Historic Clydach canal towpath given new lease of life as cycle and walking route

Nearly one and half kilometres of historic canal tow path in Swansea has been given a new lease of life as a new walking and cycling route.

The route in the Swansea community of Clydach, has been topped with a new accessible two metre wide tarmac surface to create a new shared use path for walkers and cyclists. The path forms part of the national cycle network, known as NCN43.

Swansea Council has completed the upgrade to the path following discussions with the Rivers and Canal Trust and after receiving funding through the Welsh Government’s sustainable transport scheme – Active Travel.

Mark Thomas, Cabinet Member for Environment Enhancement and Infrastructure Management, said: “Our aim to widen the existing path along the canal and provide an improved surface for walkers and cyclists is now complete and is a vast improvement for the many residents and visitors that use the route.

“We worked with the Canal and River Trust to make this route a safer and an even more popular walking and cycling route. The completed improvements now link up with the similar works completed by the neighbouring local authority along their section, boosting regional benefits between Swansea and Neath & Port Talbot.”

The quarter of a million pound investment in Clydach was included in a wider list of schemes after Swansea received more than £4million of funding to create new walking and cycling routes in the city during 2021/22.

Further funding (£245,000) will also help create a new 1.4 km link between the communities of Clydach and Craig Cefn Parc.

Other routes currently under construction include a 900metre shared use path along Clasemont Road in Morriston. A new route in Townhill – known as the Ravine, is also nearing completion and zig zags along the mountainside for 1.4km.

Work has also started on further routes in Morriston and along Jersey Road in Bonymaen – all providing vital links to existing walking and cycling networks.

Cllr Thomas added: “We’re getting on with creating more accessible walking and cycling routes all across the city, ensuring these routes can provide a welcome alternative to using a car to get around, particularly on short journeys where walking and cycling can be beneficial.

“Expanding our network of walking and cycling routes so more communities are linked up is a key aim to encourage more residents to travel in a more sustainable way.”

(Lead image: Swansea Council)