During this Year of Adventure in Wales the local community in Llandovery at the gateway to the Brecon Beacons is inviting bikers to make time for more than a pit-stop at the picturesque, historic town with a special Motorbike Weekend on 8th – 9th July – to show fans of the steel horse just what it has to offer.
Hundreds of motorcyclists pass through Llandovery every year, stop for a cup of tea and then travel on to other destinations. This summer Llandovery is hosting a weekend centred around motorcycles in a bid to give riders a more complete picture of the town, and a reason to stick around longer. The weekend will begin on Friday 8th July with a parade of bikes around the town followed by a charity lunch in aid of The Prince's Initiative for Mature Enterprise (PRIME Cymru), which is HRH The Prince of Wales’s only Welsh charity and which is based in the town. There will be an opportunity for bikers to stay over utilising the local hotels, B&Bs, campsites and self-catering accommodation that is readily available. In the evening there will be an array of musical entertainment provided by the local hostelries.
On Saturday 9th July the town’s streets will feature motorcycle-related stands, a motorcycle concours, along with the opportunity for others to have stalls to display and sell their goods. The day will be packed with plenty to occupy visitors - from Poker Rallies to Treasure Hunts for bikers to participate in, as well as organised ride-outs being planned to the many wonderful attractions this part of Wales has to offer, giving bikers guidance on the best places to visit, and access to some terrific biking roads. The town will also be hosting food demonstrations, a farmers market, a Twmpath and a junior football tournament.
Two of the key event organisers are Jonah and Sue MacGill, who run a five star self-catering holiday cottage near the town. Sue said: “Llandovery is experiencing serious economic challenges with the local high school closing, so to help sustain this rural community we thought we should play to the town’s strengths. Llandover
y is already a magnet for bikers, so we’re celebrating that by welcoming and promoting responsible motorcycling in what promises to be a really exciting weekend.
The Motorbike Weekend will also raise awareness of road and rider safety, working in partnership with the Police, Institute of Advanced Motorcyclists and Carmarthenshire Road Safety Team. Plans are in place to run free ‘Biker Down!’ First Aid courses and Enhanced Rider taster sessions.
They hope to provide free instruction on basic mechanical maintenance with a focus on those not in education, employment or training, as well as people in the community living with mental health difficulties. Throughout the day there will be a raffle held in aid of both the Wales Air Ambulance and the Royal British Legion.
This Motorcycle Weekend is just one of many adventures to be had in the Beacons throughout this Year of Adventure. Visitors are being encouraged to share their experiences using the hashtags #AnturBannau and #EpicBeacons. The national Year of Adventure is Visit Wales’ initiative to attract more visitors to the country with a focus on the variety of adventures in store, and a challenge for tourists to #FindYourEpic.
