Celtic Trail to get bilingual website

Ieuan Wyn Jones, Deputy First Minister and Minister for Economy and Transport, along with parents and children, will celebrate completion of the Celtic Trail’ second phase with a trial of a new bilingual website.

The Minister for Economy and Transport will be joined by young cyclists to unveil a new interactive and bilingual Routes2Ride website set up by sustainable transport charity Sustrans, which will go live later this month.

Rides along National Cycle Network routes featured on the website will include the Celtic Trail between Fishguard and Chepstow, which has just had a £9.3 million upgrade.

The Objective One project – funded through the Welsh European Funding Office – replaced a number of the trail’ interim sections through Pembrokeshire, Carmarthenshire, Swansea, Neath Port Talbot, Bridgend, Rhondda Cynon Taff, Merthyr and Caerphilly.

Last year the Celtic Trail carried 1.5 million trips and generated £54 million for the South Wales economy.

Deputy First Minister Ieuan Wyn Jones said: “Not only is the Celtic Trail a wonderfully healthy and environmentally friendly way to see and appreciate some of the best countryside in Wales – it’s also becoming a valuable economic asset. This latest investment – together with the new website – will make the Trail still more attractive and accessible.

“I urge as many people as possible to take advantage of this truly superb way to see more of Wales.”

Sustrans Cymru Director Lee Waters said: “The completion of the Celtic Trail’ second phase and the launch of this new website are two significant milestones in the development of the National Cycle Network in Wales.

“The Celtic Trail epitomises the expanding network’ wonderful scenery of green valleys, canal tow paths, forests and mountains, which our new website will make easier for people to go out and discover. Cyclists of all levels can find rides they will enjoy by accessing information from a ride’ distance to its surface and even a four-day weather forecast.”

Sustrans launched its Scottish version of the new website in the spring, with Routes2Ride for England and Northern Ireland to follow.