£16m funding to boost "Adventure tourism" across Wales announced

Almost £16m of European and local council funding has been set aside to boost outdoor and adventure activities across Wales in a major new initiative. North Wales gets more than £6m for improving cycling facilities and activities capitalising "upon the area's outstanding natural beauty". Cycling takes a big chunk of the money with £2.2m on the North Wales Cycling Activity Tourism Centre of Excellence plan to improve facilities across Denbighshire and Conwy. The cycling centre at Coed Llandegla gets an upgrade whilst Llangollen, Llandegla, Corwen and the Dee Valley will benefit from a "natural trail" link.

Snowdonia looks set to get more than £4m mainly allocated to the four sites that form the Eryri Centre of Excellence, which will be based across four sites with an activity centre and the mountain bike trails at Coed y Brenin getting improved and expanded. Llechwedd Quarry in Blaenau Ffestiniog gets a new downhill cycling track. In South Wales Afan Forest park looks set for big changes with £5m allocated to create the "best all-round, purpose-built trail centre in the UK".