The Elan Valley, Llyn Clywedog, and Lake Vyrnwy reservoirs, are just some of the amazing blue and green spaces in Mid Wales. These majestic reservoirs, all situated within the county of Powys, provide a backdrop that inspires local communities, promoting a strong sense of place connection. The eight reservoirs offer a host of activities in secluded beauty spots that are well worth discovering as Mid Wales displays its glorious autumn colours. They appeal to walkers, heritage visitors, cyclists, sailors, anglers, artists, bird and wildlife watchers, patrons at local cafes and visitor centers and tourists staying at local accommodation and hospitality venues. Llyn Clywedog, five miles west of Llanidloes, is set in between the Victorian reservoirs of the Elan Valley to the south and Lake Vyrnwy to the north. Constructed in the 1960s, Llyn Clywedog is home to the tallest concrete dam in the United Kingdom at 72-meters high and comes complete with sweeping views across inspirational hills and valleys. The dam is set against an ancient landscape, bordering the Hafren Forest and the remote, rugged atmosphere of the Cambrian Mountains. Afon Clywedog, a headwater of the River Severn, flows through the Victorian ruins of the Bryntail Lead Mines below. This reservoir is a critical part of the Hafren Dyfrdwy flood control system for the River Severn. It has become integrated into the livelihood and leisure of the area, providing a great day out for visitors. From creative art workshops that support members of our local community, water sports and education, to family-friendly walking routes past historic sites, which form part of Glyndwr’s Way, all activities provide a fantastic place to visit, relax and connect with the outdoors. Recent investment from Hafren Dyfrdwy to renovate the reservoir visitor centre has allowed the creation of a community cafe, Caffi Clywedog, which is fully accessible. In addition, the site has its own community arts creative hub, which overlooks the breathtaking views. At the creative hub, Radiate Arts CIC works within the local community to provide workshops, which aim to foster people’s wellbeing and uses the inspirational surroundings to spark creativity. Pam Gordon, director of Radiate Arts said: “Everything we do is about delivering projects with those who would not usually experience art as part of their everyday life, providing a much-needed resource to feel the benefit of the arts in our lives. Our activities include stone-carving, textiles and painting which are open to the public. The impact on wellbeing from the creative arts in such a fantastic place is transformational to those we work with. “Our 100% plant-based Caffi Clywedog is next door and provides refreshments for courses and to those exploring the area. We are part of a strong rural community, Connecting Clywedog, and there is so much to explore here.”
Eluned Lewis, Elan Links Scheme manager said: “It’s sometimes hard to quantify the benefits of developing artist residency programmes. After a number of years, we are now seeing artists who have gained national recognition following time spent at Elan Valley which is great for the artists and for the location. “The Elan Valley is a special place with a unique landscape, story and history. Elan Links is a Heritage Lottery funded scheme which aims to secure this heritage and boost the opportunities available in the Elan Valley for the future.” Between 2018-2023, there will be 26 projects delivered, which celebrate heritage, improve access for visitors and archive their stories. Elan Links, which is led by partnership board, aims to improve training opportunities and enhance nature and wildlife in the area. Nearly £3.4million will be invested in the Elan Valley area to safeguard heritage and increase the opportunities for visitors. Lake Vyrnwy, situated 37 miles north of Clywedog, offers a range of activities, such as watersports, a spa at Lake Vyrnwy Hotel, cycling and walking trails for all abilities as well as an RSPB reserve and the largest organic farm in the UK.
Donna Marshall, senior visitor engagement officer for Lake Vyrnwy, said: “Lake Vyrnwy truly is a magical place that has so much to give. It offers stunning views, woodland walks and rare wildlife, and it really is somewhere where people can come and immerse themselves amongst the nature around them. “We’re extremely lucky that at Hafren Dyfrdwy we own and manage Lake Vyrnwy, as well as Clywedog where we also funded the renovation of the cafe, as we know just how valuable that having access to sites like this is for local communities and visitors. “After the year we’ve had, it’s really important that there are places across Wales where people can come and re-connect with nature and get back out again into the open air, and Lake Vyrnwy is the perfect place to do just that. “From Wales’ tallest tree, RSPB bird hides, a local café on site, plenty of unique wildlife to spot, fairy tale towers and impressive dam, it truly is a place to remember.” Picture captions: Llyn Clywedog. The Elan Valley at night. Lake Vyrnwy.
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Cyclists and television viewers around the world who tuned in to last week’s AJ Bell Tour of Britain will have been inspired by the scenery, dramatic coastlines and the historic towns of Mid Wales, says the race director.
Stage Four of the famous race, which attracts the world’s best cyclists, began in Aberaeron, travelled north along the Ceredigion coastline to Aberystwyth and then headed east along the Dyfi Estuary to Machynlleth. From the home of the first Welsh Parliament in the time of Owain Glyndwr, the race headed north to Corris and Dolgellau before hugging the Mawddach Estuary to return to the coastline from Barmouth to Harlech, finishing at the Great Orme in Llandudno. “Stage Four of the AJ Bell Tour of Britain really showcased the scenery of Mid Wales and the helicopter shots of the Ceredigion coastline, in particular, were among some of the most beautiful we have seen on this year’s race,” said race director Mick Bennett. “This year marked the first time that the tour has raced through Ceredigion and the views certainly did not disappoint. We are sure that viewers across the UK and around the world will have been inspired by what they saw along the route, from dramatic coastlines to the beauty of the Dyfi Estuary and the historic towns that we passed through. “Hopefully the AJ Bell Tour of Britain will inspire more people to come to Mid Wales with their bikes in the future.” The organisation that promotes Mid Wales as a tourism destination for visitors agrees that the images beamed around the world from the AJ Bell Tour of Britain are a fantastic advertisement for the beautiful region. MWT Cymru represents more than 600 tourism and hospitality businesses across Ceredigion, Powys and the Meirionnydd region of Gwynedd. Chief executive, Val Hawkins said: “Attracting major events like the AJ Bell Tour of Britain and, in the past, the Wales Rally GB, is great for showcasing Mid Wales to the world and we hope they will want to return. “Our beautiful region has so much to offer visitors in terms of quality places to stay, see and visit and it is becoming an increasingly popular destination for cyclists who enjoy both on and off road cycling. “We seek to promote Mid Wales as an authentic destination where people from urban areas can re-energise in a real, inspiring and enriching environment. “Thousands of visitors have discovered how great our region is this summer as a result of the staycation boom and, hopefully, the AJ Bell Tour of Britain will encourage many more to come and visit us.” Aberystwyth-based Gruff Lewis, who rides for Ribble Weldtite, won the sprint in Borth on Stage Four and was delighted to compete on home territory. “One of the highlights for me was the crowd on Penglais Hill,” he said. “I used to work at the university sport centre and the atmosphere was just electric with staff supporting me alongside both local clubs, ‘Caffi Gruff’ and Ystwyth CC. “Another highlight was winning the sprint in Borth which is within a stone’s throw of my home and where I start nearly every training ride, the Borth loop. “Barmouth is one of my favourite local spots and where I had my first date with my partner. To then finish on the Great Orme in blistering sunshine welcomed by my fiancée and four-year-old boy was very emotional.” Picture caption: The AJ Bell Tour of Britain riders arrive on Aberystwyth on stage four last week. Riders tackle Bwlch Llyn Bach near Talyllyn. This summer’s staycation boom has seen more people taking up paddleboarding while on holiday at the seaside or inland in Mid Wales where they have been exploring rivers, canals and lakes. Paddleboarding is now the world’s most popular watersport which has encouraged an entrepreneur to launch a new business teaching people how to safely get a close up view of the River Severn between Welshpool and Llandrinio aboard a paddleboard. Rich Brook, 37, of Long Mountain Paddleboarding - https://longmountainpaddleboarding.com - is using 10 years’ experience as an outdoor activity and watersports instructor to run standup paddleboarding courses. The courses are designed to suit all skill levels, ranging from complete beginners to those who already have some paddleboard experience. He is hoping for a busy autumn, with courses scheduled until mid-October, river and weather conditions allowing. To help promote his new venture, Rich has joined MWT Cymru, an independent company representing more than 600 tourism and hospitality businesses across Powys, Ceredigion and the Meirionnydd region of Gwynedd. Impressed by how many quality places to stay there are in the Welshpool area, Rich features some of them on his website. “I enjoy teaching people new skills and found that there was not a lot going on in the Welshpool area in terms of watersports,” said Rich. “Paddleboarding has been growing for a number of years, but it has hit the headlines more this year and it’s now the world’s fastest growing watersport.
“I think that’s because it’s so accessible and there are varying degrees of technical skills required depending on whether its flat water or white water. “Everybody has been on staycation this summer and looking for something to do. Paddleboarding has allowed them to discover the beautiful inland waterways of Mid Wales. It’s amazing the amount of wildlife that you can see when you are out on the river.” He stressed that his courses and coaching sessions focus on the safety aspects of paddleboarding to enable his customers to assess whether the conditions and environment they are planning to paddle in are suitable for their skill level. All paddleboard courses must be booked 24 hours in advance and Rich can take between two and eight paddlers, with prices ranging from £25 for 90 minutes’ instruction to £35 for three hours. He also offers two-hour, one-to-one coaching with a video review session for £50 for those wishing to improve the efficiency of their skills. The minimum age for paddlers is eight and those under the age of 18 must be accompanied by an adult on the water. All paddleboards, wetsuits and buoyancy aids are provided. “I aim to tailor bespoke courses and trips in order to meet individual training aims and objectives,” explained Rich who is considering running weekend courses in different parts of Wales next year if he can find the right locations. Picture caption: Rich Brook on his paddleboard. Wout van Aert moved back into the AJ Bell Tour of Britain race lead after out-sprinting reigning world champion Julian Alaphilippe to win the fourth stage that started in Mid Wales on Wednesday. The duo finished on the same time with Michael Woods (Israel Start-Up Nation) one second further back, while overnight leader Ethan Hayter (INEOS Grenadiers) slipped back to second place overall – just two seconds in arrears on van Aert – after a great fightback in the final kilometre from the Brit. Van Aert now enjoys a two second lead on Hayter with Alaphilippe and his Deceuninck – Quick-Step team-mate Mikkel Honoré at 11 and 21 seconds respectively, before a dangerous trio of riders in Woods, Rohan Dennis (INEOS Grenadiers) and Dan Martin (Israel Start-Up Nation) all within one minute. Ethan Hayter retains the Sportsbreaks.com Points jersey thanks to finishing each stage so far in the top five while Jacob Scott (Canyon dhb SunGod) extended his lead in both the ŠKODA King of the Mountains and Eisberg Sprints classifications having once again infiltrated a breakaway. The break, containing Scott and five others, was kept on a tight leash by the likes of Deceuninck – Quick-Step and Jumbo Visma as the race made its way north from Aberaeron alongside the Ceredigion coast in a third straight day of sunshine and high temperatures. From the Aberaeron start, the race headed to Aberystwyth, Machynlleth, Dolgellau, Barmouth and Harlech before finishing with a steep climb to the top of the Great Orme in Llandudno. Stage Five today sees the peloton heading to Cheshire. The race is sponsored by AJ Bell, one of the UK’s leading online investment platforms, helping people invest for the long term via ISAs, pensions and general investment accounts. It has a rich history of supporting elite level sport including badminton, cricket, rugby, squash and triathlon. Picture captions:
Wout van Aert out-sprints reigning world champion Julian Alaphilippe to win stage four. The peleton arrives in Aberystwyth. The peleton tackles Bwlch Llyn Bach pass near Talyllyn Lake. Images: SWpix.
“Whilst it is with some sadness that I am stepping down, I warmly welcome Suzy Davies to the role,” he said. “With her distinguished background and in the knowledge that she will carry out the task with great gusto, I am confident that she will bring her own unique signature to the organisation.
“It has been a pleasure and privilege to have made a contribution at such a challenging time and I wish to pay tribute to all tourism businesses and agencies in Wales for displaying such resilience in the face of profound adversity. We are hopefully sailing into calmer and more navigable waters now. “My thanks also to all at the WTA for their support during the last three years, in particular the efforts of policy advocate, Adrian Greason-Walker for his valuable advice and counsel at all times.” Mrs Davies was a regional Member of National Assembly for Wales for South Wales West from 2011 until earlier this year and served, for part of her time at the Senedd, as Shadow Minister for Tourism, Culture and the Welsh Language. She also chaired the Assembly’s Cross Party Group on Tourism. After a career in both marketing and management, she became a solicitor and politician. "Wales is ripe for further economic, environmentally savvy development and its visitor economy and tourism is core to that development,” she said. “After a lifelong desire for the world to see how wonderful this country is, I am excited to be joining such committed, experienced people who want to be part of a proud and successful Wales. "The industry has risen to the challenge of Covid magnificently, but the surge in domestic visitor numbers this year cannot blind us to the fragility of the sector's infrastructure. "Busy today is not the same as sustainable long term. We want the visitor economy to make a stable, balanced, desirable and valuable contribution to the nation's collective wellbeing. Tourism, hospitality, skills providers and local authorities - and Welsh Government - all recognise the challenges and the opportunities. "WTA is the collective voice of the industry in Wales. Failure to listen to it will mean failure to meet those challenges or to capitalise on those opportunities - and none of us wants that.” WTA board member, Barbara Griffiths, said: “Professor Campbell has gone above and beyond normal expectations over the last 18 months supporting the whole of the tourism industry in Wales, for which we are extremely grateful. “We now look forward with great pleasure to working with Suzy Davies who has experience in the Senedd and whose family runs a tourism business.” Picture caption: New WTA chair Suzy Davies with her predecessor Andrew Campbell. Montgomery Canal Triathlon made a successful return on Saturday with more than 100 entrants from across the British mainland. The triathlon, run by the Friends of the Montgomery Canal, started at Newtown’s new Riverside Venue, which is being built by Open Newtown. The 117 entrants, aged between under 10 and over 80 years, were sent on their way by MP Craig Williams, an enthusiastic supporter of the canal and Newtown’s Mayor Councillor Richard Williams. Some had travelled more than 200 miles to participate. From Newtown, participants cycled 12 miles along the canal towpath to Belan Locks, south of Welshpool. This section involved three supervised crossings of the A483, where the canal was blocked after closure. At Belan, bicycles were swapped for canoes for a five-and-a-half mile section through Welshpool. Welshpool Town Lock, the first on the canal to be restored, was bypassed by those who carried their canoes past the lock. Others went through the lock in their canoes, carefully managed by the volunteer team. Mayor of Welshpool, Councillor Allison Davies cheered the canoeists through the lock and highlighted the opportunities the canal offers. The canoe section finished at Crowther Hall Lock which was the start of the final nine-and-a-half miles on foot to the finish at Schoolhouse Bridge, Crickheath, south of Oswestry. This section included two more road crossings at blockages on the A483 and three more at minor roads as well as the border crossing at Llanymynech. Christine Palin, Friends of the Montgomery Canal chairman, said: “The event was a great success. Entrants were most appreciative of the organisation, telling us that all our volunteers had been so friendly and helpful. There was praise for the area the canal runs through, with many telling us they are now looking forward to the next triathlon. “On their journey participants could see restored canal, blocked bridges and a derelict section which has to be rewatered. “We hope that the recent Powys County Council bid for Levelling Up funds will allow more work on the section to the county border and that we shall soon be able to bid for funding for the canal in Shropshire too. “In the meantime, ‘Restore the Montgomery Canal!’ – a joint venture by the Friends of the Montgomery Canal, Inland Waterways Association and Shropshire Union Canal Society – has been working to rebuild Schoolhouse Bridge, the last highway blockage in Shropshire, where the triathlon finished. “Previous triathlons have enabled the Friends of the Montgomery Canal to make substantial donations to the appeal fund and we are delighted to have received more donations at this year’s event. “The reconstruction of Schoolhouse Bridge is planned for next year. To keep the cost down, volunteers will be used where possible and we are delighted to have had offers of help from triathlon entrants. We are always keen to hear from anyone who would like to volunteer. “Rebuilding the bridge in a matter of months will make it one of the most exciting projects in the years of Montgomery Canal restoration. The finished bridge will show the efforts of those volunteers and open the way to reopen the canal to the Welsh border.” Michael Limbrey, Montgomery Waterway Restoration Trust’s chairman, congratulated the Friends of the Montgomery Canal on the management of the event.
“This is recognised by the fact that so many gave the event top marks and want to come again,” he said. The organisers thanked Tesco and Morrisons who provided chocolate and cereal bars to help people on their way and to Montgomery Water for essential bottles of water. Picture captions: Cyclists are brief at the start of the triathlon in Newtown. Welshpool’s Mayor Cllr Alison Davies talks to canoeists in Welshpool. Celebrating the finish of the triathlon. >> More information about Montgomery Canal on Visit Mid Wales
Tomorrow (Wednesday), the 210-kilometre fourth stage begins in Aberaeron at 10.30am and heads north to Great Orme above Llandudno via Aberystwyth 11.15am, Borth 11.30am, Machynlleth 12 noon, Dolgellau 12.30pm and Harlech 12.55pm.
Ceredigion County Council, in collaboration with the Tour of Britain organisers, is maintaining public safety and a closed stage start will take place on the outskirts of Aberaeron with no spectators allowed. However, the seaside town will be open and ready to welcome spectators as the cyclists embark on their journey through Ceredigion. Spectators can continue to support the event along the route while being mindful of social distancing and practice road safety. Fans can also watch the event from the comfort of their own home as it will be televised on ITV4. Hayter has a six-second lead over team-mate Rohan Dennis with stage one winner Wout van Aert a further 10 seconds in arrears, while overnight leader Robin Carpenter (Rally Cycling) drops to 12th overall, now one minute six seconds down. “It’s amazing,” said Hayter after the stage. “I’ve ended up in a few leader’s jerseys in the last few races now and it makes the racing great. You know to win the team time-trial is a really nice way to do it.” Team Jumbo Visma, Israel Start-Up Nation, Team DSM and Alpecin Fenix are the only other teams within a minute of the leaders. The AJ Bell Tour of Britain is sponsored by AJ Bell, one of the UK’s leading online investment platforms, helping people invest for the long term via ISAs, pensions and general investment accounts. It has a rich history of supporting elite level sport including badminton, cricket, rugby, squash and triathlon. Picture caption: Ethan Hayter, winner of the AJ Bell Tour of Britain time trial stage on Tuesday. Corris Railway’s Gala Weekend on September 4 and 5 was notable for the brief return of centenarian steam locomotive number 4 and the attendance of visitors whose parents and grandparents worked on the line before its closure in 1948.
Now named Edward Thomas and based on the neighbouring Talyllyn Railway, the Tattoo class locomotive, built by Kerr Stuart in Stoke on Trent in 1921, had not headed a passenger train from Corris station since 1930. The visit was to mark the locomotive’s centenary and it carried a suitable birthday headboard. Among the visitors attracted by number 4’s return was Selwyn Humphreys, son of Humphrey Humphreys, the last regular driver and fireman, as he did both jobs amongst others, on the line. Selwyn worked from the locomotive shed at Maespoeth Junction, where number 4 was housed during its return, and Elizabeth Humphreys, Humphrey’s sister, was the final station mistress at Corris. Corris Railway’s mechanical engineer in the 1920s when number 4 was delivered was Albert Hulme who performed or arranged work on the locomotive to ensure that it worked reliably after initial problems. Not to mention a mishap when the original chimney was damaged in a collision with an overhanging branch or structure. Clearly a first class engineer, he was also responsible for amalgamating components of the original trio of Loughborough steam engines built in 1878 into one locomotive which, numbered 3, worked with number 4 until the Corris line was closed by British Railways. Sadly, he seems to have lost his job when the Great Western took over the Corris in 1930 and returned to his native Manchester. Albert’s grandsons, David and Stephen, travelled to the event where they met Mrs Jackie Jeffrey whose grandfather, Thomas Squire, worked with Mr Hulme on the Corris in 1926, when he lived in Esgairgeiliog, served by the next station down the line from Maespoeth Junction. After the Corris closed in 1948, it would have been logical for the two steam locomotives to have been quickly reduced to scrap metal. However, station master at Machynlleth, Campbell Thomas, was their saviour. He hoped that they might have a future life and kept numbers 3 and 4 sheeted over in the goods yard at his station, away from prying eyes. Had it not been for Mr Thomas’ actions, it is unlikely that No.4 would have survived to the age of 30, let alone seen its centenary. After three years under his care, they were purchased by Talyllyn Railway in 1951, where they have served ever since, helping to establish the world's first heritage railway. Without the two Corris locomotives, it is unlikely that the Talyllyn preservation project would have succeeded, and the history of railway preservation might have been very different. . To recognise his role in the birth of railway preservation, number 4 was temporarily renamed Campbell Thomas and this was done in the presence of Chris Magner whose book, The Saviours of British Railways Narrow Gauge Railways. The book tells the tale of how Mr Thomas and other BR officials helped to conserve and preserve locomotives and infrastructure of Mid Wales narrow gauge lines including the Welshpool and Llanfair and the Vale of Rheidol. Following the Gala Weekend, number 4 returned to the Talyllyn for a Gala Weekend on September 11 and 12 which will further mark its centenary and the 70th anniversary of the Talyllyn’s revival. It will be accompanied by Corris number 7, a 2005-built version of the same Kerr Stuart Tattoo class. Picture captions: Enjoying Corris Railway’s Gala Weekend are (from left),Stephen Hulme, Trefor Davies, Jackie Jeffrey, David Hulme and Sam Knappett. Selwyn Humphreys, son of Humphrey Humphreys, the last driver on Corris Railway. Pics by David Coleman
Dating from the early 1920s to the early 2000s, the archive comprises correspondence, drawings and cartoons, showbusiness ephemera, scrapbooks, film, TV and radio scripts, longhand book drafts, press photos from the 1940s onwards, portraits and audio visual material.
The archive reflects his life from his childhood in Swansea and includes items such as his school report and photos of him as a child and adolescent. There are also interesting letters home from the Army during the Second World War, some of which feature his cartoons and photos of him as a soldier. During his service with the Royal Artillery in North Africa, he met Spike Milligan for the first time, a meeting which was to lead, ultimately, to the creation of The Goon Show. His early career is also recorded, with photos and promotional material relating to his first professional engagement at the Windmill Theatre in 1946, where he met Michael Bentine. Together with Secombe and Peter Sellers, Bentine was essential to the performances in The Goon Show, the scripts for which were written by Milligan. Secombe kept many scripts and pictures from this period. First broadcast in May 1951 as Crazy People, it later became known as The Goon Show with Secombe playing many characters, most notably Neddie Seagoon. He also started keeping a series of scrapbooks, which reflect his career in the 1950s. An accomplished tenor, he appeared in musicals and films in the 1960s and there are scripts and photos for some of his performances, such as the Ealing film Davey in 1958, the stage musical based on Charles Dickens’ The Pickwick Papers in 1963 (and 1993) and his performance as Mr Bumble in the film Oliver! in 1968. Many of his greatest fans would also remember him fondly as the television presenter and singer on religious programmes such as Songs of Praise and Highway. Manuscript drafts of his autobiographical novel Twice Brightly, which he wrote in 1974, are already in Aberystwyth as well as other draft manuscripts of his books. Pedr ap Llwyd, the library’s chief executive and librarian, said: “We are constantly growing and developing our collections at the national library and we are truly grateful to the Secombe family for the addition of this generous and wonderful archive. “It is important that the library’s collections continually evolve in order to fully reflect the history of our rich and diverse culture. We are delighted that we are able to celebrate the centenary of the birth of the popular entertainer Harry Secombe in this fitting way.” David Secombe, writer and photographer, said: “The Army letters and drawings offer an especially vivid insight into the mind of a serviceman during WW2. “The scrapbooks and the substantial press photo archive offer a fascinating window into the times my father lived through and the archive as a whole is an unexpected reflection upon Britain’s 20th century social history, the changing nation seen through the prism of one man’s career.” Nia Mai Daniel, The Welsh Music Archive’s programme manager, said: “I look forward to discussing the archive with David and Katy Secombe and to note the centenary of such a talented and much loved comedian and singer. “We are grateful to the family for gifting this amazing archive to the national library and I’m convinced that this material will be of scholarly and general interest to students of the period, particularly to those interested in the Second World War and the development of post-war British culture.” Picture caption: A portrait of Harry Secombe taken by his son, David, in the 1990s. A former police motorcyclist has swapped escorting members of the royal family and heads of state to launch the UK’s only fully licensed and insured motorcycle and sidecar tours.
Sean Westlake is now sharing the 30 years’ experience gained as a Dyfed Powys Police officer with customers who pay for unique full and half day tours of the stunning scenery and highways and byways of Mid and North Wales. His new business, Mid Wales Tours - www.midwalestours.co.uk - offers a choice of eight-hour and four-hour tours of Ceredigion, Powys and Gwynedd, but Sean is happy to arrange bespoke tours if customers have a specific request. The tours, which are for two people - one in the sidecar and the other riding pillion - cost £390 for a half day and £690 for a full day and Sean says they offer customers a unique perspective. Customers are equipped with radios and Sean provides a commentary as they travel around the countryside. Helmets and wet weather clothing can also be provided if required. Tours run between Easter and the end of October and, when weather permits, during the winter period. Sean is hoping they will be appeal to couples celebrating anniversaries, birthdays, or other special occasions. Get a taste of what’s on offer by viewing a video at https://vimeo.com/580694059 . “My tours allow customers to experience the mountains, lakes, scenery and highways and byways from a totally different perspective,” he said. “They can smell, hear and see things that they wouldn’t if they were in an air-conditioned car. It’s all about the journey rather than the destination. “I stop at lots of places for photo opportunities and travel along roads that most people wouldn’t go on. I love to show off our part of the world and, having spent 30 years as a police officer in Mid Wales, I have plenty of stories to share with customers. “I have always considered myself really lucky to have been paid and trained to the nth degree by the police to ride motorcycles and I know most of the backroads in Mid and North West Wales. I feel it would be a waste if I didn’t put this training and knowledge to good use now.” Sean, who lives in Aberystwyth, was stopped by the Covid-19 pandemic from launching his new business earlier. He has invested a great deal of time and money on his new business venture which is based on a Triumph Scrambler 1200 XC and its Watsonian Squire sidecar. He had to go through a rigorous process, spanning eight months, to become the only fully licensed and insured motorcycle and sidecar tour in the UK. This process included qualifying as an official green badge Wales tourist guide for North Wales. Sean has been organising guided tours in the UK and Europe for fellow motorcyclists for 15 years. He has been qualified to provide motorcycle training to test standard for almost 20 years and has been an examiner for the Institute of Advanced Motorists for 19 years. He retired as a police traffic sergeant in 2012, having spent 25 years riding motorcycles to the highest advanced standard, including as a member of the VIP team that escorted members of the royal family and heads of state. Recently, he has qualified to ride for Blood Bikes Wales which transfers blood supplies, plasma, documents and other items between hospitals around the clock for the NHS To help promote his new venture, Sean has joined MWT Cymru, an independent organisation that represents more than 600 tourism and hospitality businesses across Powys, Ceredigion and the Meirionnydd region of Gwynedd. Val Hawkins, MWT Cymru’s chief executive, said: “As many thousands of staycation visitors have been discovering this summer, Mid Wales is a fantastic destination and what better way to explore our wonderful region than by motorcycle and sidecar. “We are delighted that Mid Wales has the UK’s first fully licensed and insured motorcycle and sidecar tour and commend Sean for becoming a qualified Green Badge Guide. We wish him every success with his unique new venture.” Picture caption: Sean Westlake with Mid Wales Tours customers. |
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