Useful links

A selection of websites which may be of interest

Please note that Fforest Fawr Geopark is not responsible for the content of external websites.

Geopark Networks

Fforest Fawr is a member of two international Geopark networks, across Europe:

and across the globe, the UNESCO-assisted:

Take a look at a map of the European Geoparks Network (in French).

National organisations

A selection of relevant organisations’ websites:

Local and regional bodies

A selection of relevant organisations’ websites from South Wales:

Local authorities

The Geopark extends across parts of five different unitary authorities, each of which provides a variety of local services, usually including countryside management, museums and tourism.

Educational sites

Festivals

Aside from our own Fforest Fawr Geopark Festival which in 2013 takes place between 25th May and 9th June, there are other excellent opportunities for an introduction to the landscapes and cultural heritage of the wider region such as the Crickhowell Walking Festival (end February / start March), the Gower Walking Festival (mid June), the Roots and Routes Festival (throughout the year within the east of the Brecon Beacons National Park, exploring links between the Blaenavon World Heritage Site and the Monmouthshire and Brecon Canal), the Wales Valleys Walking Festival (7th – 22nd September) and finally the Hay Walking Festival (October 2013).

Full list of European Geoparks

A full list of all 54 members of the EGN as at April 2013.  Those within the UK and Ireland are shown in bold:

Members of Global Geoparks Network outside Europe

List as at March 2013. Please be aware that the websites of most of the Chinese Geoparks are in Chinese script. However, those marked with an * are available in English language versions.

Brazil

Canada

China

Indonesia

Japan

Malaysia

South Korea

Vietnam

World Heritage Sites in UK

UNESCO (the United Nations Educational, Scientific & Cultural Organisation) designates sites around the world which are deemed to make a significant contribution to mankind’s global heritage.  Three have been designated for their nature and wildlife (including geology) within the UK:

In nearby Blaenavon an industrial landscape originating in man’s exploitation of the geological riches of the area during the 19th century has also gained WHS status:

And in North Wales, the latest addition to the WHS family in the UK, the Pontcysyllte Aqueduct and Llangollen Canal, was made in 2009. It joins the Castles and Town Walls of King Edward in Gwynedd which was inscribed on the list in 1986

Other geological wonders of South & Mid Wales

  • Aberdulais Falls are a few miles down the Vale of Neath from our own ‘Waterfalls Country’
  • Dolaugothi has been the scene of gold mining since Roman times or earlier.
  • Herbert’s Quarry on the Black Mountain is the subject of the Calch project.