Episodes

On a mission to dig out some of his greatest adventures from the past, Derek revisits three memorable walks from mid-Wales. On his first wander, he is joined by opera singer Beverley Humphreys as they walk in the footsteps of one of history’s most impressive sopranos at the Craig-y-Nos estate. He learns of the epic barefoot 26-mile journey of a devoted teenage girl in Abergynolwyn. Finally, Derek takes the plunge at the World Bog Snorkelling Championship in Llanwrtyd Wells.

Derek takes a trip down memory lane as he remembers three of his best Welsh coastal walks. He kicks off with a walk along one of Wales’s most popular coastlines from Harlech to Barmouth, where he dons his birthday suit on a nudist beach, gets drenched on a DIY raft, learns about the ‘Devil in the shawl’ in Salem, and visits an island campsite cut off by the tide in a jaw-dropping location. For his second hike, Derek is in the Vale of Glamorgan, where he takes part in a lifeboat challenge, sledges down one of the highest sand dunes in Europe, and gets in the saddle for a horse ride across the beach in Ogmore. For Derek’s final flashback, he ends up on Pendine Sands in Carmarthenshire, famous for land-speed records. There, he is serenaded by the Tenby Male Voice Choir.

Derek Brockway scours the archives for another three walks from around Wales. In Powys, he is cycling around the beautiful Lake Vyrnwy with fellow weather presenter Sian Lloyd. They learn about the village that was flooded to make way for the reservoir which still supplies Liverpool with water, and marvel at the famous dam, a Victorian engineering feat. For his second walk, Derek is in Eryri National Park to walk a section of the Slate Trail, created to promote the former slate-mining communities in the area. The route takes him from Capel Curig, where he has a go at rock climbing, via the stunning Swallow Falls, to picturesque Betws-y-Coed, where he is given a lesson in charcoal drawing. For his final walk, Derek takes a hike with a difference - his partners are a pair of llamas! Together they explore the beautiful Berwyn Mountains in north east Wales.

Derek the weatherman reflects on some of his favourite walks from south Wales. In the Vale of Glamorgan, Derek is joined by Olympian Colin Jackson, and together they explore a five-mile coastal route that has it all - dinosaur footprints, World War II gun battery remains, the site of a major communication breakthrough and an iconic Victorian pier. In his second hand-picked wander, Derek walks from Port Talbot to Swansea and discovers a walk full of contrasts. Amongst the heavy industrial landscape lie some surprising pockets of nature and a bustling marina. Derek also tries his hand at the helm of a luxury boat and narrowly avoids crashing into the harbour wall. Finally, Derek revisits Usk, where he comes across something unexpected - an airfield. Home of the South Wales Gliding Club, which has been in operation for 60 years, Derek joins them for a weather briefing before taking to the skies himself, where he witnesses amazing views of Usk and the Bristol Channel.

Derek is on a mission to find his best west Walian walks - he has 17 years' worth to choose from! For his first flashback, Derek is in Cardigan Bay, where he discovers the legend of Cantre’r Gwaelod at Sarn Cynfelyna. Derek also has a go at stand-up paddling-boarding, before finishing at the university town of Aberystwyth. On his second walk, Derek travels to Ceredigion, walking from Bwlch yr Arian, where he feeds red kites, to Devil’s Bridge, famed for its three stacked bridges. On the way, he discovers the silver and lead mining history of the area. Finally, Derek follows the course of the River Teifi between Cenarth and Cilgerran, where he learns to steer a coracle, the area’s ancient form of fishing boat, and takes part in the annual coracle races.

Derek gets some Northern nostalgia as he remembers three of his best walks in North Wales. Cadair Idris is a mountain steeped in legend and mythology - it's also one of Wales's most spectacular summits - Derek climbs to three peaks in this range and even braves an icy cold dip in its glacial lake where the temperature, quite literally, takes his breath away! The second walk Derek recalls is from the Italianate village of Portmeirion where he also discovers 'Y Gwyllt' - ‘the wild’ headland beyond. Finally, Derek walks the Dee Valley Way, a stunning 13-mile route which takes him from the pretty town of Corwen to its larger and more bustling neighbour, Llangollen. On the walk he learns of a warrior Prince and leads a horse-drawn barge along the Llangollen Canal.

Derek is island hopping in this roundup of his favourite Welsh island walks. He goes wild in West Wales as he sails to Skomer Island – a National Nature Reserve of International Importance due to its seabirds - he gets a close-up view of the puffins, razorbills and guillemots before staying up late to see the Manx shearwater. Next, Derek goes to Flat Holm Island where he braves a huge colony of seagulls and discovers more about the island's past, including some Victorian gun placements. Lastly, Derek heads up North to Wales's largest island, Anglesey, where he visits another tiny island with a secluded chapel, an unexpected motor racing track, a neolithic burial chamber and takes a sauna on a beach.

Derek is hunting down his most terrific treks from the South – his first quest is an adventure between two captivating castles - Caerphilly and Castell Coch, where he gets the chance to don a full suit of armour. Next, Derek is in Gower walking from Fall Bay to Oxwich, where he discovers a mysterious clifftop hideaway and learns how this area used to be a haven for smugglers. On the way he tries abseiling, cold water swimming and foraging for seaweed. The last walk Derek remembers is in the wonderful Wye Valley, where he marvels at one of the UK’s first tourist walks, takes to the water in a canoe and visits the awe-inspiring Tintern Abbey, where he witnesses the relics of a remarkable archaeological excavation.

Derek searches for his finest hikes after seventeen years of walking around Wales. The first walk he re-discovers is slap bang in the middle of Wales, in the foothills of the Cambrian mountains where he walks around the Hafod estate - a two-hundred-year-old tourist playground of spectacular woods, waterfalls and riverside trails. Next Derek recalls a stroll on the Welsh border in Presteigne, with a young man who walked the entire 1,100-mile perimeter of Wales to raise awareness and funds for Alzheimer's. Finally, Derek travels to the Elan Valley in Powys for a stunning seven-mile circular walk, punctuated by incredible feats of engineering - dams. He learns how the valley was flooded to supply water to Birmingham, he tries out downhill mountain biking and learns how the famous Dam-busters’ bouncing bombs - key to second world war effort, were tested here.

Weatherman Derek Brockway brings us his three favourite walks from South West Wales. On his first wander from Little Haven to Solva, Derek tries surfing, learns about a UFO sighting that stunned the world and helps a local artist create a mural. On his second creative close encounter, Derek discovers the place that captivated and inspired poet Dylan Thomas, as he takes a walk through the town of Laugharne on the beautiful Carmarthenshire coast. For his final flashback, Derek is back in Pembrokeshire, with its majestic cliffs, feeling what it is like to be exposed to the elements. He is thrilled to peek at seal pups, learns how to train a sheepdog and gets his creative juices flowing once more, as he helps to create a unique giant sand circle.