Water Sports

Neath Port Talbot is on the coast. Aberavon beach and many large lakes provide us with lots of water. And we like to use this water efficiently…..for fun! Sailing, surfing and canoeing are all activities that we are keen to take our clothes off for.

There are various operators throughout the area that can be contacted to offer advice on the best sites in the area for anything from surfing to jetskiing.

Boating

There are a number of lakes and reservoirs in the area that are perfect for sailing. The Corus Sailing Club in Margam is a certified training centre and sails all through the year and Monkstone Sailing Club offers a private marina for 90 boats.

Contact:

Canal

There are two sections of Canal in Neath Port Talbot, the Neath Canal and the Tennant Canal. They were developed for transportation in the early manufacturing industries of brick making and ship building.

Today, the Canals provide meandering towpath strolls and are rather picturesque with natural beauty, yet still bear reminders of early industry. The old Union Workhouse and St IIItyds Church are dominant echoes from the past.

The Thomas Dadford boat trip, departs from B&Q Basin every Saturday from June to September, and daily during school holidays.

Take a walk or cycle along our Canals, and in the summer months spend an afternoon floating through history on the Thomas Dadford. You will be surprised with the wildlife on show, especially the dragonflies bobbing near the waters surface.

Access: Restored section north of Resolven and the Aberdulais Basin are both accessible to disabled visitors.

Contact: For further information on operating times between

April and June 2008, contact the Tourist Information

Centre on 01639 636674

www.neath-tennant-canals.org.uk

www.cordellcountry.org

Bus: X5 half hourly from Swansea and Neath, Mon – Sat

X75 from Swansea and Neath, Mon - Sat

X55 every 90 mins, from Swansea and Neath, Mon – Sat

161 2-hourly from Neath, Mon – Sat

Surfing

Any local surfer will tell you that Aberavon Beach provides big enough swells to get anyone ‘stoaked’. Feeling energetic? Looking for a natural high? Then grab a board and get surfing DUDE!

Aberavon Beach has been recently awarded the coveted Blue Flag status and is renowned for its ability to provide big waves, which result in very big smiles.

You can take surf lessons on Aberavon Beach with Gower Surfing Development, the only four star British surf school in Wales operating all year round.

The beach hosts a number of large scale and prestigious events such as the Welsh and Four Nations Life Saving Championships. The annual Round the Pier swim has been running for the past 40 years. Held in July each year the event is not to be missed even if you are just a spectator.