67% of Welsh residents want better access to the countryside

Only 5% overtly against the idea. But where are we at with the Trails For Wales campaign?

Cycling UK:

A staggering two thirds (67%) of Welsh residents have stated their support for improving people’s access to the countryside, with only 1 in 20 (5%) opposing the idea. This is according to new YouGov research commissioned by the national cycling charity Cycling UK, ahead of May’s Senedd elections, signalling a significant show of unity across the country.

From North Wales (68%) to the South West (64%), from those that speak some Welsh (77%) to those that speak no Welsh at all (62%), from urban residents to those living in more rural parts of Wales, people across Wales overwhelmingly support greater countryside access. Support peaks at 77% for people who speak some Welsh, with the lowest figure being 58% among people aged 65+. Opposition remains strikingly low across every demographic group surveyed, not exceeding 10% in any segment of the population.

The findings reflect More in Common’s recent research which revealed that love of nature and green space is one of the few things that brings people together across politics. Over 3 in 4 (78%) of those aged 16 to 30 backed expanding access with support holding firm across every socio-economic background, with an average of 2 in 3 (66%) working-class and professional communities (routine 64%, intermediate 65% and higher 69% socio-economic classification) in favour. Even in rural Wales, almost two-thirds (61%) of respondents supported improved access.

While three National Parks cover 20% of the land area of Wales, not everyone can easily reach them without using a car. Cycling UK argues that by improving cycling and walking access to the countryside as a whole, not just national parks, more communities will benefit, with local economies also given a boost.

The findings come as countryside access has proven to deliver huge economic benefits as well as environmental ones, creating significant job opportunities and adding more to the economy. The Economic and Social Evaluation of the Outdoor Activity Sector in Wales, published in 2023 that the outdoor activity tourism sector contributes a total net impact of £1.6bn annually and supports 31,278 jobs (21% of all tourism jobs in Wales).

Recognising the importance of access to nature, in 2023, Cycling UK launched Traws Eryri, a multi-day route that runs for 122 miles (196km) through the wilds of Wales, connecting Parc Cenedlaethol Eryri (formerly Snowdonia National Park), with the Mawddach Estuary, the forests of Coed y Brenin and Gwydir, and remnants of North Wales’ slate mining heritage.

Separate survey data collected by Cycling UK along its King Alfred’s Way route in 2020 demonstrated that on average each person riding the route spends £107.61 per day, when adjusted for inflation, on food and accommodation. The charity also found that cycle tourism spending in the UK generates £520m per year, with 1.23 million overnight trips made each year. As a member of the Outdoor Alliance Wales, a coalition representing the outdoor sector in the nation, Cycling UK has backed calls to address the increasing disconnect between Wales’s population and its natural environment.

Cycling UK’s manifesto recommendations:

• Increase investment in active travel to at least 10% of the total transport budget within five years
• Safer roads for everyone
• Public health and access to green spaces
• Increase transport choice and connectivity for all

What’s happening with Trails For Wales?

Trails For Wales is/was essentially Cycling UK’s campaign to get Scottish-style cycling access introduced in Wales. We hadn’t heard anything about the campaing for a few years now and when we asked Cycling UK replied “Unfortunately we don’t have any updates on that campaign as such at the moment.” Which is not much of a surprise but still disappointing (non) news.