Parks for all reasons have packed events calendars

THERE is something going on almost every other week of the year throughout 2014 at Wales’s most popular outdoor weather attraction’s, Pembrey Country (PCP) and Llanelli’s Millennium Coastal parks (MCP).

The 500-acre Pembrey Country is cloaked by a Corsican pine forest and nestles in the womb of the glorious eight-mile long Cefn Sidan beach which has been rebranded along with the Millennium Coastal Park 11-miles, the Golden Coast.

They stage 29 events currently booked ranging from the Welsh Game Fair to a world status archery competition, European Paracart championship, Easter egg hunt and Walrus Dip, and of course the National Eisteddfod.

Mingled throughout the events calendar there is a plethora of cycling, running and triathlon events including a model engineering steam fair and caravan club rally, equestrian and horse and carriage events.

Both parks attract more than a million visitors a year.

County executive board member for leisure services Cllr Meryl Gravell said Pembrey had demonstrated in recent years with Beach Break it can deal with more than 20,000 visitors for one event and is starting to attract attention from promoters of all kinds of activities.

Cllr Gravell said: “Part of the glorious success of the park is due to the swathe of golden flat sand that is Cefn Sidan that affords so many opportunities.

“We are delighted this year to have secured the Welsh Game Fair there. Its organisers have described the park as Carmarthenshire hidden secret despite the hundreds of thousands who go there every year. They have been blown away by the potential to develop this year’s fair and those of future years.”

Park ranger Stephen Oliver said there were many other events running organised by group visitors that park visitors would also just happen upon ranging from sand castle competitions to treasurer hunts and dog shows.

He said: “Pembrey particularly is a park for all seasons and all reasons. When the weather is wet and windy the forest and trees offer a haven of calm and the wreck strewn Cefn Sidan was a delight to explore. This was why the park was becoming a great camping and caravan destination with bookings recorded from people from all over the country.”

The park also has Wales’ best artificial ski slope at Ski Pembrey and longest toboggan that averages 75,000 riders a year and last year clocked its 1.7millionth rider.

Planned events:

• Jan 25: MTB Towy Cycling Club Pembrey Country Park;
• Feb 1 & 16: MTB Towy Cycling Club Pembrey Country Park;
• March 2: Llanelli Waterside Half Marathon Parc y Scarlets, Millennium Coastal Park
• March 16: Howies Battle on the Beach, European cycling event;
• April 4: Opening day of Family Camping;
• April 5 & 6: Area 18 Tretathlon Pembrey Country Park;
• April 13: The Great Welsh Marathon MCP and PCP;
• April 13: Llanelli & District Model Engineers Spring Steam Rally;
• April 18: to 27: West Wales Caravan Club Rally;
• April 20: Sosban Family 15 & 25-mile bike ride MCP and PCP;
• April 20 : Llanelli & District Model Engineers Easter Egg Hunt;
• May 17: Llanelli triathlon MCP;
• May 18: Llanelli Sprint Triathlon MCP;
• May 31st April 1: No barriers event PCP; and Cymric Archers World Status Archery Tournament PCP;
• June 14-15: Father’s Day, The Welsh Game Fair, PCP;
• June 15: Race For Life, MCP;
• July 6: Llanelli 10k & Junior Races, MCP;
• July 12&13: British Para cart Championships, PCP;
• July 19-20: Classic Car Rally, PCP;
• August 1-9 National Eisteddfod, MCP;
• August 9-10: Alternative World Games, MCP;
• August 31: Llanelli Standard triathlon, MCP;
• September 27-28: Llanelli & District Model Engineers Autumn Steam Rally, PCP;
• October 4-5: Horse and Carriage Event, PCP;
• October 5: Area 18 Tretathlon Autumn Hunter Trials, PCP;
• December: Father Christmas Grotto PCP;
• December 7: Llanelli & District Model Engineers Christmas Cracker Hunt PCP;
• December 26, 11am Walrus Dip PCP.