Black Mountain Adventure won not one, not two, but three awards at the Business Growth 2026 Awards held in Cardiff earlier this month!

The outdoor activity centre based in Three Cocks took home awards for Customer Service Excellence, Family Friendliness, and the Entrepreneur of the Year award.

After recently being named as finalists in the categories, Ann and Carl Durham, along with daughter Hayley Lagerweij, who all run the family owned business, made their way to Holland House Hotel and Spa in Cardiff for the awards ceremony on Friday, 6 March.

Following their successful trip to the ceremony, the team said: “We are still overwhelmed and incredibly pleased for the team following our win at the Business Growth Wales Awards. Family-friendly and Customer Service Excellence are at the heart of everything we do at BMA; these awards recognise the passion and care our staff put in to what they day do every single day.

“It was also wonderful surprise to learn on the night that the Customer Service Excellence award was judged by a mystery shopper, who actually presented it to us at the ceremony.”

Black Mountain offer fun and thrilling days out doing all things adventure. On site at their Three Cocks base the friendly team offer archery, high and low ropes courses, zip wires, rock climbing and abseiling. Further afield they host days out at Dinas Rock which sees participants of their highly recommended ‘Gorge Adventure’ crawl behind waterfalls, leap from ledges and plunge into deep pools. They also offer caving at the location too.

The team also run sessions on paddle boarding, kayaking, canoeing, raft building, white water rafting and more, as well as equipment hire for other activities.

They host hen and stag parties, families, friends, individuals, school and youth groups, and team building days.

On the Black Mountain Adventure premises is also The Paddlesport Shop selling all kinds of watersports gear.

Headed by Hayley, The Paddlesport Shop began in 2022, as the team sought to benefit from the interest in paddleboarding rising to a whole new level during Covid, as all you needed was a board, a paddle and a buoyancy aid.

The activity centre and instructors were often being asked about their own kit and where the customers could buy it for themselves. The answer was nowhere locally, so Hayley took on the project of adding a full retail arm to the activity business.

Now, the store sells paddleboards, dryrobes, buoyancy aids, waist leashes, wetsuits, socks, footwear, hats, books, mugs, jewellery, gift boxes, beanies, clothing, hoodies, t-shirts, helmets and more.

The shop’s success led to the business being awarded the Entrepreneur of the Year award. The team said: “We are also especially proud of The Paddlesport Shop for winning Entrepreneur of the Year.

“This project was in the pipeline for many years and finally came to life post-pandemic as we sought to diversify within an increasingly challenging industry. We are so grateful to our team and customers who supported us along the way, and to everyone who help keep us doing what we love.”

If you are interested in finding out more, please go to: https://www.blackmountain.co.uk