What are the issues?
There is currently no active travel route between Glan Conwy and Llandudno Junction. The existing paths are unsuitable and difficult to access for all users.
About the project
We are creating an active travel route between Glan Conwy and the RSPB entrance at A55 Junction 18. The shared-use path will be accessible to all, suitable for pedestrians, cyclists, wheelchair users, prams, and mobility scooters.
The route will connect with the recent active travel improvements carried out by Welsh Government at Junction 18 of the A55 (between the RSPB and Tesco roundabouts) and also link to the bridge to the Cob for onward travel to Conwy.
The new path will be about 2km (1 ¼ miles) long. The route includes:
- New bridge crossing over Conwy Valley Railway line from A470 lay-by
- Ramp access from this bridge to path between railway and Afon Ganol
- New bridge crossing over Afon Ganol
- Shared-use path around edge of RSPB reserve to visitors’ centre
- Shared-use path to A55 Junction 18
- Improved path to bridge at Conwy Cob
We have agreed the route alignment with key stakeholders including RSPB.
Programme
Phase 1 work from Conwy railway bridge to beyond the RSPB visitor centre: March to June 2025
This includes:
- Site clearance
- Improving the path from Conwy railway bridge to the RSPB car park
- New vehicle access for RSPB staff into the reserve
- Creating the new path
Phase 2 work from beyond the RSPB visitor centre to A470 lay-by: September 2025 to July 2026
This includes:
- Site clearance
- Creating the new path, including installing fencing
- Building the bridge over Afon Ganol
- Building the bridge over the railway
- Ramp between the two bridges
- Installing lighting
We will review and monitor the programme as the work is ongoing, to minimise ecological impact. This will include restrictions on working in the summer months to avoid disturbing birds at the reserve.
Visualisations
Funding
The early stages of design work were funded by Welsh Government’s Active Travel Fund. The main design and construction work is funded by UK Government, with 10% match funding from the Council.
The total cost of the project is £5.6 million.
Onward route
We are working with Welsh Government on the onward route from the lay-by to Glan Conwy village centre.
We have also started looking at strategic options for the Môr I’r Mynydd / Coast to Valley active travel route from Llandudno Junction to Betws y Coed, which is a longer term project.
Frequently asked questions
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Active travel means making everyday journeys by walking, wheeling or cycling instead of using transport such as cars or buses. (Wheeling includes using a mobility scooter or wheelchair.) This includes journeys to work, school, college, shops and leisure facilities. Active travel encourages healthier travel and reduces traffic congestion.
The Active Travel (Wales) Act 2013 requires the Council to promote and improve active travel routes.
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Glan Conwy residents have been asking for a traffic-free link to Conwy and Llandudno Junction for a long time, with plans first drawn up nearly twenty years ago. In our county-wide consultation on new routes in 2016, it received further support and was included on the Council’s legal plan of future routes. UK Government Levelling Up funding provided an ideal opportunity to finally deliver this project.
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During the public consultation in 2023, 66% of respondents said they would use the route at least once a week.
People said the main reason they didn’t currently walk, cycle or wheel between Glan Conwy and Llandudno Junction was that they didn’t feel safe because of the traffic.
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The new path will be about 2km (1 ¼ miles) long. The path will go behind the RSPB reserve car park, alongside the RSPB visitors centre and continue east towards the railway line. It will then turn south and run along the edge of the reserve, parallel to the railway line, to the Afon Ganol. The path will cross the Afon Ganol with a bridge, then there will be a long ramp to a bridge over the railway line. The path ends at the ’Green Seat’ layby on the A470, 300m north of Snowdonia Garden Centre on the outskirts of Glan Conwy.
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The new route connects to the Wales Coast Path along the estuary towards Conwy, crossing over the railway line to the Cob and into Conwy town. Here, you can meet up with the Conwy West active travel route, which runs through Bodlondeb towards Ysgol Aberconwy and Conwy Morfa.
For travel to Llandudno Junction and Deganwy, the route connects to the active travel improvements at the A55 junction 18 roundabout, which lead on to the A546 Conway Road.
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The new path will be at least 3m wide with a tarmac surface and verges on either side. Lighting bollards at the side of the path will be installed every 11 metres. There will be mesh fencing with wooden posts along the whole path, separating it from the RSPB reserve.
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The path route has been designed to avoid sensitive ecological features.
An ecology supervisor will oversee all work on this project, to safeguard wildlife. Before any tree work, trees will be checked by a qualified person.
We did some initial work removing vegetation which was completed before the end of February, to allow for nesting season. Between March and September, only limited work outside of sensitive areas will take place, to avoid disturbing birds within the reserve.
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Yes, we will need to remove some saplings and trees to create the path corridor. As part of the plans, we will replace these trees with new native trees planted onsite and offsite.
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Active travel routes are designed for everyday journeys that would otherwise use motorised transport. While active travel routes can be used for recreation, the main focus is on providing access to work, education, services and facilities.
Welsh Government’s statutory guidance for delivering the Active Travel (Wales) Act 2013, states that equestrian travel is not considered a form of active travel. This is because equestrian use is overwhelmingly for leisure purposes.
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The Conwy park run has paused while the work between Conwy railway bridge and the RSPB carpark is being carried out, which we expect to be finished in June. There are park runs at Penrhyn Castle, Newborough Forest, Llangefni, Prestatyn and Ruthin. Conwy has long promenades suitable for running at Llandudno, Rhos on Sea and Colwyn Bay.
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Our main contractor is Jennings Building and Civil Engineering Ltd, based in Colwyn Bay.
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Yes, this is to make the route safer to use, especially in winter months. The design includes lighting bollards along the route and illuminated handrails on the ramp and bridges. We will use International Dark Sky Association approved lighting. The motion-sensitive bollards will be fitted with shields to prevent light spill off the path and the illuminated handrail lighting will face the ground. The orange glow from the lights will minimise light pollution and is better for wildlife.
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We have had long discussions with the landowner and other stakeholders to agree the route of this shared use path. This final route alignment is the only option which all stakeholders agreed on.
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The onward journey from the end of this path to the village is via the A470. As a trunk road, this is managed by North Mid Wales Trunk Road Agency and is the responsibility of Welsh Government.
The Council is working with Welsh Government on how to provide the next phase of the route from the lay-by to Pendraw R Llan, to meet the existing shared-use path through the village.
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Yes. We held two public consultations in February 2023 and August 2024. These were available on our website, via the post, and at public drop in events.
Read about the public consultation:
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If we can complete the work in two phases, we anticipate that the new active travel route will be ready in summer 2026.