News, training, campaign updates, tips from other members...

Keep safe from Ticks

Ticks can sometimes transmit human diseases such as Lyme disease which can be treated with a course of antibiotics. It is important to know if you have one and remove it quickly and fully- see link for details

Tick_awareness

Local bookable bus service- Dyffryn Conwy

Details further down the page

Mountain Rescue: In case of emergency

Make a note of all relevant details: Location; name, gender and age of casualty; nature of injuries or emergency; number of people in the party; your mobile phone number. Also the Grid reference and/or what three words if possible

Dial 999 or 112. Ask for ‘Police’ then ‘Mountain Rescue’

Make sure you tell the operator that you wish to speak to the Police. Give all your prepared details of the incident. Do NOT change your position until contacted by the rescue team. If you have to make a further 999 call, repeat this procedure.

If you have hearing or speech difficulties or the signal is poor, you can contact the 999 emergency services by text. You will only be able to use this service if you are registered with Emergency SMS first Emergency SMS.doc . Register now – don’t wait for an emergency!

Text ‘register’ to 999 then follow the instructions sent. In an emergency contact the emergencySMS service by texting 999.

Further safety advise: https://www.mountain.rescue.org.uk/safety/

Training

Training events can be found on the Ramblers Cymru Eventbrite site as they are organised.  This link will take you to the site

https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/o/ramblers-cymru-3037015328

Greener (and maybe cheaper) options for your walking kit

Here are some options for extending the life of your walking kit for yourself or for passing them on for others to use. The longer we keep our clothing, tents and rucksacks going, the less we buy and the smaller our impact on the planet.

If you know of other shops that offer repair and recycling services please let us know so we can share the details and help us all to try to minimise our impact on the world while we keep doing what we love.

Alpkit (Betws-y-Coed)

This shop offers repairs; cleaning and reproofing and recycling of outdoor kit. Alpkit repair outdoor kit from any brand. For a price list visit: https://alpkit.com/pages/repair-station

Your waterproofs can be tech washed & reproofed. Their price list for this is on the same link.

They can also sell Nikwax® refill products.

Recycle: You can donate any item of outdoor clothing. You can drop donations off at the shop in Betws-y-Coed. All garments must be in good, clean, and functional condition. They also recycle: Sleeping Bags, Sleeping mats, Walking poles, Tents, Rucksacks, Pots and pans, Bikes, Bike parts and accessories, Cycle clothing.

https://alpkit.com/pages/continuum

 Cotswolds Outdoor offer the following services

• the Repair & Care service, to extend the life of the clothing you love. This is a send away service -details online https://www.cotswoldoutdoor.com/

• the Recycle my Gear service to keep your unwanted kit out of landfill -in store Betws-y-Coed

Remember Ramblers Members enjoy a 15% Discount online and instore.

You can also check directly with your clothing manufacturers to see if they offer repair services for their products.

Berghaus(postage cost only), Paramo and Patagonia will repair their kit. Patagonia also offer a wide range of online repair guides/ videos.

Another one I spotted recently was the 'Nood Food' shop in Llanfairfechan act as an agent/ drop off point for snowdonia gear repair http://www.snowdoniagearrepair.co.uk -a local independent repair company.

 GWRYCH CASTLE.

The New Highwaycode for 2022

This gives walkers greater priority and makes cyclists responcible for giving way on shared paths:- https://www.gov.uk/guidance/the-highway-code

Training

Training events can be found on the Ramblers Cymru Eventbrite site as they are organised.  This link will take you to the site

https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/o/ramblers-cymru-3037015328

Future training opportunities.

North Wales Area Ramblers and Conwy Valley group have run First Aid training sessions and also Navigation training. Please contact Kevin Slattery (01492874563) if you are interested in further training.

Fflecsi Dyffryn Conwy- local bookable bus service

This public transport service is now operating, replacing local bus services 19 (between Llanrwst – Cwm Penmachno only) 42, 68A, 68B, 68C, 68D and 70. This covers a substantial area from Llanwrst to Cwm Penmachno, Llyn Brenig and Corwen. 

fflecsi operates Monday – Saturday with extensions further south to Corwen three times a week. The service operates by picking you up and dropping you off in the defined area and not just along a fixed bus route- it can change its route so that all booked passengers can get to where they need to go.

To use fflecsi, you need to book in advance using the app, web or by calling 0300 234 0300. On the website, some quick links will give you the ability to book and guarantee connections for a selection of bus and train journeys from Llanrwst. 

This fflecsi service could be really useful for some group walks as by prebooking you would know there would be room for the group. Ideal for linear walks where you walk back to Llanwrst or Betws y Coed so are not waiting somewhere rural for a return bus.

Deganwy Rail Crossing Planning Inquiry

Network Rail closed the crossing over the railway line in 2011 close to Warren Drive and Glan y Mor Road, Deganwy, Conwy. Following a lengthy legal process, a Welsh Government inspector has confirmed that the level crossing on the Llandudno branch line at Tywyn, Deganwy is a public footpath, contrary to the case put forward by Network Rail. 

Aberconwy MP Guto Bebb and local councillor Mike Priestly made a claim to have the crossing recognised as having public rights and Ramblers Cymru put forward a case in support.

The inspector decided that public rights to access the foreshore on the Conwy estuary already existed when the railway was constructed in the 1850s and had not been extinguished by the building of the railway.

The result of both the Inquiry and the Network Rail appeal went in our favour but we have yet to see any action. (August 2020)

The full report is below.

Deganwy public enquiry report.

Llandudno Town Council Monitoring walks  Ramblers members are welcome to join the Town Councillors on their footpath inspection walks.  Contact Kevin (see contacts) for more details.

Compasses and magnets

The following link has been brought to our attention and it will be of interest to walkers and leaders:

Reverse Polarity in Compasses | Glenmore Lodge

  Maps:

A free resource and one which is easily printed off etc.

 Log into the search engine Bing and then go to Bing maps or just google Bing maps, which automatically displays a standard road map for an area.

 A drop down menu changes the display to an Ordnance survey map which can then be printed off or saved.

ALSO useful

https://www.aqua3.com/easy-read-maps.asp

 Thanks to Chris for those.

 Bws Arfordir Llŷn Coastal Bus .

A number of walks spring up at short notice. There is no way these could be put into the programme so we have made them Web walks.

We realise not everyone has internet access and apologise to those who miss out. If you are able to provide an e-mail address to head office it will help us keep n touch.

Meanwhile please keep checking our website or the national walkfinder for new walks.