Welsh walking round-up

Let’s Walk Cymru will be encouraging more people to get walking in Wales after taking over the running of the Let’s Walk Cymru initiative in its final year from Sport Wales. The programme aims to introduce non-walkers to the benefits of outdoor activity as well as help existing groups and projects expand their programmes by introducing different types of walking such as hill treks, navigation courses and Nordic walking.

The initiative also offers development opportunities for outdoor enthusiasts, with the chance to become a walking project leader or co-ordinator or to train as a volunteer walk leader for local Let’s Walk Cymru schemes.

Elsewhere in the country, pupils from the Dylan Thomas Community School in Swansea have been undertaking a series of practical pathwork sessions near Port Eynon. Assisted by members of the Swansea Ramblers footpath maintenance group, a total of 120 students worked over two weeks to clear and cut back vegetation from an overgrown footpath, making it accessible to walkers after many years of being impassable.

The Swansea Ramblers offered advice on how to use clearance tools effectively and safely as well as sharing their knowledge on how footpaths are maintained and the importance of keeping public rights of way open. The pupils have formed the Dylan Thomas Flexi Group – one of the latest special interest groups to be set up by the Ramblers – as a result of their efforts and will be able to carry out further pathwork and walking activities in the future. You can find out more about how to set up your own flexi group or how to get involved with practical pathwork.

Finally, this weekend brings offers walkers in Wales a chance to link up with those on the Dewi Sant Pilgrimage for a short one mile walk along the coast as the pilgrims make their final journey from Oriel y Parc to St Davids Cathedral. As organiser Clare Williams explains, “the walk will finish on 7 July with a procession through the city, led by creatures associated with St David’s life, a hog roast, banners, bells and drums. The procession will pass through the cathedral and then into the bishop’s palace for a celebration of music, food and dance.”

For more on this, and indeed about all things Welsh and walk-related, vist www.ramblers.org.uk/wales

top image: © Rob Dingle / Natural England