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A new walking route in Gower brings an all-Wales coastal path a step closer, says the environment minister.

Jane Davidson will join local school children and ramblers to open a new 16-mile (25km) stretch of the Wales Coast Path from Llanmadoc to Port Eynon.

The route takes in Worm's Head and Rhossili beach, voted one of the best beaches in the UK.

Ms Davidson said the new stretch of path would attract more visitors to the area and boost the local economy.

At the ceremony at the St Madoc Centre in Llanmadoc the minister will be handed a baton by children from Llanrhidian Primary School.

She will then walk to meet local ramblers and hand over the baton to them before they walk along the path.

Speaking before opening the project, managed by Countryside Council for Wales, Ms Davidson said: "Walking is a great way to enjoy the heritage and wildlife of Wales as well as the stunning coastline.

"This section in particular includes one of the most iconic views in Wales as well as two nature reserves and some of the most important archaeological sites in Wales."

'Tourism'

The minister added that it was more than just a tourist attraction, and would help local people to get active in line with the assembly government's Change4Life programme.

Gareth Sullivan of Swansea council heralded the new stretch of path as "great news for walkers and the local tourism community".

"For the first time, visitors will have the right to walk the whole of Gower coastline and see this famous landscape from a new angle," he said.

The Gower path is the latest stretch of the assembly government's proposed All Wales Coast Path - a continuous 850-mile (1,368) path to run right around the coastline of Wales by 2012.

Ms Davidson recently opened a 27-mile (43.5km) stretch of coast path between Llandudno, in Conwy county, and Prestatyn in Denbighshire and a 4.5-mile (7.2km) section from Pendine in Carmarthenshire to the start of the Pembrokeshire Coastal Path at Amroth.

A boardwalk has also recently opened in Porthcawl, Bridgend county, that has been designed to facilitate disabled access.