17 May 2005

Wales welcomes wider access

OS Explorer Maps for Wales published

Walkers in Wales have every reason to put a spring in their step this month as maps showing new access land areas go on sale.

Thirty-seven OS Explorer Maps, covering nearly all of the country, have been updated to show the extent of areas where people will be allowed to walk away from public footpaths – for the first time.

Ordnance Survey is using information supplied by the Countryside Council for Wales to indicate clearly the extent of access land, using a light-yellow tint surrounded by a narrow, pale-orange border. The maps are designed to provide a guide for walkers, landowners and farmers.

Vanessa Lawrence, Director General and Chief Executive of Ordnance Survey, comments: "We are delighted to be supporting the implementation of the new access opportunities by revising the OS Explorer Maps for Wales. These 1:25,000 scale maps have been chosen for this task because their detail makes them absolutely ideal for outdoor activities. On the revised maps we are bringing together both new access land and existing access areas in a clear and unified way."

Just over a fifth of the land area of Wales will be opened up as new access land at the end of May. Areas include the Berwyn Mountains, Hiraethog Moors, Plynlimon, the Black Mountains and the Preseli Hills.

People venturing off well-defined paths on access land should be particularly alert to the importance of map-reading skills. They also need to be ready to make their own judgement about whether they will be safe walking in a particular area – for example, on marshy ground.

The map legend also explains that there are legal limitations to the new rights of access, and gives website contact details for map users to check the status of a particular area of land before setting out. The service is an initiative by the Countryside Council for Wales. 

Roger Thomas, Countryside Council for Wales Chief Executive, said: "The  new rights of access will mean nothing unless people know exactly where they can and can't go. That's why the Countryside Council for Wales has developed a ground-breaking website that will give up-to-date, user-friendly information to help walkers plan their days out.  The website – www.ccw.gov.uk/countrysideaccesswales – will present this information as switchable layers over Ordnance Survey base maps.

"Walking can play an important part in boosting people's health and well-being. We hope that more and more people will enjoy walking, with confidence, using the new maps to guide them through open access areas."
 
The Countryside Council for Wales considers that environmental tourism is worth £821 million to the Welsh economy each year, supporting 23,600 jobs.

Carwyn Jones, Welsh Assembly Government’s Minister for Environment, Planning and Countryside, says, "May 28 is a momentous day for Wales and marks the successful delivery of a key Welsh Assembly Government policy commitment.  The Assembly Government with its partners has invested considerable time and effort in undertaking the necessary preparatory work – including mapping – to help ensure that the new access opportunities can be known about and enjoyed without interfering with farming practices. We want communities across Wales now to reap the economic, health and social benefits of the new access."

Ordnance Survey’s Consumer Marketing Manager, Gail Meadow, says, "Walking isn’t just good for an individual’s health but in Wales it is a vital contributor to a healthy economy. Our maps are a key ingredient for encouraging those interested in outdoor pursuits to find new locations and destinations, and make the most of the new access opportunities.”

The OS Explorer Maps, priced at £7.49, will be available through retailers and Ordnance Survey’s online map shop at www.ordnancesurvey.co.uk/leisure.

The 37 map titles for Wales available on 28 May are: Brecon Beacons National Park – Western area/Parc Cenedlaethol Bannau Brycheiniog – Ardal Gorllewinol (OL 12), Brecon Beacons National Park – Eastern Area/Parc Cenedlaethol Bannau Brycheiniog – Ardal Ddwyreiniol (OL 13), Snowdon/Yr Wyddfa (OL 17), Harlech, Porthmadog & Bala (OL 18), Cadair Idris & Llyn Tegid (OL 23), North Pembrokshire/Gogledd Sir Benfro (OL 35),  South Pembrokeshire/De Sir Benfro (OL 36), Cardiff & Bridgend/Caerdydd a Phen-y-bont ar Ogwr (151), Newport & Pontypool/Casnewydd a Phont-y-pŵl (152), Gower/Gŵyr (164), Swansea/ Abertawe (165), Rhondda & Merthyr Tydfil/Merthyr Tudful (166), Carmarthen & Kidwelly / Caerfyrddin a Chydweli (177), Llanelli & Ammanford/Rhydaman (178), Newcastle Emlyn/Castell Newydd Emlyn (185), Llandeilo & Brechfa Forest/Fforest Brechfa (186), Llandovery/Llanymddyfri (187), Builth Wells/Llanfair-ym-Muallt (188), Cardigan & New Quay/Aberteifi a Cheinewydd (198), Lampeter/Llanbedr Pont Steffan (199), Llandrindod Wells & Elan Valley/Llandrindod a Dyffryn Elan (200), Knighton & Presteigne/Tref-y-Clawdd a Llanandras (201), Aberystwyth & Cwm Rheidol (213), Llanidloes & Newtown/Y Drenewydd (214), Newtown & Machynlleth/Y Drenewydd & Machynlleth (215), Welshpool & Montgomery/Y Trallwng a Threfaldwyn (216), Lake Vyrnwy/Llyn Efyrnwy & Llanfyllin (239), Oswestry/Croesoswallt (240), Lleyn Peninsula West/Pen Llŷn Ardal Orllewinol (253), Lleyn Peninsula East/Pen Llŷn Ardal Ddwyreiniol (254), Llangollen & Berwyn (255), Wrexham/Wrecsam & Llangollen (256), Anglesey West/Gorllewin Ynys Môn (262), Anglesey East/Dwyrain Ynys Môn (263), Vale of Clwyd/Dyffryn Clwyd (264), Clwydian Range/Bryniau Clwyd (265), and Wirral & Chester/Caer (266).

OS Explorer Maps are being revised in stages as access land information is made available across Wales and England after consultation under the Countryside and Rights of Way Act 2000. The first maps covering the lower north-west, south-east and central-southern England were published last year, and maps covering the upper north-west and popular walking areas of the north-east of England will also be published alongside those for Wales. Publishing the OS Explorer Maps for Wales and northern England brings the number available so far to 112.

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