Waterfalls of the Vale of Neath
Event info
This will be an on-location workshop led by Sarah Howard for up to six people. Tickets will go on sale on 16 August.
"I cannot call to mind a single valley that in the same extent of country comprises so much beautiful and picturesque scenery and so many interesting and special features as the Vale of Neath."
That’s what the famous 19th Century naturalist Alfred Russel Wallace wrote when he first experienced the Vale of Neath. He summed it up pretty well. The ‘special features’ he refers to are the series of beautiful and dramatic waterfalls blessing this valley. There is nowhere in Wales with as many spectacular waterfalls in such a small area as this part of South Wales known as 'Waterfall Country'. Here, the rivers Mellte, Hepste and Neddfechan have worn away the soft rocks to create steep wooded gorges full of caves and waterfalls. These beautiful secluded woodlands on the southern edge of the Brecon Beacons National Park, contain a series of picturesque tumbling streams and falls. Each with their own unique character, these falls are some of the loveliest we have encountered and offer potential for some wonderful photography. Cool in summer, wreathed in myths and fringed with ferns, there’s something truly magical about them. Cascading down steep-sided gorges, they add a delightful extra dimension to the woodland.
Together we will follow the Elidir Trail along the River Nedd Fechan, taking in the falls enroute. Sgwd Gwladus (Lady Falls), with its delicate cascade is one of the most beautiful. We will also take in Sgwd-y-Bedol (the Horseshoe Falls), shaped in several levels of semi-circular ledges. A little further upstream the water cascades over Sgwd Ddwli Isaf and Sgwd Ddwli Uchaf (the Lower and Upper Gushing Falls) which after heavy rain, truly live up to their name. We will also visit nearby Melincourt Falls; a spectacular 80 feet (24 m) high waterfall and known to have inspired J. M. W. Turner to paint them in 1794.
This is the ideal workshop if you are looking to master the capture of water.
Lunch arrangements - bring a packed lunch, drinks and snacks.
Clothing and equipment - please bring / wear:
- Waterproof walking boots, or wellies if wet/ you wish to walk in the river,
- waterproof jacket, & trousers, fleece.
- Camera, tripod, lenses,
- remote/cable release, memory cards, charged batteries, polarising filter, ND filters - suggest 0.4 as a minimum, a Little Stopper may be useful but not essential, soft graduated filter - suggest 0.6 or 0.9 (not essential)
This will be a category C event with up to 6 participants. Participants may be asked to provide information about their experience and equipment to the tutor prior to the event.
Your data
Please note: your personal data (name, email address and telephone number) that you supply when booking an event will be passed to the event / workshop leader in order to enable them to:
- contact you in advance of the event to remind you or notify you of joining instructions (or changes thereto) etc.
- contact you at short notice before or during an event in case of any emergency or last-minute changes (eg because of weather).
By booking this event you are deemed to consent to this transfer of your data.
Event Organiser
- Name
- Mark Reeves
- Tel
- 07968616551
Location
- Venue Information
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Parking is free of charge on the roadside - do not park in the pub car park else you will be clamped.
Accessibility – there will be some uphill walking and possibly slippery surfaces, possibility of mud.
- Cancellation policy
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Cancellation by You
If you wish to cancel your booking PLEASE let the event leader / organiser know with as much notice as possible. If nothing else, this can avoid them delaying the start of the event while they wait for you.
If you have paid for an event, please note that this fee/ticket price is non-refundable unless we are able to sell your place to somebody else. You are welcome to sell your place yourself but, again, PLEASE notify the event leader / organiser in advance of any change.
Cancellation by us
Event leaders are asked to make plans for alternative activities or locations in the case of poor weather and, in most cases, events will proceed despite poor weather unless, in the view of the event leader, the weather will lead to unacceptable safety risks or very little chance of successful photography. It is inevitable, however, that occasionally an event will be postponed or cancelled for this or another reason beyond the RPS’s control. If an event is postponed we will transfer your booking to the rearranged event, with the option of a refund if the rescheduled date is not suitable for you.
Occasionally an event may also be cancelled owing to lack of bookings. So if you wish to attend an event, don’t leave it till the last minute to book as it may be too late.
If an event is cancelled we will give you as much notice as we are able and any payment by you to the RPS in respect of the event offered as a full refund. In the case of events cancelled because of lack of interest we will aim to give at least three weeks’ notice wherever possible.
Please note we are NOT able to refund any associated or consequential costs including but not limited to travel, accommodation, insurance premium or other costs incurred by you in order to attend the event.
- Address
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Vale of Neath
Opposite the Angel Inn
Pontneathvaughan Road
Pontneddfechan
Neath
SA11 5NR