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The science of deep time: Brecon Beacons (Bannau Brycheiniog), Wales

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9 - 11 September 2024 - 3 days - From £799 (See price grid for room options)

Join a gentle walking-and-talking short break in the stunning Brecon Beacons (Bannau Brycheiniog). Witness the cosmic, geological and human forces that have shaped our lives, understand humankind’s place in the story of Earth.

Based in South Wales, stargaze back through time, journey deep underground in caves and explore the stunning Welsh landscapes. Learn about the science of deep time, the formation and geology of Earth and explore the timeline involved in the creation of our world and the wider cosmos.

One of the highlights of this short break is a 4.6-kilometre deep time walk in the Brecon Beacons. You will explore the stunning landscape while listening to an account of the 4.6 billion years of Earth’s history. Each metre walked will represent 1 million years of time.

This tour is hosted by journalist and author Richard Fisher. He will be joined by an array of leading deep time, geology and astronomy experts including Martin Griffiths, Thomas Moynihan and Alan Bowring. They will offer a range of fascinating talks and walking seminars over the three days, enabling you to gain an appreciation and understanding of the timelines and processes involved, and the small amount of space and time we occupy in it.  

Your base for this short break will be the unique Craig Y Nos, a 1840s gothic castle that has been fully renovated and is located in the Brecon Beacons National Park. The castle and country park sit alongside the upper river Tawe on the edge of the Black Mountain and was owned by 19th-century opera singer Adelina Patti. 

This short break is perfect for those that are fascinated by cosmology, geology and astronomy. You will leave asking: are we entering the Anthropocene?   


DAY 1: ARRIVE, WELCOME LECTURE AND EXPLORE THE COSMOS

Arrive at the unique Craig Y Nos Castle, a hotel housed in a Grade II* listed 1840s gothic castle, that was owned by 19th-Century opera singer Adelina Patti.

In the late afternoon, make your way to the opera house within the castle grounds, where author, journalist and event host Richard Fisher will talk you through the development of deep time and how it can be used to understand the timelines of our planet and the universe.

After dinner in the castle's grand dining hall, you will venture to the country park next door to explore the cosmos with astronomer Martin Griffiths and a selection of telescopes. This will help you place cosmic processes and timelines into context by seeing star creation in action. Should the weather not comply, we can rearrange the stargazing for the second night.

DAY 2: DAN YR OGOF CAVE TOUR, GEOLOGY, PALAEONTOLOGY AND THE ANTHROPOCENE

Enjoy breakfast on a morning that is 4.6 billion years in the making. As your journey through deep time continues, you will spend today exploring the geological processes and timelines of Earth once created. 

After a 30-minute walk along the river Tawe, you will visit the National Showcaves Centre for Wales. Enjoy a private guided tour of the three main cave systems there: the Dan yr Ogof, Bone cave and Cathedral cave. You will learn from local geologists how these intricate network and impressive structures were created over 300 million years ago (the last 6 per cent of the earth’s history) and about the geological forces grinding away to shape our world.

Walk back to the castle and lunch. Afterwards, enjoy a fascinating afternoon of talks in the opera house from experts taking a deep dive into the geology and palaeontology of the Brecon Beacons.

This will be followed by a talk from Cambridge University's Thomas Moynihan, who will discuss how humanity's perception of life's greatest possibilities and gravest threats has evolved throughout history.

To finish, there will be a discussion on the potential new epoch we find ourselves in, the Anthropocene, marked by the impact of human activity on Earth, which some argue began with the industrial revolution. 

You have explored nearly 300 million years of deep time today, so enjoy a good rest.

DAY 3: DEEP TIME GUIDED WALK AND LOOKING TO THE FUTURE

After breakfast, you will journey to another part of the Brecon Beacons with the Deep Time Walk organisation to explore the landscape while listening to an account of the 4.6 billion years of Earth’s history. Each metre walked will represent 1 million years of time and you will hear about the different milestones of Earth’s creation. With human history being represented by the length of your finger on this 4.6-kilometre walk, our impact on Earth is put into stark contrast.

After returning to the castle for lunch, there will be two more talks exploring deep time issues in the future including looking at the potential paths the planet could take and what archaeologists will find of us in 100,000 years. This will be followed by closing comments from Richard.

The event officially finishes late in the afternoon, but you are welcome to stay another night and use the castle as a base to further explore the Brecon Beacons. For those of you arriving a day early or a day later, we will endeavour to arrange a historical tour of the castle. It is an amazing structure with a fascinating history.

As well as being a thoroughly enjoyable and mind-expanding event, we hope you depart with a more informed understanding of deep time, reading our landscapes and our place within the world.

Contact us to discuss this short break.

Email Us

Contact us to discuss this short break.

Email Us

Highlights

  • Gain an understanding of deep time and the geological timelines of Earth.
  • Talks and walking seminars from geologists, astronomers, palaeontologists and deeptime experts.
  • Explore the National Showcaves Centre for Wales accompanied by geology experts.
  • Learn about our place in the cosmos through expert-led stargazing.
  • Immerse yourself in the landscapes of the Brecon Beacons with a Deep Time guided walk.

New Scientist. Science news and long reads from expert journalists, covering developments in science, technology, health and the environment on the website and the magazine.

Meet the expert

New Scientist. Science news and long reads from expert journalists, covering developments in science, technology, health and the environment on the website and the magazine.

Richard Fisher

Richard is the event host, he is currently a senior journalist with the BBC and is an honorary research associate at University College London. Richard worked at New Scientist 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

New Scientist. Science news and long reads from expert journalists, covering developments in science, technology, health and the environment on the website and the magazine.

Martin Griffiths

Martin is a senior lecturer in space science at the University of South Wales. He has been an astronomer for over 40 years and is a fellow of the Royal Astronomical Society. Martin previously worked for NASA’s Astrobiology Institute, which looked at the origins, evolution, distribution and future of life in the universe. He is currently the director of the Brecon Beacons Observatory and has written six books and published more than 100 papers.

New Scientist. Science news and long reads from expert journalists, covering developments in science, technology, health and the environment on the website and the magazine.

Thomas Moynihan

Thomas is a UK-based writer and author of X-Risk: How humanity discovered its own extinction. Holding a DPhil from Oriel College, Oxford University, he is currently a research affiliate at Cambridge University's Centre for the Study of Existential Risk. Through his writing, Thomas aims to tell compelling stories about how changing ideas about the ways and workings of the wider universe have time and again transformed our deepest sense of ourselves and our greatest priorities as beings who think, act and – often – make mistakes. Thomas's writing – on everything from the climate crisis to dolphin and insect intelligence – has been featured in places like BBC Future, The Guardian, New Scientist, Aeon and Noema Magazine. He has keynoted at institutions ranging from Stanford University in California to Hong Kong's Tai Kwun Contemporary and he has appeared on BBC Radio 4.

New Scientist. Science news and long reads from expert journalists, covering developments in science, technology, health and the environment on the website and the magazine.

Alan Bowring

Alan is the Geopark Officer at Bannau Brycheiniog (Brecon Beacons) 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.

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.

Further guest speakers and guides will be confirmed shortly. 

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 New Scientist staff and expert guide
  • Onsite parking
  • 24-hour onsite support

WHAT'S NOT INCLUDED

  • Travel insurance
  • Single supplement
  • Room upgrades
  • Additional nights at Craig Y Nos Castle. Available for a supplement.

HOW TO GET THERE

This short break is hosted at Craig Y Nos Castle located adjacent to Craig Y Nos Country Park. The nearest town is Ystradgynlais.

By road: The castle is located just off the A4067 between Ystradgynlais and Sennybridge. The postcode is SA9 1GL.

By rail: The nearest train stations are Swansea and Neath. There are direct trains from London Paddington Station to Neath or Swansea. If arriving from Manchester/Birmingham, you will need to change at Cardiff. From Swansea or Neath, you will need to take a taxi to the castle which will take about 30 minutes.

You are responsible for making your own way to and from the accommodation at the beginning and end. 

START AND END TIMES

The event will begin at around 5.30pm on Monday and finish at around 3pm on Wednesday.

We will send full instructions including directions to the hotel a few weeks prior to the event. 

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 100 guests. Discovery group tours generally operate at much smaller capacities, between 14 - 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 2 offsite activities the group will be split into smaller groups. 

SOLO TRAVELLERS

Our group tours are perfect for solo travellers, as travelling as part of an organised group provides security and peace of mind in faraway places.

AGE RESTRICTIONS

Children are welcome, but must be aged 12 or over. Please bear in mind that the level of the talks and activities are aimed at adults.

Accommodation

Craig Y Nos Castle, Brecon Road, Pen-y-cae, Swansea, Wales

In the heart of Wales near the Brecon Beacons, 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 sits alongside the upper river Tawe on the edge of the Black Mountain and was owned by 19th-century opera singer Adelina Patti. 

New Scientist. Science news and long reads from expert journalists, covering developments in science, technology, health and the environment on the website and the magazine.

There are two main room types within the castle grounds. The Nurses Block, which is just next to the castle, has the more cost-effective rooms. They are private twin, double and single rooms with shared lockable men's and women's facilities.

New Scientist. Science news and long reads from expert journalists, covering developments in science, technology, health and the environment on the website and the magazine.

In the castle, all the rooms are doubles with ensuite facilities and some have additional beds to fit groups of three or four. If you wish to book three or four people into a room, please email us at tours@newscientist.com.

There are tea and coffee-making facilities in each room.

There is ample free parking at the castle.