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Duke of Edinburghs Award

 

 Featured Articles Written by Plas y Brenin Staff
Our staff are always writing articles for newspapers, magazines, websites or simply for their own records. This part of the site features past and present articles and is set to grow as quickly as our already world famous top-tips pages. So make sure you check back here regularly and if there's something you'd like to see written about as a PYB feature, drop us an email on the address below and let us know by emailing news@pyb.co.uk .
Climbing
WInter Mountaineering in Scotland 'A Winter's Tale'
Read Neil Johnson 's diarised account of Plas y Brenin's winter season in Scotland
Alpine Rockaneering What is Rockaneering?
Find out the answer in Martin Chester's Latest Feature
Alpine Rockaneering Discover Rockaneering's Top Five Venues
Find out the answer in Martin Chester's Latest Feature
Climbing Cerro Torre 'The First All-British Ascent of Cerro Torre'
Senior Instructor Steve Long gives a passionate account of his experiences on Cerro Torre in 2005.
 
Mountaineering
Alpine Rockaneering What is Rockaneering?
Find out the answer in Martin Chester's Latest Feature
Alpine Rockaneering Discover Rockaneering's Top Five Venues
Find out the answer in Martin Chester's Latest Feature
Climbing Cerro Torre Transceiver Training Workshop
Keith Ball recounts a recent Plas y Brenin staff training day spent looking at avalanche transceivers
 
Walking and Trekking
Walking in the Alps 'Rambling in the Alps'
Senior Instructor Martin Chester runs you through what attracted him to walk in the alps and why you should think about joining us, walking the high level route this summer.
Walking in the Alps 'Alpine Highways'
Senior Instructor Martin Chester gives an in depth overview of what to expect on our Alpine Glacier Trek
 
 
Canoeing and Kayaking
Pete Catterall - Freestyle Kayak Guru Why Open Boating
Pete Catterall, PYB's Head of Canoesport and Team GB freestyle coach starts a series of open baoting technique articles with an overview of this rapidly developing sport.
Sea Kayak Paddle Choice Choosing a Sea Kayak Paddle
Level 5 Sea Kayak Coach Dave Brown offers some advice on which paddle is the right choice for your sea kayaking.
Pete Catterall - Freestyle Kayak Guru An interview with Team GB Freestyle Coach Pete Catterall
We're lucky enough to have Pete Catterall, Team GB freestyle coach as one of our senior coaches. Find out what makes him tick in this extensive interview by paddles magazine.
How to Get Started Kayaking or Canoeing Messing About in Boats
Kayak Coach Anne Fischer explains how paddling different boats can improve your overall paddling skill and understanding.
How to Get Started Kayaking or Canoeing Carving Turns
Kayak Coach Simon Colley shows you how to develop a carved turn.
How to Get Started Kayaking or Canoeing Support Yourself Through Kayaking
Kayak Coach Ben Lawes takes you one step further, helping you to develop an effective support stroke.
How to Get Started Kayaking or Canoeing Ever Increasing Circles
Kayak Coach Ben Lawes moves on to discuss good forward paddling technique.
How to Get Started Kayaking or Canoeing Discovering The Source
Kayak Coach Ben Lawes opens the door to first time kayakers with some advice on how to get started.
Sea kayaking coaches paddle Scotland's coast A Taste of Scotland's Finest
Kayak Coach Dave Brown gives a report on a spontaneous sea kayak trip around Scotlands rugged and beautiful coastal waters. With an inspiring gallery of Dave and fellow paddler Rosemary Powell's photos attached.
Learing to cope with Boofs and Drops with our kayak coaches Out to Sea
Kayak Coach Dave Brown and Pete Catterall join forces to give you an insight into the world of sea kayaking and how you can become invovled.
Learing to cope with Boofs and Drops with our kayak coaches White Water, Sea and Surf
Kayak Coach Dave Brown recounts a memorable White Water Sea and Surf course. With a superb gallery of photos encompassing the kind of variety you can experience on this course.
Kayaking and Canoeing in North Wales An Interview with 'Loel Collins'
Last Month 'Paddles' magazine interviewed Loel Collins, Plas y Brenin's Canoe and Kayak head of Department . Along with some great photos, here is a full copy of that interview.
Learing to cope with Boofs and Drops with our kayak coaches 'Airtime Special' A weekend of Boofs and Drops
Kayak Coach Dave Brown recounts an exceptional weekend spent 'searching for air' on our boofs and drops course. With a great photo gallery.
Canoeing in Canada 'Canoe expedition' to Temagami 06
Expedition Leader Rosemary Powell shares her personal diary from last year's trip to the backwaters of Temagami in Canada
Sea Kayking in Norway Sea kayak expedition to Norway - an expedition account
Expedition Leader Leo Hoare let'syou know just what it's like to take a group sea paddling in the Norwegian Fjords with his report from last year's trip.
First Aid training for canoeist and kayakers First aid for paddlers - a course review
Dave Luke gives his first hand account of a first aid course run entirely in paddling gear.
 
Skiing
Ski Touring with Plas y Brenin Why bother Skiing? (Part One - Why Ski?)
Senior Instructor and Mountain Guide Martin Chester gives his views on why, when and where mountaineers should 'strap planks to their feet'

Ski Touring with Plas y Brenin Why bother Skiing? (Part Two - Time To Skin Up)
Senior Instructor and Mountain Guide Martin Chester gives his views on why, when and where mountaineers should 'strap planks to their feet'

 
Ski Touring with Plas y Brenin Why bother Skiing? (Part Three - Skiing in the Mountains)
Senior Instructor and Mountain Guide Martin Chester gives his views on why, when and where mountaineers should 'strap planks to their feet'

Ski Touring with Plas y Brenin Ski Touring - Disciplines, Terms and Techniques
Senior Instructors Rob Spencer and Martin Chester put their heads together to try and explain ski-touring's collection of assorted buzz words
and phrases


  Mountain Marathon Training Weeknd
Mountain Marathon
 
the ideal way to boost your knowledge confidence and fitness before your first mountain marathon
 

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  Snowdonia Uncorked
Wine Tasting
 
Our latest offers include a return for this walking and wine tasting weekend 14-15 August
 

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  Single Track Safari - A MTB Bargain!
kayaking with the kids
 
Our latest list of specials includes a five -day mountain bike tour of some of Wales most spectacular routes.
 

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  Think you know your stuff?
Environmental Quizzes and Scottish Winter Quizzes
 
Find out how much you really know in our new interactive quiz area
 

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  Top Tips - Retreating off a route
Read Baggys top tips here
 
Baggy Richards shares some of his experience on our top tips page. This month, Senior Instructor Baggy provides some useful pointers on retreating off a crag.
 

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  Safety Tips For Novice Climbers
Safety Tips For Novice Rock Climbers
 
In our Top Tips section Instructor Louise Thomas highlights some vital safety considerations for novice climbers
 

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  Taking a mate climbing?
taking a friend rock climbing
 
read some top tips on taking a friend out rock climbing from instructor Baggy Richards
 

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  Trekking / Walking Poles
trekking or hillwalking poles
 
Should you be using them? Are you using yours correctly? Discover the answer in Baggy Richard's latest feature.
 

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  Get Fit For The Alps
Alpine Climbing and Mountaineering
 
New Top Tips on Getting Fit For Alpine Climbing by Martin Chester
 

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  Top Tips on Handheld VHF Radios
Sea Kayaking with a vhf radio
 
Sea Kayak Coach Dave Brown gives you a few pointer on using your radio at sea
 

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  What's Cooking?
Great Food at Plas y Brenin
 
Find out what makes our award winning catering department so special in our latest departmental overview
 

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  Outstanding Facilities
Superb Facilities at the National Mountain Centre
 
We make sure everything at the National Mountain Centre is maintained at the highest standard. Check out our facilities page here.
 

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  Bunkhouse Gets a Makeover
climbing instructor training
 
Moelwyn Bunkhouse has been refurbished and it looks great! You could be one of the first to take advantage of this superb on-site facility.
 

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  Check Out The Enviro Diary!
Environmental Gallery
 
Our staff bring you snippets of the great environment we live and work in diarised in photographic form. Essential viewing for all nature lovers - Now with over 230 pages of content.
 

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  Top Tips on Lowering off a Bolted Route
climbing technique article
 
Ben Lawes gives you his top tips on how to get down from the top of a bolted route.
 

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