Everything you need to know about Gorge Walking in Wales
Are you searching for something a little bit different to do on your next trip? Gorge walking in Wales could be the answer because it’s truly a unique and unforgettable experience. But you might be thinking, ‘what is gorge walking or why should I put myself through something like that?
Indeed, it is not for the faint hearted, but you don’t need to be really fit to take part. This makes it the perfect activity to do with your friends or family because almost everyone can join in. As outdoor enthusiasts, we jumped at the opportunity to go on this river adventure and we will explain why.
So, let’s go back to basics, what is a gorge? What’s gorge walking and how and where can I do it? What company should I go with? These are some of the many questions we aim to answer in this detailed guide to gorge walking in wales. It definitely involves a lot more than the name implies. Get ready to conquer challenges and overcome your fears in a picturesque setting.
We went in the beautiful Brecon Beacons National Park in South Wales and would recommend it. Wales does not have the warmest weather, but the river temperature doesn’t change very much throughout the year, which is useful to know as our biggest concern was being cold. Luckily the wetsuit the company provided worked a treat and only our feet felt the cold. It’s funny but our biggest fear ended up being the 7-metre (optional) jump at the end.
If you seek adventure, you need to put gorge walking in Wales on your bucket list!
What is a gorge?
For all the lovely geographers out there, a gorge is a deep cleft between cliffs. Usually they form through erosion from a river or stream over a long period of time. The gradual erosion eventually creates a narrow valley with steep rocky walls. What’s interesting is that not all gorges have a river or a stream. However, for this activity the more the river flows, the bigger the adventure.
What actually is gorge walking?
Gorge walking (also known as gorge scrambling or ghyll scrambling) is an adventure activity that involves a journey through incredible rock formations. Sometimes called the ‘younger brother of canyoning’, the sport takes advantage of the natural features of the gorge to create paths and challenges to descend or ascend through the valley. However, the name ‘gorge walking’ should probably change because although there was some walking, it seemed like we were scrambling, climbing, swimming and jumping more….
There are many places you can go gorge walking in Wales, but it’s important to remember that no gorge is the same and each requires knowledge of the methods to navigate through that particular ravine.
Who is it suitable for?
Although it can be challenging, we truly believe that it can be done by most abilities. It doesn’t matter if you’re not a fitness fanatic, you can still enjoy this exciting adventure activity. Of course a small amount of fitness is needed because you will have to climb and you don’t want to injure yourself. However, no experience of gorge walking is needed, so don’t worry if it is your first time. What is important is that you are with the right company with qualified, certified and experienced instructors who can help guide you and know the gorges well.
The natural playground is suitable for both adults and children (aged 11+). In our group there were Rachel’s parents, which proved that age isn’t as important than your physical ability. What’s great to know is that the guides tailor each gorge walk to be suitable for the group they have in front of them. This makes the activity not only fun and stress free but you also feel like you’re in safe hands.
Who can I go gorge walking with?
Usually gorge walking is a group activity, sometimes for team building with colleagues or perhaps a family adventure or an occasion trip. We went for my cousin’s 30th birthday in a group of 15 and it was perfect. We believe it’s especially good for working together as there are so many times where we had to help each other and cheer each other on.
What do I need to wear?
The company we booked with told us to bring sturdy trainers or walking boots. We wanted to wear our aqua shoes but the instructor told us that we needed to wear laces in case the shoes came off with the current of the river. We were advised that it was up to us if we wore socks or not- but we wore socks so that our shoes were comfortable. Obviously, our shoes got wet and they smelled terrible after being in the river. Therefore, we would not recommend you to wear new shoes or shoes you’re fond of. You should wear shoes that you don’t mind smelling…
Also. remember to bring a towel with you. Trust us, you’ll love that you can dry off after getting out of the river! Some companies ask that you wear old shorts over the wetsuit to protect it from getting ripped; some members of our group did this, but not everyone!
How long does it last and how much does it cost?
The activity usually lasts between 3 and 4 hours depending on group size, weather conditions and how adventurous your group is feeling that day.
The price varies depending on the size of your group and the company you book with but it will usually around £40pp for a half-day trip and this will include insurance too. Of course, if your group is smaller, the cost per person will likely be higher.
Where can you go gorge walking in the UK?
Gorge walking is a year round activity and there are many places you can go. Here is a list of popular places to go in the UK:
- Brecon Beacons National Park, Wales
- Snowdonia National Park, Wales
- Aviemore, Scotland
- Perthshire, Scotland
- North Yorkshire, England
- Dartmoor, Devon, England
Our Gorge Walking in Wales Experience:
Our experience was with Call of the Wild in the Brecon Beacons (Wales, UK). We love that it was in the part of the National Park that is known as waterfall country and we went gorge walking in the Ystradfellte region, which is the perfect place to have this adventure. The reason for this is that not only was there different levels of the gorge walk, the scenery is absolutely stunning. If you’ve ever been to Wales, or you’ve seen pictures, you’ll know just how green and bucolic it is. Now imagine the greenery with waterfalls and you get to ascend through them. It’s unforgettable.
What was particularly good about Call of the Wild and why we would definitely recommend the company is that they clearly put safety first. As our group was 15 people, we were accompanied by 3 friendly instructors, who were evidently doing everything they could to keep us safe. Also, there was no pressure to complete any part of the river walk, with many parts, for example, the jumps into the plunge pools, being optional.
Overall, it is easy to understand why it is such a popular activity. It truly felt like you were in a natural water park. The Brecon Beacons was perfect too because you can easily access it from the M4 and is only a 20-minute drive from Swansea or the Welsh capital Cardiff. How convenient!
What else can you do in the area?
If you decide to go gorge walking in Wales in the Brecon Beacons, it is ideally located to visit some amazing places nearby:
1. The Four Falls trail, Brecon Beacons National Park.
This stunning woodland route was impressive due to its powerful water supply. It is a 4-mile loop and will take around 2 and a half to 3 hours to complete. Make sure you wear hiking boots as the path can be muddy!
2. Quad Biking at Dulais Valley Quads
We booked our gorge-walking trip as a package, so this meant we also went on a quad biking tour. Quad biking was a lot of fun, even in the Welsh rain, and the paths we went on were suitable for everyone in our group. However, we did feel overloaded with information at the beginning and it did put a lot of the group off. Although, as soon as we got on the quads, it didn’t seem so scary anymore and we were able to enjoy the experience.
3. Hike Pen y Fan
Translated from Welsh to mean ‘the mountains peak’, Pen y Fan is 886m above sea level and is the tallest peak in the Brecon Beacons. Therefore, if you enjoy hiking then this is the place to be. It’s easy to understand why it is one of the most popular hikes in Wales. Each year 120,000 people climb the summit, which means that it can get busy. Luckily there are four ways to reach the top, so just avoid the tourist route, if you don’t want to be surrounded by people.
There you have it, everything you need to know about gorge walking and specifically gorge walking in Wales in the Brecon Beacons in the south. Would we recommend it? Absolutely. Unleash your inner child and have the ultimate adventure with your friends or family.
Have you been gorge walking in Wales? We’d love to know, let us know about your experience in the comments. Happy adventuring!
Remember, if you love the outdoors then discover our guides to Scotland and New Zealand.
Photo Credit: averagelives.com and Unsplash
This looks like something I would love to do and I had no idea it was here!
What a fab post!
This looks sooo fun! My brother lives not too far from here, so when we can eventually go home to visit I really hope we can give this a go. We hiked a little in the brecon beacons last time we went back to the UK – but I’d love to hike Pen y Fan. It’s sooo pretty!
Not gonna lie, I would be a little scared seeing the massive formations like walls above me. But, wow, what an adventure!!! This is one adventure we would love to take just to say we were able to do it!
Wow! This sounds like such an incredible adventure! I love trails and hikes that combine different kind of activities like climbing and swimming. So cool and so gorgeous. Thanks so much for sharing this! I hope I get to go once the skies open up again 😋
What a gorgeous adventure!! We love finding waterfall off the beaten path and would love to explore something like this!
This looks like a really cool thing to do, I would totally do this! Looks like some other interesting things to do in the area as well!
I’ve never done this before but it looks great! Definitely something I’d be into!
Great post!
So good to know that there were parts that were optional and that there were so many instructors with you!
I had never heard of this before but it sounds like an amazing adventure!
So fun!
Great review!