New cycle attraction plan for Blaenau Ffestiniog site
AVISITOR attraction in the historic mining town of Blaenau Ffestiniog is on course to develop new trails and create jobs.
A quarter of a million mountain bikers have visited Antur Stiniog’s Llechwedd Slate Mountain site in the past 12 months, with 15,000 visitors across the not-for-profit mountain biking centre’s other locations.
This summer the attraction has also partnered with the Wales CoOperative Centre to be part of its Social Summer 2019 campaign, which is encouraging families across Wales to make more use of the widerange
of family-friendly social enterprises.
Antur Stiniog’s mountain biking centre, with seven tailored trails for riders of all abilities including beginner riders and family groups, offers year-round family-fun leisure and sport opportunities for the people of Ffestiniog and brings tourists to the area.
Elin Hywel, Antur Stiniog’s finance and business development manager, said: “Since the establishment of Antur Stiniog we’ve seen the impact that social enterprises can have on a community.
“Here in Blaenau Ffestiniog we reinvest money back into our community to further develop our outdoor tourism sector.
“We’re excited to be part of the Wales Co-operative Centre’s Social Summer 2019 campaign to show the people of Wales how the money that they spend at organisations like ours supports their local communities and can lead to investment and development.”
With plans to increase its mountain biking trail network in the Ffestiniog area, employment opportunities are on the rise for Antur Stiniog and its 22-person team.
The site expansion could mean up to six new full-time jobs created. The proposed expansion is part of a wider initiative to make north Wales the European capital for adventure tourism.
Talking about the exciting development plans for the site, Elin said: “The proposed expansion of Antur Stiniog will confirm the enterprise’s reputation as one of the best mountain biking centres to visit in the UK. Further employment opportunities will be created, benefiting not only the local community but to boost the local economy.”
Antur Stiniog is part of the wider Cwmni Bro network which includes 14 social enterprises all located within the Ffestiniog area, sharing the same aim of producing a positive social impact in the community.