Wales Coast Path – Tennant Canal

Access the canal at Jersey Marine, following the Coast Path waymarkers in a westerly direction towards Swansea. Apart from a very short section of gradient at the entrance, the path is flat and easily accessible. The path follows the Tennant Canal towpath which historically linked the Neath canal at the Aberdulais basin to the River Tawe in Swansea. The brainchild of George Tennant, the canal was used for commercial traffic until the mid 1930’s. Since this date, the waters have continued to be used as a supply to local industries and provides a picturesque link between Jersey Marine and Swansea. This is an important wetland habitat forming a hydrological link with the extensive Crymlyn Bog, a site of international significance. The route also takes you alongside fen and through woodland, providing a pleasant change of scenery along the way. The route takes you as far as the Swansea boundary and back, but for those wishing to continue into Swansea, simply continue to follow the Coast Path waymarkers.

Widlife Watching: The nationally rare and legally protected Fen Raft Spider may be a lucky sighting in the bankside vegetation, whilst various damselflies and dragonflies, such as the Azure Damselfy, will be conspicuous above the water in the summer months.