Walkers heading up Kilvey Hill are being warned to expect footpath diversions, after construction work began at the top of the hill.
Earthworks have started near the summit as part of the Skyline Swansea project, the £49m cable car and luge attraction planned for the hillside above St Thomas.
An aerial view of the summit shows the scale of the work, with a large area of ground cleared near the hilltop masts.
To keep people away from the construction area, several affected footpaths have been temporarily re-routed.
Skyline said the diversions were put in place to keep walkers safe while the work is carried out.
New signs have gone up across the hill pointing walkers along the temporary routes, including bilingual “Footpath Diversion” markers steering people away from the works.
Swansea Council has approved a temporary diverted route, which the company said would be monitored and maintained throughout construction to keep access open across the hill between Bonymaen and St Thomas.
Skyline said additional signage had been installed after feedback from the community, and would be kept under review as the work progressed.
The diversions are the most visible sign yet that work on the long-discussed scheme is now under way on the ground.
Much of the activity so far has involved clearing ground near the summit, where the earthworks are preparing the site for the downhill karting “luge” tracks.
The tree clearance is likely to be the most noticeable change to the much-loved hill. Skyline said it had been carried out in line with ecological advice and approved plans, and that many of the trees removed were diseased or non-native.
The company said the felled wood had been mulched into biomass for renewable energy, and that it had pledged to plant three native trees and shrubs for every tree removed, working with certified ecologists.
It added that it was already sourcing tree whips and native meadow seeds for planting later in the project, and was installing sustainable drainage to manage water run-off.
The project will see a gondola carry visitors from the Copper Quarter up to the summit of Kilvey Hill, on a site that has been years in the planning.
At the top, Skyline plans three luge karting tracks, a sky swing, a children’s playground, new and improved walking and mountain biking trails, and places to eat and drink, with a zipline added at a later stage.
The attraction is due to open in mid-2028 and will be the company’s first luge site in the UK.
Swansea Council approved the plans in March last year, and the authority has backed the scheme as a major investment expected to create jobs and draw visitors to the eastern side of the city.
Supporters see it as a boost for the local economy and a new reason for tourists to come to Swansea.
The plans have also faced opposition, however, with some residents and campaigners raising concerns about the impact on the hill and on open access to it.
In April, police warned demonstrators that action would follow as protests against the development continued.
Earlier this month, the much-loved “Green Man” sculpture was moved back into the woods on the hill, having been relocated during what supporters of the sculpture called a Skyline “eviction.”
Work has also begun on the other side of the project, with diggers moving in at the Landore park and ride site that will serve the attraction.
Kilvey Hill is a popular spot for dog walkers, runners and families drawn by its sweeping views over Swansea Bay, and the temporary routes are designed to keep those paths open while the work continues.
For now, walkers can still use Kilvey Hill, but are asked to follow the temporary signs and keep clear of the construction area. Skyline said existing paths and rights of way affected by the works would reopen when the attraction is finished.
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