Saturday 29th March 2008

A Walk Designed to Test Endurance and Map Reading Skills

The Three Peaks Trial is an organised challenge walk arranged each year in March by the Cardiff Outdoor Group. The Walk was first held in March 1963 and was designed for less experienced walkers who wanted to test their powers of endurance and skill at map reading. Over the years the event has been modified so in 2008 there is a choice of four routes:

• Platinum Route: This is a linear walk of about 17 miles and 5000' of ascent from Llanthony to Abergavenny over Bal Mawr, Pen Cerrig Calch and Sugar Loaf. Entry to the Platinum Route is limited to 50. Although shorter than the Gold Route, the Platinum Route is more demanding both physically and in map reading skills as the area is more remote.
• Gold Route: This is the original challenge, a circular walk of about 20 miles and 5000' of ascent, which crosses over three prominent peaks around Abergavenny in Monmouthshire Skirrid, Sugar Loaf and Blorenge. This route is never far from civilisation yet there is no obvious route so that concentration on map reading is essential to keep to the best route.
• Silver route: This is a circular walk of about 15 miles and 4000' of ascent. it follows the Gold Route from Abergavenny over Blorenge and Sugar Loaf, then descends back to Abergavenny.
• Bronze route: This is a new route, a circular walk of about 10 miles and 2000' of ascent. The route goes from Abergavenny to the summit of Sugar Loaf, descending by a different path.

This year, proceeds from the event, the 44th Three Peaks Trial will be split between the Youth Hostel Association to help improve facilities at youth hostels in South Wales, the Elenydd Wilderness Trust to help maintain Ty'n Cornel & Dolgoch Youth Hostels and the National Trust, specifically for the maintenance of footpaths on Sugarloaf and Skirrid Fawr. One quarter of the proceeds will go to Cardiff Outdoor Group.

To register for the Three Peaks Trial, please fill in the the appropriate entry form and send it off with your remittance.

To see a list of accommodation in the Abergavenny area, please click here.

If you would like a printable version of this leaflet, including accommodation, maps and entry forms, please see the leaflet.

For further information, please email South Wales Three Peaks Trial or phone 029 2023 8576.

General instructions

Procedure at Start

For each route, the event will start from the Red Cross Hall at Fairfield Car Park, Abergavenny (GR S0299146) (see here for map) where there is ample car parking (£3.50 for the day). The walks will also be controlled from here, and naturally finish here. Entrants should be at the Red Cross Hall for registration by:

• 0730 for the Platinum route. On arriving go to the Registration Desk where you will be given your Checkpoint Card. Then proceed to the coach waiting outside. The coach will depart at 0800 and drop walkers off at Llanthony Abbey to begin the walk by 8.30am.
• 0800for the Gold route, ready to begin the walk at 0830.
• 0830 for the Silver route, ready to begin the walk at 0900.

On entering the Hall, each entrant will be registered and checked for the following equipment:

Equipment check list:

The following are required:

• Map* - 1:25,000 or 1:50,000
• Compass*
• Torch
• Whistle
• Emergency Rations
• A simple First Aid Kit - including plasters and a blister kit
• Small change for the telephone
• Waterproofs - including overtrousers
• Sensible footwear - boots with ankle support and good tread; experienced runners should have appropriate footwear

* For entrants walking as groups for the entire route, one map and compass for each three entrants is acceptable.

IF YOU DO NOT HAVE THESE ITEMS YOU WILL BE REFUSED ENTRY

Conditions of entry

1. Entry is restricted to a minimum age of 12 years
2. Each walker must carry those items listed in the Equipment List. All walkers must sign the 'Kit Declaration' on the back of the Registration Card'. Parents or Guardians must sign for juniors
3. The walk is controlled from start to finish.
4. Each walker must carry their own checkpoint card. Even when walking in a group, cards shouldn't be given to one person to carry and present at checkpoints
5. The route selected on the entry form may not be changed
6. All walkers must report to the Red Cross Hall at the end of the walk. All walkers retiring during the event must advise the organisers (the phone number is on the Checkpoint Card). Unless there are unforeseen circumstances the Red Cross Hall will close at 2000.
7. Walkers must observe the Country Code at all times
8. The organiser has the right to:
   • refuse entry and to require entrants to retire for any reason, but especially on the grounds of safety
   • to postpone or cancel the event if weather conditions are considered too severe
9. Neither the organiser, Cardiff Outdoor Group, nor the Youth Hostels Association can accept any responsibility for any loss, injury or financial loss sustained in the event that the walk is postponed or cancelled.
10. All walkers must stay on public footpaths through farmland.
11. No dogs can be allowed on either walk as this is lambing season and the walk passes through some farmland
12. Closing date for pre-entries is 21st March 2008.
13. A week before the event you will be sent a Registration Card to complete. Don't forget to bring it with you on the day of the event
14. There will be random checks to ensure entrants have the equipment listed in the Equipment Check List above
15. Walkers may choose their own route between checkpoints, but they must check in at each checkpoint in the order specified below

Pre-registration

To speed registration, fill in the Platinum entry form, the Gold entry form or the Silver entry form as applicable and send this with the entrance fee to the organiser. For those entering on the day, forms will be available at the Red Cross Hall. After registration, you will be given your checkpoint card, ready to start!

Entrance fee

An entrance fee must be paid per walker as below. Please make cheques payable to Cardiff Outdoor Group.

* Reduced rates apply to juniors, students and the unemployed

Procedure at each checkpoint

You must visit each checkpoint on your chosen route, as specified on your entry form. On arrival hand your card to the checker who will record your entry number and mark your card. Your card will then be returned to you. Llwynfranc checkpoint closes at 1730pm and Sugarloaf checkpoint closes at 1630pm. Walkers arriving at these checkpoints after this time must retire. All other checkpoints close at 1800. After this time, make your way directly to Central Control at the Red Cross Hall.

Procedure at finish

At the Red Cross Hall present your card at the check-in desk. If it is correctly marked you will receive a certificate confirming your achievement of completing The Three Peaks Trial Platinum, Gold, Silver or Bronze Route. Light refreshments will be available at the Red Cross Hall for all entrants between 1430 and 1930. Unless there are unforeseen circumstances the Red Cross Hall will close at 2000.

Notes

Please Note:

1. The timetables below are considered to be a rough guide only. Walkers need not worry unduly if they are a little behind schedule, unless they are really slow. In the event of deteriorating weather, slow walkers could be asked to retire for their own safety.
2. Checkpoint closing times (which are shown in the timetables below) will be strictly adhered to except in an emergency. After a checkpoint has closed, all walkers should proceed directly to the Red Cross Hall, which will close at 2000. If you retire, please telephone Central Control immediately, this number is on the checkpoint card, or we may unnecessarily initiate a search for you. Please do not send text messages: they are they are not sufficiently reliable.
3. The north slope of Blorenge is very steep. Extreme care is required when ascending particularly in bad weather.
4. Be careful of loose stones on the north side of Skirrid.

Proposed timetables

You must decide which route you will take when you book, either on the appropriate entry form or on the day only if you haven't pre-booked. Whatever the route, you must visit each checkpoint, including the Finish. The tables below give an outline of each option.

Platinum route

Entrants should be at the Red Cross Hall by 0730 for registration. On arriving go to the Registration Desk, where you will be given your Checkpoint Card. Then proceed to the coach waiting outside. The coach will depart at 0800 and drop walkers at Llanthony Abbey to begin the walk by 0830. Please note that entries on the day will not be accepted for the Platinum Route.

Gold, Silver and Bronze routes

*Although Sugarloaf will stay open after 1530, after this time, walkers on the Gold route will be asked to return to Abergavenny by the Silver route.

Copyright Cardiff Outdoor Group 1997