In McArdle disease, building and maintaining a high level of aerobic fitness is essential. Here we introduce key aspects which can help you do just that.
“The McArdle’s Experience” residential courses, Wales, 2026
Pricing not yet available, but provisional bookings welcome.
For 2026, our 16th year of these courses, our location is the Pembrokeshire Coast National Park in South West Wales.
We again offer this successful format for another great opportunity to share with other people who have McArdle’s. There is a course for Young People, and an Adults Course, each will have their own programme of learning and walks. You will learn all about the techniques that make the day-to-day management of McArdle’s easier. There will be walks every day to put the learning into practice and to boost your confidence and your aerobic capacity.
The video at the foot of this page gives a good introduction to the features and benefits of the course. It was filmed on one of our courses in Wales.
The bonus is making walking safe and enjoyable. You can do this in a holiday atmosphere, with a friendly and understanding group and in a beautiful location.
We will be staying at the National Trust’s Stackpole Centre, with sole occupancy of the Swan Group House for our course.
Dates of the 2026 courses
Young Peoples Course
For those aged up to approx. 25. Those below age 18 to be accompanied by a parent or guardian.
Saturday 1st to Friday 7th August.
Arrival from 4pm, departure approx. 10am.
Adults Course
For those aged 18 and over.
Saturday 8th to Friday 14th August.
Arrival from 4pm, departure approx. 10am.
The McArdle’s Experience, Wales, 2026
This year to be held in the Pembrokeshire Coast National Park, South West Wales. We last held our courses here in 2022.
We can help guide you in a supportive and encouraging atmosphere, with no worries about embarrassment or competition. We start with walks at an easy grade with level and downhill walking, each with plenty of pick-up points should you wish to take advantage of a lift back to base in our support car. On some of the walks, it is even possible to re-join the walk further along the route.
Later in the week, subject to weather, there will be an option for one or more challenging routes. And of course, you always have the option of a rest day if you wish.
Explaining a point as we rest before a short flight of steps.
The Course Leaders
‘The McArdle’s Experience’ was devised by Andrew Wakelin. The Course Leader is Bronte Thomas who knows the area well. She will be backed up by Eoghan Ross as Assistant Leader. All three have McArdle’s themselves so have first hand experience of exactly what you go through. There may well be some course members who are veterans of several years of the walking courses in Wales, and even of some of the routes we shall be using. We are exceptionally lucky that the leaders are backed up by a very experienced team, led by AGSD-UK Trustee Rachel Thomas, who look after catering, housekeeping and support driving.
We try to start or walk routes on the level.
What you will gain
We aim to teach you the best techniques for managing your McArdle’s, so that you can gain in confidence.
We will help you to improve your aerobic fitness and reduce the risk of muscle injury. You will gain confidence in managing your need for rests, without embarrassment. You are likely to improve your motivation to undertake regular exercise – with all its well-proven physical and mental health benefits.
Past participants have gone home feeling confident that they can exercise safely and with the desire to expand their McArdle’s boundaries, inspired by what they learnt and achieved during the course.
“Rest before risk” – the challenge of a stile.
Happy McArdle’s group from 6 countries.
Rules of the road
We have some simple ‘rules of the road’ for walking in a McArdle’s group. These ensure that everyone is looked after and so we ask all participants to agree to follow them.
Usually on one evening we have a meal at a local pub, this one at Bosherton.
Plenty of time to chat and swap experiences.
Tenby harbour for the boat to Caldey island.
The Green Bridge of Wales.
The story of the McArdle’s Experience
This presentation tells the story of the start of the walking courses and what is involved, giving a good flavour of what to expect. It also tells a bit of the history.
Walking the cliffs.†
The programme
This is a training course but also with an accent on having fun and enjoying ourselves in a beautiful setting. The walks will be enjoyable in their own right as well as providing the opportunity to compare notes and discuss our condition with other people with McArdle’s and gain practical experience of the subjects we cover.
We will be running a series of not too formal theory sessions, usually in the evenings, plus there will be plenty of opportunity for sharing and discussions. The program will include: aerobic versus anaerobic, the aerobic to anaerobic continuum, second wind, rest before risk, the six second rule, 30 for 80, effect of terrain and surface, slow and steady, regular rests, headwinds, best use of walking poles, walking with non-McArdle people, route planning, eating on walks, hypoglycaemia, hydration, zig-zag technique, stepping up, bad pain versus good pain, etc, etc.
It is hoped that the course will be visited by a professional from the McArdle’s clinic in London. They will give a talk to the course members.
Later in the week there will be opportunities to undertake some more challenging routes.
The walks
We have an extensive schedule of pre-planned walks available, all geared to the needs of people with McArdle’s. There is no need to feel worried – we select walks to suit the participants and we all have McArdle’s (there might also be someone with a related muscle GSD, or an understanding partner). There are many choices of wonderful walking. The options range from level walks around lakes, on riversides, along the coast, old railway lines, and valley walks. For those who wish to go higher and have a greater challenge, there will be options later in the week – on some days we may split into two groups, one for a level walk and one for a harder grade and more committing walk. For those that wish there may be the opportunity do a mountain walk, weather permitting.
We will decide on each day’s walk to suit the capabilities of the individual members of the group, and the weather. Walks are planned to provide (wherever possible) pick-up points along the way, so that if anyone feels they have done enough they can be collected by car. You will be fully briefed before each walk so you know what to expect. The early walks will usually have several pick-up points, sometimes no more than a mile apart, in order that you can be confident to join the walk. The sections between pick-up points may be longer on later walks, and may be impossible on some more challenging walks. We will start with shorter walks and gradually build up during the week.
The Swan Group House at the Stackpole Centre – our accommodation.†
Our accommodation
We will be staying in the comfortable Swan Group House, part of the National Trust’s Stackpole Centre. We have sole occupancy of the building. The centre has an information office and is part of a large country estate with easy access to many walks. From the door we can do walks taking in: countryside, lakes, beaches, bays and cliff tops. And a relatively short drive away are features such as the Preseli Hills, a boat trip to Caldey Island, and a visit to Britain’s smallest city – St. David’s.
Self-catering
This is self-catering accommodation and everyone will join in helping to make breakfasts and packed lunches. Whilst we will all muck in, we have a support team who will buy the food and organise us in the kitchen. For the evening meals the support team have kindly agreed to cater for us, but we can offer to help.
The bedrooms and facilities
This is described as group accommodation for up to 24 people. There is a variety of rooms from singles to doubles and twins. Bathrooms are ensuite. We will be asking people to share rooms wherever possible. There is a large, fully equipped, kitchen, a dining room, and a room in which to relax in the evenings.
Twin room ensuite.†
All comfortable rooms.†
Plan of the ground floor in Swan House.
Plan of the first floor in Swan House.
Who can join?
Anyone with a confirmed diagnosis of McArdle Disease (GSD5) or Tarui Disease (GSD7), wherever in the world you live. We are also happy to consider those with other muscle GSDs, so please get in touch. We will have provision for beginners and for more advanced walkers, including those who have been on the course before. If you are uncertain as to which course is best for you, please communicate with us: type5@agsd.org.uk.
Requirement: You should be able to walk on the flat (slowly, at your own pace and with whatever rests you need) for about half a mile (0.75 km). If you are not yet able to do that, we have available some notes on starting an exercise programme and we can help you to get to that level.
Comparing notes on a lakeside walk.
Travel to Stackpole
You will need to organise your own transport to Pembrokeshire – but do please ask for guidance. We can organise collecting you by car from Pembroke train station (which is about 15 minutes away). If you come by car we will provide directions and there is car parking space at our accommodation.
For international travellers, we will advise you whether we can organise lifts from airports, but most likely we will help you plan your train journey to the station above. Please just get in touch and let us know your requirements.
Check the kit list for walking gear.
What you need to bring
Please note that you will need to have lightweight walking shoes or boots with good grip soles, a waterproof jacket and a pair of telescopic walking poles. We have pairs of walking poles available for loan – please let us know if you require them, or we can give advice about purchase.
Cost of the course
The cost of the course varies for different types of room and sharing. Costs below include all accommodation, food and activities during the course. Please indicate your preference on the booking form and we do our best to allocate rooms to meet your request.
Concessions
Concessions are available for those in full time education, unemployed or on a restricted income. We do not want cost to be a barrier to attendance, so please contact us if you wish to discuss what is possible – AGSD-UK has funds allocated to assist.
Barafundle Bay, one of the beaches close to our base.†
Testimonials from past course members
Past participants have found that walking with fellow McArdle’s people was a real joy with a lot of laughs and had the benefit of true understanding from fellow walkers, making the walks relaxed, enjoyable, confidence boosting and hugely rewarding. Here, on paper and video, they provide quotes about their experiences.
Download a PDF of testimonials from course participants.
Below we have a 7-minute video, shot on a course in North Wales by Dan Chambers, with participants talking about their experiences.
Always time for a rest and to enjoy the view.
Otters in the Stackpole estate lilyponds.†
This 15 minute video about the course was shot in the Eryri (Snowdonia) National Park.
† Photographs of Stackpole, sea cliffs and Barafundle Bay courtesy of the National Trust.
BOOK YOUR PLACE !
Course places and rooms will be allocated on a first come first served basis.
Click here for our on-line booking form.
Once your place is confirmed you will be asked to pay a deposit of £100 or the full amount. If you pay only the deposit the balance will be payable one month before the course.
For all enquiries
For any further information and questions please email the McArdle’s coordinator.