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13th Biennial Challenger Conference for Marine Science8th -11th September 2008 |
On Wednesday afternoon, join us on our excursions to Beaumaris Castle, Puffin Island Boat Cruise, mountain biking, slate caverns, or a nature walk to Cwm Idwal. Alternatively, put on your trainers and take part in a game of 5-a-side Football. See below for details. Transportation will be provided to each of the below excursions. Bookings and payment for an excursion should be made on the registration form. Last minute bookings may be possible on arrival if spaces are still available.
Cwm Idwal is located in the heart of Snowdonia National Park. Enjoy the beautiful nature walk and guided tour with expert geologist, Professor James Scourse. The walk is fairly easy, although it will require the ability to climb some rock stairs and navigate some uneven terrain. Transportation will be provided.
Cwm Idwal is located in the Glyderau range of mountains in northern Snowdonia, the national park in the mountainous region of North Wales. Cwms (corries) are glacially eroded rock basins in mountainous areas. Its main interest is to hill walkers and rock climbers, but it is also of interest to geologists and naturalists, given its combination of altitude (relatively high in UK terms), aspect (north-facing) and terrain (mountainous and rocky). In a 2005 poll conducted by Radio Times, Cwm Idwal was ranked the 7th greatest natural wonder in Britain.
Cost approx. £ 10 per person
Useful Links:
http://www.bbc.co.uk/wales/northwest/outdoors/placestogo/reserves/cwmidwal.shtml
http://www.virtualmontana.org/CITour/CwmIdwalTour.htm
Enjoy a thrilling afternoon biking in Snowdonia. Opportunities exist for expert and novice riders. Transportation will be provided.
Betws-y-Coed is rapidly becoming a Mecca for Mountain Biking, home of the famous Marin Route, a challenging 25km ride through the stunningly beautiful Gwydir Forest just 1km north of the village, while to the south of the village there are two further routes totalling 50km soon to open. For the less adventurous riders there is the Llyn Elsi ride: a 10km forest track ride up to the reservoir above the village then a long downhill back to the valley to finish. Helmets and bikes will be provided.
Cost approx. £ 20 per person
Useful Links:
http://www.bikewales.co.uk/
http://www.mtb-wales.com/
Roam the beautiful shores of North Wales and explore a local castle. The trip to Beaumaris offers a lot of flexibility. You can enjoy some small village shopping, a trip through Beaumaris Castle, or a scenic boat ride to Puffin Island. Located along the northern portion of the Menai Strait, Beaumaris is a destination for tourists and locals alike. Transportation will be provided. The castle tour and boat ride can be combined.
Beaumaris Castle on the Island of Anglesey is the great unfinished masterpiece. It was built as one of the 'iron ring' of North Wales castles by the English monarch Edward I, to stamp his authority on the Welsh. But it was never finished money and supplies ran out before the fortifications reached their full height. Beaumaris is nonetheless an awesome sight, regarded by many as the finest of all the great Edwardian castles in Wales. Begun in 1295, it was also the last. The king's military architect, the brilliant James of St George, brought all his experience and inspiration to bear when building this castle, the biggest and most ambitious venture he ever undertook. In pure architectural terms Beaumaris, the most technically perfect castle in Britain, has few equals. Its ingenious and perfectly symmetrical concentric 'walls within walls' design, involving no less than four successive lines of fortifications, was state of the art for the late 13th century.
Beaumaris Castle Tour
Cost approx. £6 per person
Useful Links:
http://www.castlewales.com/beaumar.html
http://www.greatcastlesofwales.co.uk/beaumaris.htm
This is a very popular pleasure cruise which includes panoramic views of the Snowdonia Mountain Range, Penmon Lighthouse. On arrival at Puffin Island you have the opportunity to see as many as 12 species of sea birds in their natural habitat - Puffins, Guillemots, Cormorants & Kittiwakes. At the East end of the island we can browse over the Seal colony, giving ample time for photographs. This island is called Puffin Island in English but in Welsh is Ynys Seiriol (Seiriol's Island). The island has a number of ruins of medieval monastic buildings, including the tower of a 12th century church. It is said that St. Seiriol is buried here, and perhaps also King Maelgwn Gwynedd, who was the ruler of North Wales and patron of St. Seiriol. At the Eastern tip of the island are the ruins of the old semaphore signalling station, one of a chain of stations that signalled news of sailing ships to Liverpool & also signalled the wreck of the Royal Charter. A ship called the Rothesay Castle, on a day trip from Liverpool, sank near Puffin Island in 1831. A lighthouse and a lifeboat station were built here soon after.
Puffin Island Boat Cruise
Cost approx. £10 per person
Useful Links:
http://www.starida.co.uk/cruises.htm
Beaumaris Castle Tour and Puffin Island Boat Cruise
Cost approx. £14 per person
Explore a local slate cavern. Visitors descend on Britain's steepest passenger railway, with a gradient of 1:1.8, to make the Deep Mine tour. They travel in a specially made 24-seat car, on a track with a gauge of 3ft (0.914m). Miners Tramway- Boarding a train in a corner of the original slate slabbing mill of 1852, visitors now ride into an 1846 tunnel, hauled by battery-electric locomotive. Entering through the side of the mountain this journey into the early Victorian past remains on the level, and traverses some spectacular caverns. Transportation will be provided.
From Slate LLECHWEDD Caverns- Set in 2000 acres of land between Blaenau Ffestiniog & Dolwyddelan. Llechwedd offer the most amazing adventure you'll ever have in a day. Experience first hand on our world famous cavern tours how slate was mined and then see how it is transformed into traditional roofing slate and the famous and beautiful slate fan.
Cost approx. £15 per person for the tram or deep mine
Cost approx. £20 per person (includes both the tram and deep mine tours)
Useful Links:
http://www.llechwedd-slate-caverns.co.uk/
There will be 2 hours of traditional 5-a-side football fun just a short walk from the conference centre. In the past, teams have been organised according to institute/university, and this has led to some enthusiastic playing.
*There is no cost associated with this event (but please book via the registration form)