Ramblers Cymru is urging the public to back plans for a new Glyndwr National Park, with just days left to respond to the final consultation before the 8 December deadline.  

Glyndŵr would be the first new national park in Wales for 60 years and would mark the biggest step forward for access in Wales since the Countryside and Rights of Way (CRoW), landmark legislation that transformed public access to the countryside 25 years ago. 

Ramblers Cymru warns that this is a crucial moment for access in Wales and time is running out for the public’s voice to be heard. 

Rebecca Brough, Policy and Public Affairs Manager for Ramblers Cymru, said: 

“National parks are more than beautiful landscapes – they are vital for health, wellbeing and rural economies.” 

“When funded and delivered well, national parks bring many benefits to the local area, including better support for paths and promoting responsible access, boosting rural economies, and easing pressures on local communities with facilities like expanded public transport, toilets, campsites and bins.”

National parks attract 12 million visitors each year generating £1bn for Welsh businesses. They are also a proven way to ensure that as many people as possible can access Wales’s countryside and that this access is managed effectively.

Rebecca continued: “More than half of people in Britain visit a national park each year, and walking is by far the most popular activity. The Glyndŵr National Park would be the first designated in Wales in over 60 years, and a vital step forward for well-managed, good quality countryside access.” 

Ramblers Cymru is encouraging people to make their voices heard and respond to the national park consultation before the deadline on 8 December. 

Responses should be submitted on the National Resources Wales website.