Neath Port Talbot Council’s 'Working With Nature' Project has organised a walking festival to allow people to enjoy the rich history and nature of the Neath, Tennant and Swansea canals this summer.

The 12 family friendly walks which take place during the festival, from August 1 until 4, are a mixture of challenging, intermediate, moderate and easy, so those of all fitness levels can get involved.

The different walks will give those taking part the chance to visit an area inhabited by Britain’s biggest spider (The Fen Raft Spider), to get involved in a litter pick, to explore the wide range of heritage and beautiful natural sites around the canals, including Craig Gwladus Country Park, and to enjoy picnics and other activities on the waterside.

The walks are;

Thursday: 1/08/19, 10am – 3pm, (length of walk) 10- 11km : Neath and Resolven Ramble Loop. Starting at Resolven canal basin car park, the walk takes in the Neath Canal from Resolven to Cwmgwrach. Explore the countryside and local nature. (Challenging).

1/08/19, 10.30am - 12midday, 1.5km-3km : Neath Canal Heritage Walk. Starting at Aberdulais and going to the centre of Neath, this walk will go through multiple points of interest. (Easy).

1/08/19, 2 - 4pm, 3km: Neath Canal Yoga Walk. Starting at the Resolven Canal basin car park, walkers will go alongside the canal towards Glynneath, taking advantage of open spaces to do user friendly yoga. (Easy).

1/08/19, 6 – 8 pm, 1.5 – 3km, Tennant Canal Fen Raft Spider Walk. Walkers will enter a nature reserve and following a route along the Tennant Canal, looking for Fen Raft Spiders, the biggest native spiders in the UK, which hunt on the surface of waterways. (Intermediate).

Friday: 2/08/19, 10am – 3pm, 8km, Swansea Canal Nature Loop. Starting at the Pontardawe by-pass car park, walkers will take in urban fringe, canal side, golf course, woodland and residential roads. (Challenging).

2/08/19, 10.30am – 12 midday, 1km, Family Storytelling Walk. Walking alongside the Neath Canal towards Glynneath our story teller will stop at various points to continue weaving tales while there will also be time for games. Family orientated, wheelchair friendly, no dogs. (Easy).

2/08/19, 2 - 4pm, 3km, Neath Canal Photography. Starting at Resolven, this walk will take advantage of beautiful countryside and stunning nature sightings alongside the canal, allowing walkers to hone their photography skills. (Easy).

2/08/19, 6pm – 8pm, 6km. Neath Canal and Craig Gwladus Heritage Walk. Meet outside Aberdulais Falls and enjoy a fascinating walk into the heart of Craig Gwladus Country Park. Involves some steep climbs. (Challenging).

Saturday: 3/08/19, 10.30am – 1.30pm, 3.35km, Tennant Canal Heritage Walk. Meet at Compton Road and walk alongside the Tennant Canal to Neath Abbey then the old Iron Works. (Moderate).

3/08/19, 10.30am – 12 midday, 1 – 2km, Neath Canal Litter Pick. Heading from Castle Surgery alongside the Neath Canal into the centre of Neath, picking up litter on the way. (Easy).

3/08/19, 1.30pm – 4.30pm, 8 – 10km, Resolven Nature Walk. A long exploration from Resolven to Neath and back, following then canal. (Moderate).

Sunday: 4/08/19, 10.30am – 1.30pm, 1 – 2km, Canal Leisure and Cooking Walk. A walk alongside Neath Canal from Resolven to Neath with the chance to stop, play and take a picnic alongside the canal. Food provided, activities and games included. (Easy).

Cllr Annette Wingrave, Neath Port Talbot Council’s Cabinet Member for Regeneration and Sustainable Development said: “This is a fantastic opportunity for people to get out and about in our wonderful countryside and alongside our historic canals.”

The Working With Nature project is run by the Countryside and Wildlife team of NPTC and supported by the Welsh Government Rural Communities RDP which is jointly funded by the European Union as part of the Common Agricultural Policy through the European Agricultural Fund for Rural Development and the Welsh Government.

Booking is essential. To book your place please e-mail tourism@npt.gov.uk or telephone 01639 686417. Alternatively, please send a direct message to Visit Neath Port Talbot via Facebook.