COMMUNITY councils in Pembrokeshire are being encouraged to develop local emergency plans to help protect residents and strengthen resilience during major incidents.

Pembrokeshire County Council’s Emergency Planning Team recently met members of Stackpole and Castlemartin Community Council to deliver a briefing on emergency preparedness.

The session covered national and regional risks, the Civil Contingencies Act and the importance of locally owned Community Emergency Plans.

Council officers said the aim was not to suggest that an emergency was expected, but to ensure communities recognised potential risks and were prepared to reduce their impact.

A Community Emergency Plan can help local people respond to a wide range of incidents, identify and support vulnerable residents, and make better use of local knowledge and community networks during difficult situations.

Attendees were also briefed on the Wales Resilience Framework, which sets out how government, public services, voluntary organisations, businesses and communities can work together to reduce risks and improve emergency preparedness.

The council’s Emergency Planning Team also highlighted the Dyfed-Powys Local Resilience Forum Community Risk Register, which is currently being updated.

Community representatives were invited to give feedback on how the register could be improved and used as a trusted source of information.

The register is designed to inform communities about the most significant risks in the region and their potential impact, provide links to partner organisations and further guidance, and encourage practical steps to improve preparedness in homes, businesses and communities.

Cllr Tessa Hodgson, Leader of Pembrokeshire County Council, said: “Preparing for emergencies is about protecting our communities and ensuring local people have the information and support they need when it matters most.

“Community-led resilience planning strengthens neighbourhoods, supports vulnerable residents and helps communities work together during challenging situations.

“I would encourage other community councils to engage with the Emergency Planning Team and explore how they can develop their own plans.”

A WALKING specialist who has clocked hundreds of miles across the UK has shared her advice for anyone planning to take on part of the Wales Coast Path this summer.

Holly Robertson, a Walk Specialist with self-guided walking holiday provider Celtic Trails, says solo walking is far safer than many people imagine, provided walkers take sensible precautions and prepare properly.

The Wales Coast Path stretches for around 870 miles, beginning in Chepstow and running around the Welsh coastline to Queensferry in the north. It takes in cliffs, beaches, harbours, estuaries and some of the country’s most spectacular views.

For Pembrokeshire walkers, the route includes one of the most dramatic sections of the entire path, following the county’s coastline through places such as Tenby, Freshwater West, St Davids, Fishguard and Newport.

Holly, who lives in Hertfordshire, recently completed the 51-mile Coleridge Way with her father, walking through the Quantock Hills and Exmoor. A month later she tackled the 73-mile Great Glen Way in the Scottish Highlands with her partner.

She said walking with others can be hugely rewarding, but admitted she had initially felt nervous about walking alone.

“As a woman, there is always that thought in the back of your mind saying, ‘Is this safe?’” she said. “But as long as you take safety precautions you’re unlikely to run into any issues.

“I don’t actually encounter lots of people on my solo walks, but those I do meet are very approachable. People come and talk to you and the vast majority you meet out there are genuinely friendly.”

Holly is now encouraging more people to try solo walking and says the Wales Coast Path is a perfect place to start, whether walkers are planning a short day route or a longer multi-day challenge.

Her first piece of advice is to make sure walking boots fit properly before setting off.

She recommends what she calls the “insole test”.

“Start by removing the insoles of your walking boots and standing on them,” she said. “You should aim to have between 1cm and 2cm distance between your big toe and the top of the edge of the insole.

“If your toe reaches or hangs over the edge of the insole, it’s worth investing in a bigger pair of boots.

“If your boots feel too loose or tight from the start, you’re likely to develop blisters or end up with bruised toenails during longer walks. It sounds quite obvious, but it is something people often get wrong.”

Holly also advises walkers to pack carefully and avoid carrying unnecessary weight.

“Don’t try to pack too much. Aim to stick to the essentials,” she said. “I always bring a first aid kit, enough layers, plenty of water and a portable phone charger.

“There’s the temptation to carry lots of extra items, but the more weight you carry, the harder the walk becomes and the less you’ll enjoy it.”

For those heading onto more remote stretches of coastline, Holly says downloading maps in advance is essential.

“Walking apps like OS Maps or Komoot are worth downloading offline before you set off, as in my experience phone signal on remote routes tends to be unreliable,” she said. “Having the map cached locally gives me the confidence that I’m on the right track.”

Solo walkers are also advised to let someone know their plans before setting off.

“I send a quick message to a friend or family member before setting off saying that I’m doing a particular route and should be at a certain place by a certain time,” Holly said.

“It costs nothing and provides real reassurance if you’re walking alone. You can also share your location on ‘Find My’ on iPhone, but remember your location accuracy will depend on how good your signal is.”

For older walkers, or those new to longer distances, Holly recommends using walking poles.

“Despite what some may say, using walking poles isn’t cheating,” she said. “I advise people to invest in a decent pair if they plan to tackle longer routes.

“I use a pair of Leki walking poles, which are on the pricier side, but you can pick up a pair for as little as £20. They really do make a difference to how you feel by the end of the day and are really helpful on descents.”

Holly also recommends the “rest step” technique when tackling steep climbs.

She explained: “Start by moving your forward foot up to a solid position on the incline. As you plant your forward foot, straighten your rear leg that is still on the ground and lock your knee. Then relax the muscles in your upper body and the leg that isn’t locked. Repeat the motion with the other leg to continue moving upwards.

“This really helps to shift tension and fatigue from your quads and helps to regulate your heart rate.”

Above all, Holly says beginners should not be put off by social media or by comparing themselves with more experienced walkers.

“Try not to compare yourself to other people and ignore the noise you see on social media,” she said.

“It can feel difficult to get started, but starting off with small distances can really help build your confidence. Walking doesn’t have to be extreme to be rewarding.

“When you stop and look back along the route you have just walked, that feeling is hard to describe.”

Celtic Trails, which specialises in self-guided walking holidays, says walkers planning to take on the Wales Coast Path should choose a route that matches their experience, check the weather, wear suitable footwear and tell someone where they are going before setting off.

MORE than 50 children from two Dee Valley community schools stepped back into local history when they travelled by train to Llangollen International Musical Eisteddfod’s Children’s Day.

Pupils from Ysgol Corwen and Ysgol Carrog boarded a vintage diesel train at Corwen Station before making the journey along the heritage line to Llangollen, arriving shortly after 9am to enjoy a sunny day at the festival.

The journey revived a much-loved local tradition. Children from the Corwen and Carrog areas once travelled by train from their local stations to the Eisteddfod’s Children’s Day every year, until the Ruabon to Barmouth line was closed in the early 1960s following the Beeching cuts.

Thanks to the route’s revival as a thriving heritage railway, Llangollen International Musical Eisteddfod and Llangollen & Corwen Railway have been able to bring the annual outing back to life, with the tradition returning in 2019.

This year’s group of young “railway children” waved from the carriage windows as they pulled into Llangollen Station, where they were welcomed by representatives from the Eisteddfod and the railway.

There was also time for photographs, and even a couple of songs from the children, before they were guided from the station to the Eisteddfod field for a packed day of activities and performances.

Eisteddfod organiser Ian Lebbon, who helps arrange the special journeys, said they remained an important link with communities along the heritage line.

He said: “We see them as extremely important to the people in the communities at the other end of the heritage line, where the railway is part of their everyday lives.

“The railway, of course, is one of the three great highways of the valley, along with the River Dee and the A5 road.

“Many of these children will never have travelled by train before, especially one as magnificent as the heritage one they came on today.

“It’s also good for them to be able to see and enjoy the Eisteddfod. Many of them will be coming to the festival for the first time and we hope they will become regular visitors.”

Becky Mollison-White, assistant headteacher at Ysgol Carrog, said the children had thoroughly enjoyed the experience.

She said: “It was an amazing experience for the children from the two schools and they were all very excited about it.

“Corwen and Carrog both have stations on the heritage line and the children were very happy about getting the opportunity to travel on it.”

Helping guide the children to the Eisteddfod field were young people from Ysgol Dinas Brân in Llangollen and Ysgol Morgan Llwyd in Wrexham, who work at the festival each year as Welcome Hosts.

Mr Lebbon said the scheme also offered the young volunteers a valuable opportunity to build confidence, gain experience and improve their future career prospects.