Lothlorien Holiday Cottage
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Outdoor Activities

EXPLORE SOUTH WALES
For Further information about all outdoor activities visit Breconbeacons.org or http://www.visitswanseabay.com/listings/activities
Craig Y Nos Lothlorien Cottage

The Endless Skies Of Craig Y Nos Country Park
Rock climbing and abseiling in the Brecon Beacons National Park
If you enjoy climbing, why not take a look at things from a different angle and reach new heights on the cliffs of the Brecon Beacons?

The National Park offers plenty of natural challenges for climbers and abseilers, including sheltered crags, old quarries and rocky escarpments with stunning vistas. In the sheltered areas, you can climb all year round – on a sunny winter's day you might be moving over warm rock in just a t-shirt, if you’re lucky. There are also all-weather indoor options.

Walking

A perfect location for Walking Holidays, where rambles along the Amman Valley begin right at your door, and walks up the Black Mountain can begin from home - or get a head start and drive to the top of the mountain within 15 minutes or so. 

The Black Mountain is criss-crossed with Pathways and Walking Routes, as is the rest of the Brecon Beacons National Park, or you can head to the coast for Coastal Walks, choose one of the nearby Forests or wander through some of the best Parks and Gardens in Wales on the doorstep of the accomodation

Cycling

Lothlorien Cottage is in the center of some excellent cycling country with a wide range of cycle routes available to explore and enjoy. The spectacular Welsh scenery provides a wonderful backdrop to cycling in the area, and a bicycle can be the ideal vehicle for hands-on exploration. 

There are routes for all levels of fitness, from the Millennium Path Cycle route which follows the coast from Llanelli for an easy ride with spectacular coastal views to the Black Mountain Cycle Route which has mountain gradients.

The Bike Bus service runs on Summer Sundays and Bank Holidays from the end of May to the end of September. The bus tows a 24-bike trailer and runs from Cardiff to Brecon arriving at 11am in the morning. It then shuttles between Brecon and Abergavenny during the day before returning to Cardiff at 5.30pm.
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Lothlorien Cottage is in the middle of the Black mountain Cycle Route
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Lothlorien lies along the Taff Trail




Photo Below Windsurfing in
the Brecon Beacons National
Park.
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Paragliding in The Beacons

North-facing mountain escarpments offer near-perfect launchpads for the first-time flyer. On a trial flight in a glider, you can ride thermals over patchworks of hills and soar along hill ridges in what many pilots name as the UK’s finest gliding region. Why should buzzards enjoy the best views? Search for Axis paragliding or Welsh Airsports

Birdwatching
The Brecon Beacons isn’t all go. Slow down and you experience the richness of its nature reserves, many managed by the Brecknock Wildlife Trust. There are golden plover and red grouse in the uplands, peregrine falcons on the cliffs, and barn owls, butterflies and bats flit in the lowlands. 

You can build birdwatching into your holiday whatever else you do. 
  • Feed the birds in the back garden and enjoy the feathered feasting from the panoramic kitchen window. 
  • Keep an eye on the skies and you will see the red kites that you can view in detail from the Red Kite Feeding Station on the nearby Black Mountain, 
  • Listen to the sound of birds on nearby woodland walks.
  • Visit the Bird Sanctuary at the National Wetlands Centre at Llanelli
  • Take a boat trip to one of the bird islands.
  • .. and much more​

RSPB CWM CLYDACH RESERVE

The RSPB Cwm Clydach Reserve is north of the A4067 Pontardawe to Swansea road. Two nature trails, one short, the other of medium length, link onto a network of public footpaths. The shortest route is suitable for pushchairs whist the longer trail has some steep and rocky sections.

In spring at Cwm Clydach, wood sorrel carpets the ground and woodland bird activity is at its peak. Early migrants like chiffchaffs arrive to set up territory and are followed later in April by willow warblers, pied flycatchers and redstarts. Resident species too are nest-building and a visit in early morning produces a superb dawn chorus of song.


Enjoy a stroll through a peaceful woodland setting on a lovely summer day. Dippers and grey wagtails feed along the river and smaller streams and all the summer migrants have arrived and are busy rearing young. Redstarts and wood warblers can be seen in more open woodland, with bullfinches and marsh tits present in scrubbier areas. Butterflies like silver-washed fritillaries and speckled woods bask in sunny clearings.
The myriad of autumn leaf colours makes this a magical season at Cwm Clydach; shades of green turn brown, bronze and red. Siskins and lesser redpolls feed on the seeds of riverside alders and colourful fungi like fly agarics and chantarelles dot the ground.


Look out in the winter for soaring buzzards, red kites and ravens over the valley, more easily visible now the leaves have fallen. Redwings and fieldfares feed on hawthorn berries and mixed flocks of tits, treecreepers and nuthatches move through in search of food.
National Wetlands Centre at Llanelli  Below
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Outdoor Views from Outdoor Activities

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Gower Surfing


​SurfGSD – The Gower Surf School is the ONLY licensed surf school in the Swansea area and is the only approved surf school allowed to run surf lessons at Caswell Bay, near Mumbles Village, Gower. They operate all year round, from  Their Caswell surf hut on the promenade.​


About SurfGSD – The Gower Surf School was established 15 years ago and is one of the premier ‘Surfing Great Britain’ approved surfing schools. Jason Bradbury had a an indoor surfing lesson with us on The Gadget show and Anna Richardson on C4’s Supersize versus Superskinny took an outdoor surfing lesson with us at Caswell. We have also been featured in the national press, including highly acclaimed Coast magazine, Times, Guardian, Observer, Daily Mirror and independent. 



Our motto is Surfing for Everyone- We run the famous Junior Surfing Academy at Caswell 7 days a week during the school holidays. We cater for large groups including stag and hen do’s, scout and guide groups, school activity weeks and can cater for bespoke small group or 1-2-1 surfing sessions. You can book online at www.shopgsd.com,
 text 077 395 361 22 for last minute surf sessions or email us info@surfgsd.com for group or bespoke session enquiries.

Afan Forest safaris

Afan Forest Safaris' provide a unique and exhilarating way to explore Afan Forest Park and Margam Country Park through a 4 x 4 driving experience. 
Sit back and enjoy the ride as you explore the deep narrow valleys and the forested mountains. Travel on road, country lanes, and ancient byways in the worlds leading 4×4, as you experience the best of the local history, scenery and wildlife.
If you want something different you can finish off your day with a variety of activities such as clay pigeon shooting, quad biking or paint balling.
Afan Safari’s offers a number of different safaris an
d much more.
Travelling to Afan Forest Park by Train? Need transport for you and your mountain bike to your accommodation?

Afan Forest Safaris offer a pick up service from Port Talbot Train Station to your accommodation for you and your mountain bikes. For prices please contact Afan Forest Safaris direct.
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Mountain Biking

There are world class mountain bike trails within the
Brecon Beacons National Park and the Afan Forest.
Both cater for all abilities and family parties. 

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Walkers Enjoying Brecon Views
Centred on Britain’s first Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty, the  Gower June Walking Festival provided a great opportunity to see the wonderful scenery and abundant wildlife of the Gower Peninsula and the area around it. There are 71 guided walks and activities, so there is something for everyone - young and old, experienced hikers or leisurely strollers, those revisiting favourite walks, and those looking to learn or experience something new. Explore the unique landscapes of Gower – dramatic cliffs, sandy beaches, wooded valleys and open moors and marsh. Delve into our history – Celtic Saints, Norman invasion and Copperopolis. Taste our gorgeous local food. Discover a rich wildlife with our experts. - See more at: http://www.ramblers.org.uk or gowerwalking
festival.org.uk.

Wild Swimming
Lower Ddwli Falls, Waterfall Woods, Brecon Beacons
In the south-west hills of the Brecon Beacons, near Ystradfellte, you'll find some of the most amazing waterfall plunge pools in Britain. There are more than 20 pools along five miles of the Fechan and Mellte rivers, so you could try dipping in every one of them on a long day's walk. Lower Ddwli Falls is my favourite, a huge open pool with a great arc of a waterfall. Spray lifts up through the leaves and on a sunny day there are rainbows everywhere. Just downstream is Horseshoe Falls, with a great jump and rope swing. To reach them walk up the forest path from Pontneddfechan's Angel Inn or park at Pont Melinfach car park, off the Ystradfellte road, and walk downstream.

Caving and Potholing

Porth yr Ogof, Brecon Beacons
Three cheers for tropical sea creatures. Thanks to the bed of limestone they created 370 million years ago the Brecon Beacons is as impressive below ground as above. Dangerous alone, one of Europe’s longest cave networks offers a genuine adventure, if explored with an accredited operator. Or with the kids in the Dan-Yr-Ogof Showcaves. 

The Sky Trek Experience is a new, unique and exciting activity not to be found anywhere else in Europe! Sky Trek is a series of over 14 connected zip lines travelling between trees at heights of up to 22 metres as it zig-zags down the mountainside.

At over 3 kilometres in length, the Sky Trek system hangs high in the canopy of the trees. Your Sky Trek tour allows you to observe our breathtaking landscape from a different perspective. The observation platforms give unrivalled panoramic views across Llangorse Lake to the peaks of the Brecon Beacons in the distance.
For further details see 
www.activityuk.com

Information, snacks, hot and cold drinks. Large Car Parks, beautiful views.
Open all year except Xmas & Boxing Day, New Years Day.


Sbri Cymru 
Adventure Outdoors Centre
Located at Pen Y Cae
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Above Gorge walking
Below Rock Climbing
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Gower Coast Adventures

Get up close and personal with Dolphins,Seals and abundant sea life on a boat trip.This company is located at The Mumbles , Swansea Bay.It is rated 5 on Trip Advisor and is 35 minutes from Lothlorien Cottage. Tel 07866250440 for booking or general info.
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Below Hang Gliders on The Gower
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The Miles and Miles of Gower beaches are perfect
for Swimming and Surfing
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Amman valley Trotting Club is situated near lothlorien Holiday Cottage in Wales
Above The Amman Valley Trotting Club

Equestrian Sports

The cottage is within a few minutes walk of the Amman Valley Trotting Club  one of only four all-weather trotting tracks in the UK. 

This is good horse country, you will see horses on the hills behind the cottage and there are various riding stables and equestrian centres within a short drive of the cottage.

Fishing

There are many private fisheries in the area including Trapp Fisheries,5 miles from lothlorien Cottage and Llyn carfan Coarse Fishing.The cottage also has an outhouse for wet gear cleaning and storage.

White Springs  Lakes

 Dedicated fisheries are based in Pontardulais. There are six lakes which cater for pleasure or sport angling and it has the distinction of being the venue for the welsh carp record.It lies at a distance of 25 minutes from the cottage and a day ticket for non members is £18
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Golfing

Looking on a map, the whole area in which Lothlorien Cottage is set, is a patchwork of golf courses. You could stay for a week, play golf on a different course every day and just be starting to scratch the surface.

Water Sports

With so much coastline to explore in addition to the many rivers and lakes, the choice of water sports available is considerable. Yachts, kayaks and canoes can be hired or one can participate in organised outdoor adventures with guides.

 Sail boarding, kite surfing, fishing and other activities are available as well as lesser know events such as the Bog Snorkelling championships that take place locally. Explore the coastline by taking a boat trip to some of the Bird islands or take a cruise to do some sea fishing off the coast. 

and much more...
Salmon Fishing on The Usk
The Usk trickles from the Black Mountain down through forests and over bedrock to the freestone runs where wild brown trout run and salmon leap. From June to October the loveliest game river in Wales offers a challenge for anyone who enjoys a summer evening’s fishing: angler, otter and kingfisher. 

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Above Coaststeering on The Gower
Patio of Lothlorien Self catering holiday cottage in wales