Dungeons, gothic ruins and World War Two bunkers are among the features making up Swansea‘s rich landscape and plans are now in place to introduce heritage trails to explore them.
Swansea Council has made a questionnaire available to ask people how they’d like to see heritage trails across the city developed, conserved and enhanced.
It’s hoped the trails will help promote health and wellbeing and make Swansea‘s heritage fun and accessible to people of all ages.
Trails with a heritage theme would also complement the city’s biodiversity trails and link the city centre and Swansea Bay to other areas of Swansea.
Part of the scheme involves the possible progression of the Clyne Valley Country Park project where Swansea Council is looking to develop a trail that will tell the story of the beauty spot’s industrial legacy.
Websites offering virtual tours, interpretation boards and activities for children are among the ideas that could be realised at both Clyne’s heritage trail and others that may develop in Swansea in future.
Improved signage, wildlife watching surveys and links with sustainable transport could also be introduced under the plans.
Some of the trail themes could include Castles and Princes, Industrial Swansea, Inspirational Landscapes and Defence of the Realm.
Defence of the Realm would take people on a trail that includes some of Swansea‘s Second World War heritage. This would feature memorial plaques, bunkers and war sites.
Each trail would also take in elements of biodiversity. This would include wildlife havens that have now developed on canals originally built for industry and the bats and birds that are roosting in our ancient trees and hedgerows.
Swansea Council says the trails would complement other leisure-based tourism opportunities in the area.
Feedback from the questionnaires will help inform funding applications to develop the trails in future.
Cllr Graham Thomas, Swansea Council’s Cabinet Member for Culture, Recreation and Tourism, said: “The Swansea area offers a spectacular mix of stunning scenery and rich history and heritage trails would be good exercise as well as educational.
“They’d also help to link the city and centre and waterfront with other parts of the city and would open up some of Swansea’s most interesting landmarks and hidden treasures to new audiences.
“I’d urge people to fill out our questionnaire if they get the chance because their views will inform how both Clyne Valley Country Park’s heritage trail and others across Swansea could be developed in future.”
Copies of the heritage trail survey are available at the Civic Centre, the Guildhall and Swansea Council’s offices in Penllergaer. People can also go to the community libraries of Gorseinon, Morriston and Oystermouth or www.swansea.gov.uk/trailsurvey where forms can be submitted electronically.
People have until March 19 to submit their feedback.
