WILD WET WALES 09/09/08 Well, we managed to have a good weekend despite the weather. With rains unlike anything I have ever seen, torrential and unrelenting, the options for adventurous activities would seem rather reduced... but hey, we are resourceful guys and despite the chaos, with major roads being closed on the Friday and rivers bursting their banks, we were out for two days of outdoor fun. Saturday we cycled along the Taff Trail from Pontcanna Fields in Cardiff to Tongwynlais and the into the woods above Castell Coch. This route was alongside the river Taff which was very swollen. The footbridge at Pontcanna Fields had been under water on the previous day... Mountain biking at Castell Coch is superb, muddy, technical and with a few spots for some hair raising descents... Sunday was a good choice - a dry cave high up on Llangattock Escarpment, Eglwys Faen or the stone church. This was an excellent trip with a few members of our facebook club. To see the BBC's take on the flooding of South Wales CLICK HERE To see photos of our adventurous weekend or to join our facebook club click CLICK HERE Our thoughts are with those adventure activity suppliers that have been unable to generate a good income this year, thinking of canoe hire companies and those who do not have a diverse activity portfolio... another year like this and I think a few will not be able to maintain good enough relations with their banks... A colleague who had a passing trade business on Swansea Bay didn't reopen this year following last years record breaking rainfall... We live in troubled times. AUTUMN OPEN DAYS 28/08/08 Just an update detailing our open courses throughout the autumn. These are discounted to encourage beginners to get out there. Always fun and friendly, you will want to come along on a regular basis.... and if you do - you get a further discount! For more details please visit our calendar and then if interested please do fill in an enquiry or booking form. SAT 6TH SEPTEMBER - CARDIFF - MOUNTAIN BIKE WEDS 24TH - THURS 25TH SEPTEMBER - TREFFOREST - OUTDOOR LEADER FIRST AID SAT 27TH SEPTEMBER - GLYNEATH - GORGE WALK SAT 4TH OCTOBER - ABERFAN - AROMATHERAPY COURSE DAY 1 SAT 11TH OCTOBER - OGMORE - MULTI ACTIVITY BEACH DAY SAT 1ST NOVEMBER - ABERFAN - AROMATHERAPY COURSE DAY 2 SAT 15TH NOVEMBER - CRICKHOWELL - CAVING SAT 29TH - SUN 30TH NOVEMBER - ABERFAN - AROMATHERAPY TWO DAY INTRODUCTORY COURSE Summer Round Up 24/08/08 Well, another year of rain... We have managed to keep our groups safe and happy although at times it has been rather difficult. Yesterday was spent at the beach, with a big swell the coasteering was not an option although we did manage some rather good jumps. The kiteing was excellent as the wind was constant and just right for beginners to the sport. Today was in the gorge - with high water levels yet again some of the activities were not an option but we managed some great traverses and some playing in full and powerful waterfalls. Last years poor weather saw a few business go under - one of our partners in Swansea Bay decided not to trade again this year and we are concerned for the canoe hire specialists who have had another dreadful year with rivers too high to allow hire of canoes. Fingers crossed for a warm and sunny autumn... We have been increasingly concerned by the seemingly cavalier attitude to provision that we have witnessed at the gorge in recent months, increasingly frustrating to those providers that wish to offer a safe and traditional gorge walking experience - there is a growing number of purely commercial business that are about numbers and the £££'s that these generate. We have reported a few intances of poor provision to the Licensing Authority but these instances have been with adult groups and the authority has little jurisdiction. We have witnessed a company running groups of 29 people as one, allowing 17 clients in the water at the same time, pool jumping in a very risky manner and of course allowing clients to participate in innapropriate footwear. Wales Outdoors Limited urge all potential clients to check out the providers risk assessments and thus thier staff ratios, the manner in which they run the activities and the kit requirements. Unfortunately we predict further serious incidents at the gorge and and we don't want to see your name on the accident form... As a guide we ensure the following - Walking boots, bouyancy, canoe helmet and we also provide wetsuits in cold weather, usually November through to March. We also work with a staff ratio of 1:8 ensuring a quality experience for participants and a stress free day at work for instructors. Finally, check out the new kites for sale in our KIT SALES These are quality kites that we love to fly, and great value in comparison to similar quality performance kites. Better still, book a half day session with us and have a training session using the same kites prior to considering a purchase... Ah, the great Outdoors 11/06/08 FROM THE BRECON AND RADNOR EXPRESS 05/06/08 You often hear the phrase 'survival of the fittest' and an outdoor adventure company from Powys has beaten off the competition from rivals to land a prestigious television contract. Wales Outdoors Limited, a local adventure activities company based in the Brecon Beacons, recently landed the prestigious contract of running the survival/adventure activities event that is now showing as part of a mini series of one minute trailers on BBC2. The series have run through much of May and will continue into June and follows the trials and tribulations of stressed workaholics as they wind down, learn new skills and eventually, simply, chill in the Brecon Beacons. The footage is linked to BBC2's new season of programming of enjoying the great outdoors with the summer season on the horizon. The director of the company is Andrew Lamb, who established Wales Outdoors in 1994. Since its inception it has grown from the very first mountain bike hire business in the Brecon Beacons into a Wales wide multi activity provider. For the series Andrew has developed the adventures to include activities and tasks that echoed the new upcoming programmes. Andrew said 'Wales Outdoors are proud to have been awarded this contract and hope to build upon this success. Working on the trailers was a delightful experience' The programmes associated with the season of trailers included Across the Andes, Wild China, Ray Mears Goes Walkabout, Springwatch and Tribal Wives - which starts July 1st at 9pm. Andrew added 'It is not often that a local business gains primetime mainstream media coverage for a whole campaign - we are even associated with the new BBC2 logo. This is great news for the areas tourism and for promoting gentle enjoyment of the beautiful landscape that inspires me.' Clips and more information can be found here New Website Design 01/06/08 We hope that you like the new design, due for release at the end of June 2008. Keep checking back here for Wales Outdoors in the news and for business innovations. Any comments or advice on the usefulness of the site changes will be gratefuly recieved.