Groups
Amblers Walking Group
This group ambles. It avoids stiles and steep inclines! Whatever the weather the Amblers meet over the winter months at Bryn Bach to enjoy a circuit of the lake and a coffee in the café afterwards. Once the Spring weather arrives, we’ll vary the walks and car-share to find new ‘easy’ circular walks and revisit some of our old favourite walks.
Art Appreciation
Do you have a favourite painting? Why not join us and find out more about the story behind it. Each month, one of our members researches and shares with us all they can find out about a particular artist. It’s fun and interesting and your comments are welcome in our discussions. Appreciating art can be a rewarding and enriching experience. But it can also be intimidating or confusing. If you’re not sure where to start join our group as we explore different artists and various visual media.
Local History
The aim of this group is to increase awareness of the heritage of the local community as well as finding out how key socio-economic factors lie behind the development of the area, Any Ebbw Vale u3a member interested in our local history is welcome to join us. Group Leader. Mr John Evans, has a considerable knowledge of the history of the local area and indeed much of south east Wales, which he is very willing to impart to the group.
Outings (Occasional)
Various trips are arranged throughout the year. Details can be found in the monthly Newsletter. Costs depend on the trip or outing. Buses usually leave from the taxi rank Ebbw Vale.
Memorable past trips include St Fagans, National Trust properties, Heart of Wales Railway Trip, Concorde Museum Bristol, Cardiff Museum and Art Gallery, Transporter Bridge and Newport Ship, The Royal Mint, Warners’ Leisure Weekend, Holme Lacy, Hereford.
Walking Group
The purpose of this group is to find and walk the less well-known tracks and paths in our beautiful Blaenau Gwent mountains and valleys, seeing and hearing birds, streams and rivers, grazing animals, woods, wild flowers and interesting views. The walks are normally between 3 and 5 miles long, and usually circular in order to make things easier on transport. As we walk mainly off-road, on tracks and paths, you need good strong walking boots and a waterproof/windproof coat, drinking water, and often a packed lunch as well as clothes appropriate to mountain walking.
Men's Coffee Morning
Every Wednesday 10 – 12 we hold a coffee morning which has become a popular Men’s event. On the last Wednesday of the month, women join the group for the Amblers’ stroll around Bryn Bach Lake and a sociable coffee afterwards.
Music Appreciation
Keep your brain young with music! Research has found that music can reduce anxiety, blood pressure and pain as well as improve sleep, mood and memory. So, join us to stimulate your brain while we explore the power of music. We want to widen our knowledge and enhance our enjoyment of a selection of styles from classical to jazz and folk to blues.
Rummikub (Fortnightly)
Join us on the first and third Mondays at Ebbw Vale Library for an afternoon of laughter, concentration, strategy and luck. If you’ve not played before, it’s a quick game to master. Rummikub uses numbered tiles that can be arranged and rearranged to make winning combinations. It’s quite addictive and FUN!
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Garden Group (Occasional)
This is an occasional group that meets, usually in the summer months, for trips to gardens near and far. You don’t have to be a gardener to join the group, just have an interest and appreciation of gardens.
Historic Building Visits (Occasional)
As there are so many fascinating and historic houses, castles, churches, museums and galleries in our area, we plan occasional trips. Take the chance to time-travel with us. Historic visits are a great way to learn about our past cultural heritage and the significance of events that have shaped our society. Uncover the stories that historic places have to tell.
Sunday Lunch (Monthly)
Meets on the last Sunday of the month for 1pm lunch at a pub/restaurant to enjoy a social lunch.
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We share cars and connect people. Of course, one of the pleasures of choosing country pubs is travelling across the moors and along the lanes and being reminded we live in a lovely part of the world.
Writing for Pleasure (Fortnightly)
Most people don’t write letters anymore but communicate instead with brief text messages and emails. This group will give members a way of expressing thoughts, ideas, memories and views without criticism. Gain more enjoyment from your writing and feel more creatively fulfilled in a friendly, supportive environment. We want to show that writing can be a pleasurable and satisfying experience. Join like-minded members whether you are an experienced or beginner writer. Remember, writing is a skill not a talent. This difference is important because skills can be improved with practice.
Transport (Occasional)
This group usually meets, once the warmer weather arrives, for trips on various types of transport and to transport-related museums. It provides the opportunity for members to learn how transport by road, rail, water and air has evolved and how it has shaped our lives in so many ways.
Circle Dancing
This group will be re-starting in the Spring. It meets monthly at the LAC.
It’s a gentle form of dance to music from around the world. It draws on a rich and diverse tradition of dances from many cultures. You don’t need a partner and each dance is taught. Helps fitness and balance and is also fun!
