The new Margam Park routes will be officially opened by Councillor Ali Thomas at the Margam Park Castle 2pm on Tuesday 5th October 2010.
Journalists and photographers are invited to walk part of the route with walking groups and children from local schools (walks scheduled to last one hour).
A cash injection of £15,000 will give visitors to Margam Park even more opportunities to be active in the great outdoors.
New orienteering and walking routes have been designed, mapped and marked around the park and are set to be official launched next week.
Funding from Sport Wales and Neath Port Talbot Council means more schools and local walking groups can enjoy structured activities at Margam. The routes will also be open for recreation for the 200,000 annual visitors.
The 10-post orienteering route through the woodland terrain has been designed by the park’s officers and Swansea Bay Orienteering Club.
There are also six new accessible mapped walks, for people of varying walking abilities. New pathways for the walks have been created in previously inaccessible areas of the park.
Bilingual maps and leaflets will guide walkers along the trails.
Leader of Neath Port Talbot Council Ali Thomas, said “I am extremely pleased to see that we have been able to open up even more previously inaccessible areas of Margam Park to our communities and tourists.
“This joint funded initiative with Sport Wales will ensure we are able to provide new, exciting orienteering and walking routes that will encourage physical activity whilst exploring the stunning natural woodland surroundings of Margam Park and a visit to our award winning Discovery Centre.”
The routes will be used regularly for outdoor and adventurous activities during school PE lessons and 5×60 sessions, as well as by the on-site discovery centre, Mentro Allan programme and for the Swansea Bay Orienteering Club to provide taster sessions and informal competitions.
The development is part of the agreement between Sport Wales and the Council that looks for local solutions to get more people active and involved in sport.
Sport Wales Regional Manager, James Owens commented:
“We work closely with officers at the Council to look at how we can use facilities and the natural environment to increase opportunities for people.
“Given the number of groups and visitors that can use these routes, it will help us get even more people active in the borough.”
