Wales’s first dog sledding adventure business has launched - adding to the visitor offer in North Wales.
Jolene Swiffen has 20 years of experience working with the dogs and racing in teams around Europe.
Last year she applied for permission to launch Mynydd Sleddog Adventures on 13 acres of moorland at her home near Llansannan, Conwy county.
She is still waiting to secure planning but has been given the green light from Natural Resources Wales(NRW) to run trips at Alwen forest near Cerrigydrudion.
She now hopes to combine both sites to offer a completely new experience for local people and visitors to the area.
Jolene said: “There was huge interest when we first announced our plans and just before Christmas we secured permission from NRW to use the forest at Alwen and we had our first trip this month.
“We are adding to the adventure offer in North Wales and this is the first business like this in Wales so it is unique. It ties in well with the Year of Outdoors campaign by Welsh Government.
“This is really good fun.”
Customers get the chance to be pulled by one of the top dog racing teams in the UK, the Xinaskyii Sled Dog Team - which travel at an average speed of 20mph on the forest track.
The team comprises 17 dogs, 11 Siberian Huskies, two Scandinavian Hounds, two Alaskan Huskies and a German Short Haired Pointer.
They offer a range of adventures and experiences which will increase once full permissions have been secured.
Jolene, who has raced at international level represented Team GB. added: “A new application for Llansannan is in - if we secure permission we can offer a closed circuit here which will be good for training and also meeting the dogs.
“The dogs love being in the woods as well at Alwen and we can run sled experiences there with our racing team. The two sites will work well together.”
