Swansea coastline part of world's best region to visit

The Lonely Planet recently put Coastal Wales ahead of parts of Central America, Italy and India in a top ten of places to visit next year.

Walking in Oxwich Bay, Gower

The All Wales Coast Path, which includes a 55-mile stretch around Swansea Bay and Gower, will be the first coast path in the world to run the entire length of a nation and is set to be officially opened in May 2012.

Swansea Council is continuing its work to complete the Coast Path from Mumbles in the South to Crofty in the north via Three Cliffs Bay, Port Eynon, Rhossili and Llanmadoc.

The Council is working with a wide range of partners to complete the path and is currently working on improvements to the path between Caswell and Limeslade.

Tourism chiefs in the city are confident the creation of the continuous path will encourage even more visitors to Swansea.

Steve Hopkins, Tourism Manager in Swansea Council, said: "Once the new sections of path are open we can showcase our beautiful coastline to both seasoned ramblers who will walk the entire path and walkers out for a Sunday stroll.

"Walking is already one of our most popular activities with visitors and the opening of the All Wales Coast Path will raise the profile of walking in this area even further. It will enhance Swansea Bay's reputation as a walking destination."

Tony McGetrick, Chairman of Tourism Swansea Bay, said: "A lot of the work to develop and create this path has been ongoing for a number of years and when it's finished I think we'll be well-placed to offer a fantastic attraction to people around the world.

"We've got a really diverse offering of attractions in Swansea which makes us quite unique.

"And local businesses such as accommodation providers are now developing and offering packages to visitors that can really make their stay much more worthwhile. By next year I think we will be able to offer something quite superb."

The All Wales Coastal Path is funded by Swansea Council, EU Convergence funding and the Welsh Government.

Partners helping Swansea Council in developing the path in Swansea include the National Trust, the Countryside Council for Wales, the Wildlife Trust, the Gower Society and Swansea Ramblers.

Cllr Gareth Sullivan, Swansea Council's Cabinet Member for Economic Regeneration and Planning, said: "A lot of work has been completed with our Countryside Access Team who have been working with a variety of partners to improve and create sections of path.

"Some of the pathway will travel along private land and this has been achieved with support from private landowners."