on/arts-culture-news/many-lives-mrs-mackworth---6534007

International Orienteering Festival in South Wales

18-21 April 2014

According to the South Wales Argus 4,000 people are set to attend the JK Festival of Orienteering. This event will attract top orienteers from across the UK and Europe as well as families who enjoy the sport as an activity for all ages. Hosted by British Orienteering in conjunction with the Welsh Orienteering Association, the event will include four different distances contested over four days.

Swansea will host the first event on Good Friday,
then Easter Sunday Llangynidr Common, north of Trefil, Tredegar sees the long distance event.
Easter Monday a relay race for clubs from across the country will take place a Pwll Du, Blaenavon.

For more information visit:


www.thejk.org.uk

Wales Tourism Week

"Wales Tourism Week is as much about reminding 

us of the opportunities on our doorstep as about 

encouraging more visitors to Wales."

                                                            Baroness Randerson    

22 February to 3 March 2014

Wales Office ministers will visit local landmarks to promote Wales Tourism Week.

Jenny Randerson, Wales Office Minister for tourism will visit National Roman Legion Museum in Caerleon and National Trust's Tredegar House.

Stephen crabb, Wales Office Minister will visit BikePark Wales in Merthyr Tydfil.

David Jones, Secretary of State will visit Chirk Castle in Wrexham.

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On 1st March, Wales celebrates our patron saint, St David.  To commemorate this CADW the organisation who protects some of our national heritage sites, including castles, will be allowing free entry.

For details of places included in this offer, please use the link below:

http://cadw.wales.gov.uk/?lang=en

Penarth Seafront, South Wales

After the severe gales and storms of January 2014 we found a sunny day to visit Penarth seafront to survey the devastation.  This section of the coast seems to have got away reasonably lightly with very little visible storm damage.  Pebbles and seaweed had been washed up onto the pathways, and the odd sandbag was still visible, but otherwise it was its usual pleasant self.

Where is Forte's Cafe?

One important item which is currently missing is the Forte Cafe; always good for a warming cup of coffee or a cooling ice-cream.  The whole block of buildings is being renovated, so hopefully the cafe will return on completion.

Fishermen were taking the opportunity of a lull in the storms, but there was little evidence any of them had been successful.  I wouldn't be happy carrying all that gear from the car to the beach and back again just for the privilege of standing, looking at the sea!   I can do that just carrying my handbag!

Fun to find washed up on the beach, were stones showing signs of fossils, but my favourite were the stones worn to reflect the waves of the sea.  I'm surprised someone hasn't collected them up to make a fantastic patio. This isn't a suggestion, merely an observation.

Penarth Pier & Pavilion

What a joy to see the sad old pier rejuvenated and looking so spectacular in the sunshine.  Whenever we visited Penarth it was intriguing to wonder what was behind the shuttered windows. Now its incredible, well worth the efforts and heartache.

"The Art Deco pavilion opened in May 1929. Unusually for its period, it was made almost entirely from ferro-concrete, including the curved roof."

It has been refurbished with a gallery and cafe downstairs and meeting rooms and cinema upstairs.

The railings really takes you back in time

This art deco building has always looked amazing, even in its worst state.  I wonder what visitors would have thought when it was opened originally?



The cafe provides all-round views of the bay with the pier disappearing in a lesson of perspective in the centre.  Coffee and snacks along with a warm reception has already made this a favourite spot for many  who live locally.  I'm sure in the summer months they will find it difficult to get in.

The Penarth Pier Pavilion Project is wholly owned and run by Penarth Arts and Crafts (PACL) a registered charity (Charity No. 1081276), established as a social enterprise in 1998 to provide a range of education programmes especially targeted at disadvantaged members of the community, to organise exhibitions of art and craft, and to renovate and sustain heritage buildings.

The glorious art deco clock facing the roadway is no up and working as it was when the building was first opened. 

Ceramic in the entrance hall of the Pavilion

Close-up of the original ceiling decoration above the ceramic circle in the entrance hall

View of the pier from the upstairs window of the pavilion

http://www.penarthpavilion.co.uk/news

http://historypoints.org/index.php?page=penarth-pier-pavilion

Blaenavon Cycle Path

Beautiful stonewalling glowing in the sunshine.

A lone bird's nest providing a fantastic view of the valley below.

Carrying coal and iron as well as passengers this was the route of the railway line from Blaenavon through to Pontypool and beyond.

Peaceful

The old railway line was closed by Mr Beeching a long time ago, but over the last few years it has been turned into a cycle path/walking route.  The whole route extends from Cwmbran up through the valley to Blaenavon.

Last week we braved the rain and walked from Blaenavon railway station down to Talywain. Not far, but it rained as we reached the car.

Exact stonework, no spaces or damaged stones.

This section of the route provides fantastic scenery across the valley and clues to the original use of the pathway still exist;  expertly faced stonework, and remnants of the old station at Cwmavon, complete with stone luggage.

Safety space to allow trains to pass

The Mossy bank was the old platform edge

A large machine attached to a tractor was cutting, or rather slashing at the hedges on either side, leaving the ragged remains to regrow in the warmer weather.




Stone sculptures positioned on the old station to replicate someone's  luggage.  It really does capture a small part of the atmosphere of the old station

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