Looking for a quiet family day out or action packed adventures?

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Millennium Coastal Park

Cycling & Mountain Biking

Swansea Bay is a cyclist’s dream come true – whether you want quiet, peaceful country lanes, the stunning 22km traffic-free Millennium Coastal Park cycleway, or to feel the burn on one of the four world class mountain biking trails at Afan Forest Park.

Afan Forest Park has two visitor centres and stretches over 64 square kilometres with 30,000 hectares of forest. As well as being a very popular destination for walking, cycling, orienteering, and camping, it’s the ideal place to feel the adrenaline rush. Home to five world class mountain bike trails, Afan Forest was voted the only UK destination to feature in What Mountain Bike Magazine’s ‘ten places to ride before you die’ list.

The trails are varied to suit all abilities but there’s also a designated family cycleway for the less adventurous. There are several bike hire companies operating in the Park, who will deliver bikes to you and also integrate with public transport should this be required. Such is the appeal of the combined thrill and beauty of the Afan trails, that mountain bikers are coming from all over Europe to experience all the Forest Park has to offer for themselves.

Another top mountain biking destination is Brechfa Forest in Carmarthenshire. With three trails of varying difficulty it’s a perfect place for those who like to take it easy as well as for those who want more!

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Watersports

With the second greatest tidal range in the world and some of the finest surfing beaches in the UK, watersports are a speciality in Swansea Bay.

Surfing is particularly good around Gower, and there are several accredited surf schools to choose from. You can catch good waves at Langland and Caswell Bays, just a few minutes drive from Mumbles, further east is Aberavon beach, whilst Llangennith, Gower is frequently noted as one of the Top UK Surf beaches receiving accolades from both The Guardian and The Observer for the quality of the waves there.

Surfing is just one of the watersports the area has to offer, Kitesurfing, Windsurfing, Sailing, Rowing, kayaking and recently stand up paddleboarding are all accessible.

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Walking & Running

Swansea Bay’s diverse landscape is truly a walkers’ and runners paradise. Whether it’s for a gentle stroll or an invigorating yomp, the natural delights of the Gower Peninsula, (Britain’s first designated Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty), Carmarthenshire, the ‘Garden of Wales’, Afan Valley known as ‘Little Switzerland’ and the Vale of Neath dubbed ‘Waterfall Country’ are all on your doorstep. The Black Mountain with its glacial lake is sure to make you pause for a moment, as are the magnificent waterfalls to be found in the Vale of Neath – particularly after heavy rainfall! And you’ll never know when you might stumble across one of Swansea Bay’s many castles or heritage sites. Plus in under an hour’s drive, you can take in the breathtaking beauty of the Brecon Beacons National Park.

Runners rated Swansea seventh best city in the UK for running (2008), there are many running clubs throughout the region including, many listed here

You can even head underground, at Dan yr Ogof, The National Showcave centre for Wales. Situated half way between Swansea and Brecon Dan yr Ogof was recently voted “Britain’s finest natural wonder”. Day visitors can experience the magic of the public show caves and bona-fide cavers are encouraged to explore the 17 kilometres that lie beyond.

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Machynys Golf Course, Llanelli

Golf

Swansea Bay area boasts some of the most scenic golf courses in Wales – in fact the spectacular sea views could be a good excuse for missing that shot!

Fancy testing your swing over an 18 hole course? With parkland, moorland, championship, and classic links courses, (one 200 hundred feet above the sea below it!) as well as Wales’ first Nicklaus-designed golf course, Machynys Peninsula Golf & Country Club, with its Golf Academy newly opened in September 2009, you’ll be spoilt for choice.

There are also numerous nine hole courses as well as golf ranges, pitch and putt and even crazy golf. With over 25 golf courses and many more less than an hour’s drive away.

Horseriding

Swansea is surrounded by beautiful countryside in which to ride – there are also fantastic beach and pub rides available from some stables. See Carmarthenshire on horse-back. There are horses to suit all abilities at the Marros Riding Centre and a wide range of equestrian-themed activities including beach rides, mountain hacks and woodland treks. The Countryside of Neath and Port talbot offers over 85km of bridleways, offering views from high up in the forests, and very little road riding.

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Fishing

The Swansea and Gower area is ideal for coarse and sea fishing. Salmon and sea trout, or sewin as it is known in Wales, enter Carmarthen Bay on their return to their spawning grounds in the River Tywi and its tributaries. The waters in Neath Port Talbot offer coarse, game and sea fishing, providing excellent sport for both pleasure and serious anglers.

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The LC Waterpark

Leisure Facilities

Visit the LC, Wales’ largest indoor waterpark. Opened 2008, the LC features a network of pools, rides and slides including the Master Blaster and the BoardRider – Britain’s first indoor standing surf machine.

Also in Swansea is the 50m Olympic sized Wales National Pool. The Pool is used by the public and professionals alike and has been awarded Intensive Training Centre (ITC) Status by British Swimming. One of only five ITCs, in the UK, it will become a breeding ground for swimmers competing in the London 2012 Olympics.

Regional leisure centres in Swansea, Carmarthen & Neath and Port Talbot offer a variety of other swimming pools, plus tennis, badminton and squash courts, football pitches, rugby fields, athletics facilities, gymnasiums and boxing rings, and a range of fitness and training programmes. There are also many clubs such Swansea Tennis & Squash Rackets Club which currently has over 450 members!

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PICTURE BY: DIMITRIS LEGAKIS
DRAGON NEWS AND PICTURE AGENCY
21 WALTER ROAD, SWANSEA, WALES, SA1 5NQ
TEL: +44(0)1792 464800, FAX: +44(0)1792 475264
MOB: +44(0)7810 773930
EMAIL: [email protected]
Coca Cola League 1
Swansea City FC v Cheltenham Town FC at the Liberty Stadium, Swansea South Wales. Saturday 05 August 2006.
Pictured
General view of Liberty satdium

Liberty Stadium, Swansea

Spectator Sports

Swansea’s fabulous sporting arena, the 20,300 seater Liberty Stadium opened in 2005. Home to Premiership football team, Swansea City Football Club and the Ospreys regional rugby side, the Liberty Stadium has also played host to music legends such as The Who and Elton John, Pink and Rod Stewart.

Regional Rugby side The Scarlets’ brand new state of the art stadium, Parc y Scarlets, opened in November 2008.  The £23million stadium replaced Stradey Park, the home of Llanelli rugby for almost 130 years.

The £20m Ffos Las Racecourse, located on an old 600-acre opencast mine site to the northwest of Llanelli, is the UK’s first new National Hunt racecourse development in 80 years. The racecourse is situated in an area of striking character and natural beauty with breathtaking views down the Gwendraeth Valley and across Carmarthen Bay.

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Activity Providers

There are so many ways to enjoy this fantastic environment – including outdoor pursuits centres with experts who can help equip and teach you! So much to choose from… Rock climbing, Canyoning, Quad-biking,to name a few. Slightly less competitive but no less fun is taking shape in the form of ‘Go Ape’ at Margam Park the high wire forest adventure is made up of rope bridges, trapezes and zip slides through the tree canopy.