LLANWRTYD Wells prepares to host the fourth World Alternative Games.

It’s whacky, it’s fun, it’s for all ages and abilities, and it brings thousands of visitors to Llanwrtyd Wells.

From worm charming to stone skimming; from wife carrying to husband dragging; Russian egg roulette to space hopper racing; gravy wrestling to backward running; and much more, the World Alternative Games has been held every other year since 2012. And the fourth hosting of the event in the UK’s smallest town gets underway gets underway this Friday, August 10.

The games run for 17 days, taking in three weekends, with the finale over the Bank Holiday weekend of August 25 and 26, to including the internationally acclaimed Bog Snorkelling at the world famous Waen Rhydd Bog.

“We absolutely love hosting this event, and we’re so proud of it,” said Karen Perkins, of the World Alternative Games organising committee.

“We’re also very proud of the high profile it brings to our town, and indeed our area, and many of our visitors come to take part in the World Alternative Games, but then go off touring and sightseeing around other areas of mid Wales.

“Once again, the guest houses will be full, the pubs will be busy, and so to the restaurants, as they are when we host other events during the year that has also helped put our town on the map, such as the annual Man–versus–Horse challenge.”

Once again there has been interest from all over the world, with camera crews and production teams from Europe coming to Llanwrtyd Wells, and visitors from all over the World heading to the town.

“The World Alternative Games gets bigger and better as more and more people find out about us, and what we do,” said Pete Brown, landlord of the Stonecroft Inn and Hostel.

“We have exciting plans for the future too, because we are getting lots of interest in taking the brand abroad, but the World Alternative Games as an event will always be in Llanwrtyd Wells.”

Llanwrtyd Wells also has a rich history as a booming spa town, following the discovery in 1732, by the Reverend Theophilus Evans, of waters claimed to have healing properties.

Llanwrtyd Wells thrived until health tourism began to wane at the turn of the 20th century, and by the 1970s locals realised they needed more to survive than just farming.

So, to boost visitor numbers, bog snorkelling was invented, followed by the Man versus Horse challenge.

Llanwrtyd Wells also achieved notoriety as the one-time headquarters of the late Lord David Sutch, and his Monster Raving Loony Party – a plaque to his memory is sited on a wall outside the Neuadd Arms, a local hotel, bar and restaurant.

For a full list of events, and a schedule, check out the World Alternative Games website: www.worldalternativegames.com

Llanwrtyd Wells is on the A483 between Builth and Llandovery.