Margam Park Adventure was launched 18 months ago by Ben Bailey. The aim of the business is to complement the experience of the picturesque Margam Country Park, which has around 300,000 visitors a year.

He says that the new business has boosted visitor numbers by around 10,000 in the last year, opening up the park to a new type of visitor looking for outdoor activities.

These activities in the 850-acre park now include mountain biking, canoeing, kayaking, paddle boarding, raft-building, archery, go-kart safaris and orienteering- and new ones are planned. Equipment can be hired from the adventure centre, based in the visitors’ courtyard located by the historic Margam Castle.

Ben and his team of instructors, coaches and guides work with schools, colleges, youth groups, stag and hen parties, corporate events and families and individuals.

“This is a very beautiful park with a great variety of landscapes and vistas and our aim is to help everyone make the most of it,” he said.

Ben has personally invested in developing the activities and has ambitious plans for the future.

“Camping will soon be permitted on the park and I am very pleased about this, which will bring more visitors,” said Ben.

“We are expanding the range of activities here all the time, and visitors are coming from the local area, and from further away,” said Ben.

“It is an important facility for the local community and I am delighted to be able to maintain and develop it for their benefit.”

Tata Steel subsidiary UK Steel Enterprise and Neath and Port Talbot Council provided the business with a £500 Business Support Grant.

“It was very helpful to have this. The money was used to expand the go-kart facilities, which are increasingly popular,” said Ben.

Martin Palmer of UK Steel Enterprise, said: “We are very pleased to be able to help this local business, which is creating jobs and developing the park for the benefit of the community and visitors.

“We wish the business every success.”

Caption: Adventure in the Park: from left Kevin Lugg Neath and Port Talbot Council, Ben Bailey and Martin Palmer UK Steel Enterprise.