A MAJOR £2.5 million project at Llandegfedd Reservoir to create brand new water sports and visitor centre has been complete.

The project to create the centre at the reservoir near Pontypool has been complete by D?r Cymru Welsh Water who own the site.

The brand new Visitor Centre contains a restaurant offering a variety of home-cooked meals as well as snacks.

Visitors can enjoy their meal whilst enjoying panoramic views of the reservoir and there’s even an area with interactive games to keep children entertained.

The Watersports Centre offers land and water-based activities including team-building, windsurfing, dinghy sailing, stand-up paddle-boarding, canoeing, kayaking, raft building – all with full equipment hire.

The centre also has a brand new training centre with changing facilities, showers and a viewing balcony and will provide a base for Llandegfedd Sailing Club and other activity groups.

D?r Cymru Welsh Water says its aim for Llandegfedd is as a hub for health and enjoyment, providing an environment for people to enjoy the outdoors.

Senior sailing instructor, Matt Philpott said: “Llandegfedd is one of the best locations in the UK for water sports. We teach everything from sailing and windsurfing to paddle boarding and canoeing using top of the range equipment and fully qualified instructors.

“‘We are also proud to be one of the few venues that offers a large range of activities for users with disabilities. The most promising of which is our Sailability project which uses modified sailing dinghies to give everyone the opportunity to experience sailing and to enter the wonderful world of watersports at Llandegfedd reservoir.”

A spokeswoman for the company explained that the lake offers more than six miles of scenic footpaths as well as angling and sailing, and the entire site has been designated a Site of Special Scientific Interest due to its rich wildlife.

Visitors can take a stroll or a picnic along one of the walking trails, explore the woodland and enjoy the array of wildfowl that visit and reside around the reservoir.

Chief Operating Officer, Pete Perry said: “The Water Sports Centre is a huge asset for local activity groups and this jewel in the crown at Pontypool should prove to be a great tourist attraction, drawing people from all over the world.”

The centre is currently open to the public, with the official opening taking place in May.