Clyne Valley Country Park
Encyclopedia
The Clyne Valley Country Park is an area of parkland in Britain, at Swansea
in south Wales
. It lies on either side of the valley of the Clyne River
and comprises an area of over 700 acres of land running from the sea at Blackpill
, Swansea, inland to Gowerton
. It is an area of once splendid woodland with enormous beech
, ash
and oak
trees mainly on the Mumbles side of the Clyne River, and, on the Swansea side, woods and mainly scrub land that has naturally regenerated a reclaimed refuse tip. The valley forms an important link in the ecological corridor that runs from the Brecon Beacons
and the Black Mountain
across commons and on into the Gower
AONB. The Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty forms part of the valley's boundary along Clyne Common
. Now dormant – apart from the rich habitat that has formed from neglect – the valley at one time was part of the Vivian
estate. During the eighteenth and nineteenth centuries it was a highly active industrial area with a long history of coal mining, mineral workings, brick making, charcoal burning, railways and canals.
on Swansea Bay with the inland village of Gowerton
. It forms part of National Cycle Route 4 and passes close to the settlements of Killay
and Dunvant
. The route of the cycle track was once used by the Heart of Wales Line
. Past industrial use is still evident along the track.
The wooded hillsides of the Clyne Valley have numerous dirt trails, used for mountain biking and walks.
In 2009 Swansea Council launched the Clyne Valley Management Plan to develop the use of the valley for leisure activities. The plan is grant-funded through the Forestry Commission
's 'Better Woodlands for Wales' scheme, and includes a substantial investment into Mountain Bike facilities in Clyne. Several kilometres of new purpose-built way-marked mountain bike trails are being constructed as part of the plan. The Clyne Riders group has been specially constituted for this task.
Swansea
Swansea is a coastal city and county in Wales. Swansea is in the historic county boundaries of Glamorgan. Situated on the sandy South West Wales coast, the county area includes the Gower Peninsula and the Lliw uplands...
in south Wales
Wales
Wales is a country that is part of the United Kingdom and the island of Great Britain, bordered by England to its east and the Atlantic Ocean and Irish Sea to its west. It has a population of three million, and a total area of 20,779 km²...
. It lies on either side of the valley of the Clyne River
Clyne River
The Clyne River is a river in Swansea, south Wales. It has a total length of 6.5 miles/10.5 kilometres, and flows through the Clyne Valley Country Park for much of its length.-Course:...
and comprises an area of over 700 acres of land running from the sea at Blackpill
Blackpill
Blackpill is a suburban area of Swansea, Wales. It is located beside Swansea Bay, about south west of the city centre.Blackpill falls into the Mayals ward....
, Swansea, inland to Gowerton
Gowerton
The village of Gowerton is situated about 4 miles north west of Swansea city centre, Wales. Gowerton is often known as the gateway to Gower. Gowerton's original name was Ffosfelin...
. It is an area of once splendid woodland with enormous beech
Beech
Beech is a genus of ten species of deciduous trees in the family Fagaceae, native to temperate Europe, Asia and North America.-Habit:...
, ash
Ash
- Products of fire, incineration or combustion :The solid remains of fires, such as:* Ash , the compounds that remain after a scientific sample is burned; commonly reported as a percentage on pet food labels...
and oak
Oak
An oak is a tree or shrub in the genus Quercus , of which about 600 species exist. "Oak" may also appear in the names of species in related genera, notably Lithocarpus...
trees mainly on the Mumbles side of the Clyne River, and, on the Swansea side, woods and mainly scrub land that has naturally regenerated a reclaimed refuse tip. The valley forms an important link in the ecological corridor that runs from the Brecon Beacons
Brecon Beacons
The Brecon Beacons is a mountain range in South Wales. In a narrow sense, the name refers to the range of popular peaks south of Brecon, including South Wales' highest mountain, Pen y Fan, and which together form the central section of the Brecon Beacons National Park...
and the Black Mountain
Black Mountain (range)
The Black Mountain is a mountain range in Mid and West Wales, straddling the county boundary between Carmarthenshire and Powys and forming the westernmost range of the Brecon Beacons National Park. Its highest point is Fan Brycheiniog at 802 metres or 2,631 ft. The Black Mountain also forms a part...
across commons and on into the Gower
Gower Peninsula
Gower or the Gower Peninsula is a peninsula in south Wales, jutting from the coast into the Bristol Channel, and administratively part of the City and County of Swansea. Locally it is known as "Gower"...
AONB. The Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty forms part of the valley's boundary along Clyne Common
Clyne Common
Clyne Common is a lowland area of common land in the Gower Peninsula, Wales. Clyne Common is the easternmost of a set of commons that includes Fairwood Common, Forest Common, Pengwern Common, and Welsh Moor...
. Now dormant – apart from the rich habitat that has formed from neglect – the valley at one time was part of the Vivian
Baron Vivian
Baron Vivian, of Glynn and of Truro in the County of Cornwall, is a title in the Peerage of the United Kingdom. It was created in 1841 for the soldier Sir Hussey Vivian, 1st Baronet. He had already been created a Baronet, of Truro in the County of Cornwall, in 1828...
estate. During the eighteenth and nineteenth centuries it was a highly active industrial area with a long history of coal mining, mineral workings, brick making, charcoal burning, railways and canals.
Clyne Valley Community Project
The Clyne Valley Community Project (CVCP) is a grass roots project that has grown out of community concern that the valley, a valuable local resource and a part of the local heritage, is neglected and under-used. The aims of the project are:- To improve access to the Clyne Valley by clearing and restoring a network of once used tracks and paths.
- To develop and encourage the use of the valley as a community resource by organising events and developing and supporting a wide range of activities in which the communities around the valley can participate.
- To encourage and promote biodiversity and to protect and enhance the natural habitat of species.
- To discover, explore and record evidence of the historical heritage of the valley
Cycling in the Park
A cycle track crosses the centre of the valley, linking BlackpillBlackpill
Blackpill is a suburban area of Swansea, Wales. It is located beside Swansea Bay, about south west of the city centre.Blackpill falls into the Mayals ward....
on Swansea Bay with the inland village of Gowerton
Gowerton
The village of Gowerton is situated about 4 miles north west of Swansea city centre, Wales. Gowerton is often known as the gateway to Gower. Gowerton's original name was Ffosfelin...
. It forms part of National Cycle Route 4 and passes close to the settlements of Killay
Killay
Killay is the name of a suburb and local government community in Swansea, Wales. Killay has its own community council. The village is set high above sea level, about 3.5 miles west of Swansea city centre....
and Dunvant
Dunvant
Dunvant is a suburban district in the City and County of Swansea, Wales, and falls within the Dunvant ward. It is situated in a valley some 4.5 miles west of Swansea city centre.-History:...
. The route of the cycle track was once used by the Heart of Wales Line
Heart of Wales Line
The Heart of Wales Line is a railway line running from Craven Arms in Shropshire to Llanelli in South Wales. It runs, as the name suggests, through some of the heartlands of Wales. It serves a number of rural centres en route, including several once fashionable spa towns, including Llandrindod Wells...
. Past industrial use is still evident along the track.
The wooded hillsides of the Clyne Valley have numerous dirt trails, used for mountain biking and walks.
In 2009 Swansea Council launched the Clyne Valley Management Plan to develop the use of the valley for leisure activities. The plan is grant-funded through the Forestry Commission
Forestry Commission
The Forestry Commission is a non-ministerial government department responsible for forestry in Great Britain. Its mission is to protect and expand Britain's forests and woodlands and increase their value to society and the environment....
's 'Better Woodlands for Wales' scheme, and includes a substantial investment into Mountain Bike facilities in Clyne. Several kilometres of new purpose-built way-marked mountain bike trails are being constructed as part of the plan. The Clyne Riders group has been specially constituted for this task.