The Swansea Marina Summer Trail is back for a second year, offering a short, accessible walk around the waterfront designed to get families noticing the sculptures, signs and small historic artefacts that line the marina.
How it works
Participants collect a free trail sheet from reception at Morgans Hotel on Somerset Place, follow a numbered sequence of questions and walking directions along the route, and hand their completed sheet in at the Dawsons Marina Office next to the Tower. Children who hand in a finished sheet will be given a sweet, and every completed entry will also go into a summer prize draw supplied by local businesses.
The trail runs until schools return and is free to take part in. Organisers say the route this year is different to 2025 — the loop has been reversed and features new stops, so people who did last year’s trail will not simply be repeating the same walk.
Practical details
- Pick up trail sheets at Morgans Hotel, Somerset Place — available at any time of day.
- Hand in completed sheets at Dawsons Marina Office (next to the Tower) during office opening hours.
- The route is flat and fully paved, suitable for buggies and scooters.
- Completed sheets include a short contact form (name, phone and email) if you wish to enter the prize draw.
The organisers advise checking the Dawsons office hours before setting off if you plan to hand in a sheet the same day, as the finish point is not staffed on Sundays.
| Location | Details |
|---|---|
| Morgans Hotel | Pick-up point for trail sheets (Somerset Place). Available any time. |
| Dawsons Marina Office | Finish/hand-in point next to the Tower. Opening hours: Mon–Thu 9:00–17:30; Fri 9:00–17:00; Sat 9:00–16:00. Closed for hand-ins on Sundays. |
Why organisers set it up
Run by the marina office of Dawsons together with Morgans Hotel, the trail was created to encourage families and visitors to slow down and take in the small details that often go unnoticed on the promenade — from public art to interpretive signs and maritime features. The sheet is phrased as a round of numbered questions rather than a simple tick list, prompting walkers to stop and look carefully at particular items along the way.
Last year’s event proved popular with families; the flat, paved route suits young children and scooters, while the small reward and the prize draw give added incentive to complete the trail.
What to bear in mind
- The trail is self-guided and free, but prize details are still to be announced by the participating businesses.
- Bring a pen for the completion form if you want to enter the draw — completed sheets require a name, contact number and email address.
- Plan hand-in times around Dawsons’ opening hours if you visit at the weekend.
The Marina Trail is a simple, low-cost way for families and visitors to engage with Swansea’s waterfront. With a new route and fresh stops this year, organisers hope it will once again draw local people out to take a closer look at the marina’s public art and maritime heritage.
