91av

Highlights

• Gain an understanding of deep time and the geological timelines of Earth
• Enjoy in-depth talks and walking seminars led by experts in their fields, including geologists, astronomers, palaeontologists, and deep-time specialists.
• Venture into one of the UK’s deepest cave systems, carved over 300 million years by ancient rivers
• Take part in a guided Deep Time walk through the Brecon Beacons, where every ridge, valley, and rock formation tells a story of Earth’s ancient past
• Staying at the historic and atmospheric Craig Y Nos Castle in the heart of the Brecon Beacons

Meet the expert

Richard Fisher - Host

Richard is the event host and is currently a senior editor, commissioning long-form essays for Aeon and it's sister publication Psyche, on science, technology, environment and philosophy

Richard was previously a senior journalist with the BBC and is an honorary research associate at University College London. Richard worked at 91av for eight years, most recently as features editor. He is the author of a well-received book about long-term thinking called The Long View: Why we need to transform how the world sees time. 

Dr. Joseph Botting - Palaeontology expert

Joseph studied palaeontology at Cambridge and Birmingham universities, and has worked in the Natural History Museum (London) and the Nanjing Institute of Geology and Palaeontology (China), where he remains a Guest Scientist. He has since become an independent researcher living in Llandrindod, and is an Honorary Research Fellow at the National Museum Wales. He conducts research on sponges, problematic groups, and early animal ecosystems, with a particular focus on exceptional preservation, while making a living primarily as an entomologist and musician. During the Covid-19 lockdown in 2020 he discovered the remarkable Castle Bank fossil assemblage, and is likely to carry on working on this for the next several decades. 

Alan Bowring - Earth scientist

Alan is the Geopark Officer at Brecon Beacons (Bannau Brycheiniog) National Park. An earth scientist by training, he worked in countryside conservation and access in northern England for many years before a move to South Wales to indulge his passion for geology helping develop Fforest Fawr UNESCO Global Geopark within which landscape the short break takes place. Describing this protected area as a rich timescape, he has interpreted for varied audiences, the natural and cultural forces at play here through innumerable walks and talks over the last 17 years.

Robert Woodford -  Deep time walk leader

Robert is the co-founder and executive director of the non-profit Deep Time Walk Project, the originator of Deep Time Cards as well as the co-author of the Deep Time Walk facilitator training resources including Earth Stations, Holding Space and Bedrock. He previously worked in senior roles at Qualcomm Inc. and Adobe/Macromedia, and now works on a range of creative initiatives bridging the areas of climate change, ecology and technology through his consultancy Opus Earth. He has a Masters in Management (Durham Business School), a Masters in Regenerative Economics (Schumacher College), MSc in Science/Theology (University of Edinburgh) and BA Music (Durham University). He is a classically trained singer and enjoys running, kayaking and wild swimming. Born at 330.43 CO2e ppm. 

The Deep Time Walk organisation was created by an experienced team of playwrights, scientists, professional actors, radio producers and designers. Grounded in the latest evidence from science, the Ted Hughes Award-recommended script is written by Stephan Harding and Peter Oswald. Originally an app to accompany your walk, it has now expanded to become a global network of experienced Deep Time guides, who can enlighten you using this truly immersive experience.

Ermina Calabrese - Astronomy expert

Ermina is a Professor of Astronomy and the Director of Research at Cardiff University School of Physics and Astronomy. Erminia works in the field of observational cosmology and has made major contributions to the establishment of the current cosmological model, exploring the physics that drove the earliest moments of our universe using the Cosmic Microwave Background (CMB) radiation left over from the Big Bang.

Michael J. Benton - Palaeontology expert

Michael is a world-leading palaeontologist and emeritus professor of vertebrate palaeontology in the School of Earth Sciences at the University of Bristol. One of his great discoveries was to kick off a new field of research in determining the colour of dinosaurs. He was awarded an OBE in 2021 for his work in the public understanding of science and was elected Fellow of the Royal Society in 2014 for his fundamental contributions to understanding the history of life.

He is fascinated by the transformation of palaeobiology from a speculative subject to testable science and led one of these discoveries – how to determine the colour of dinosaurs, rated as one of the top scientific discoveries of the 2010s. He has supervised more than 70 PhD students, and was founder of the Bristol MSc in Palaeobiology, which has welcomed 450 students since its foundation. He has written some 600 scientific papers and more than 50 books on a broad range of palaeontological topics.

Mathilde Braddock - Deep Time Walk Leader

Matilde is a geology educator and nature connection practitioner based in Bristol. She runs geology and deep time-themed walks and workshops through her business, . She is co-editor of the Bedrock/Earth Stations document and Assistant Director of the Deep Time Walk Project. Mathilde is a British/French national and is tied into the Deep Time Walk community in both countries

WHAT'S INCLUDED

• Two nights' accommodation
• Two breakfasts, two lunches and two dinners
• All entrance fees and activities as stated
• Guest lectures and walking seminars with 91av staff and expert guide
• Onsite parking
• 24-hour onsite support
• No single supplement for the Nurses Block.

WHAT'S NOT INCLUDED

• Travel insurance
• Single supplement for the Castle rooms £249
• Visa/ETA (if applicable)
• Additional night at the hotel £69 per guest

HOW TO GET THERE

Arriving by car: The castle is located just off the A4067 between Ystradgynlais and Sennybridge. The car park is on the southern end of the site.   

If you are travelling north, you will see the car park signposted on the right just as you enter Craig Y Nos. If you are driving south, pass the castle on your left and the car park entrance is about 100 metres further down. The postcode is SA9 1GL. 

Arriving by train: The nearest train stations are Swansea and Neath. There are direct trains from London Paddington Station to Neath or Swansea. If arriving from Manchester or Birmingham, you will need to change at Cardiff. From Swansea or Neath, you can take a taxi or a local bus service to Craig Y Nos with a journey time of around 30 minutes.

START AND END TIMES

This event will begin at 17:30 on Monday evening. The talks will finish at 16:00 on Wednesday afternoon.

PACE AND PHYSICALITY

To experience this event in full, participants will need to be able to undertake a 4.6-kilometre walk of gentle elevation. Other activities involve walking across slippery surfaces, small rocks and boulders. Durable footwear and weatherproof clothing are recommended. Should anyone feel unable to take part in these specific elements of the short break, you are able to skip individual activities and no activity is mandatory.

CAPACITY

For this short break, there will be a maximum capacity of 60 guests. Discovery group tours generally operate at much smaller capacities, between 14 to 22 guests. However, this short break will work slightly differently as it is based in one location. Over the 3 days, there will be a series of highly engaging talks from a number of distinguished speakers at the castle. In addition, the group will visit the National Showcaves Centre for Wales and enjoy a walk on day 3. During these two offsite activities the group will be split into smaller groups. 

SOLO TRAVELLERS

This break is perfect for solo travellers, as travelling as part of an organised group provides security and peace of mind plus a group of read-made friends with shared interests.

AGE RESTRICTIONS

Children are welcome, but must be aged 13 or over and accompanied by an adult. Please bear in mind that the level of the talks and activities are aimed at adults.

Accommodation

CRAIG Y NOS CASTLE, BRECON BEACONS (BANNAU BRYCHEINIOG) 

In the heart of Wales near the Brecon Beacons (Bannau Brycheiniog), Craig Y Nos is a unique Grade II* listed hotel and venue housed in a fully restored 1840s gothic castle. The castle and country park sit alongside the upper River Tawe on the edge of the Black Mountain and were previously owned by 19th-century opera singer Adelina Patti.   

There are two main room types within the castle grounds: rooms located in the main castle and rooms located in the Nurses Block. In the castle, all the rooms are doubles with ensuite facilities and some have additional beds to fit groups of three or four.

The Nurse’s Block is situated in the castle grounds and has 10 non-ensuite bedrooms. There are shared bathroom and shower facilities within the building. The rooms are smaller and are 'hostel' in style and comfort.

Please note: If required for reasons beyond our control, we reserve the right to substitute alternative accommodation of equal or higher quality or adapt the itinerary if required.