LOCAL TRADES — WE NEED YOUR HELP!
We’ve got 11 days to get two projects completed at Swiss Valley — or we risk losing a significant amount of funding that has already been secured to invest in the site.
After months of delays with planning, followed by contractors and other avenues unfortunately falling through, we’ve found ourselves right up against the deadline.
📅 Everything needs to be completed and photographed by 29 August.
We have TWO projects to get over the line:
🪚 WOODLAND SHELTER
This one is already well underway. It’s a prefabricated structure, all the materials are on site, around three-quarters of the uprights are already installed, and it now needs competent people to finish putting it together.
🔨 COVERED PERGOLA / PATIO SHELTER
This needs designing and constructing from scratch. We can get the required timber and materials ordered and on site within a couple of days.
And to be absolutely clear — we are NOT asking tradespeople to work for free. This is PAID WORK.
We’re looking for:
🔨 Carpenters
🪚 Joiners
👷 Builders
🏠 Roofers
🛠️ Experienced/competent tradespeople
We’re completely open to how we get this done.
If you’re a local company that could take on one or both projects, we want to hear from you.
If you’re an individual tradesperson with a day, a couple of days, evenings or a weekend available, we want to hear from you too. If necessary, we’ll put together a small team and get it done between us.
This funding represents real investment into Swiss Valley. While naturally these shelters will benefit us and the people using LiveFree Adventures, they’re permanent improvements to the site that will remain here for the wider community to benefit from for years to come.
We’ve got the funding.
We’ve got the materials for the first project.
We can get the materials for the second.
We just need the right people.
If you can’t personally help but know a carpenter, builder, joiner or local company who might be able to, please TAG THEM or SHARE THIS POST with them.
Time really matters on this one.
11 DAYS. TWO SHELTERS. LET’S GET THEM BUILT. 💪
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SUP, Kayak, MEGA-SUP, Row Boat, Canoe, Climbing, Slacklining, Events & Workshops. Teaching, Guiding & Hire, based at Swiss Valley Reservoir, Llanelli.
Book online now for groups, families & schools. AALA licenced, Visit Wales Visitor Attraction Status. LiveFree Adventures brings paddleboard hire, kayak hire, rowboat hire, laser tag, bushcraft and more to the stunning Swiss Valley Reservoir in Carmarthenshire. Whether you’re booking paddleboards in Llanelli for families, team-building groups or outdoor education, our peaceful reservoir setting is
When the reservoir drops… the pontoon has to move with it!
With the water level at Swiss Valley currently being lowered for planned works, we had a slightly unexpected problem to solve.
The extra floats beneath our gangway were starting to bottom out, which meant the pontoon needed some emergency adjustments — right in the middle of a busy day with customers on the water.
So, between sessions, we grabbed a couple of jacks, got into the reservoir and came up with a temporary solution.
Jamie sensibly chose the waders.
Ben chose the H&S approved shorts and Crocs.
A bit of lifting, supporting and adjusting later and everything was sitting level again and ready to go.
It’s a temporary fix for now until the water level settles.
And most importantly — we’re still open, still operating and still getting people out on the water.
📍 Swiss Valley Reservoir, Llanelli
🚗 Free parking
🏄 Paddleboards, kayaks, rowing boats & more
A bit of wind wasn’t stopping anyone yesterday 😂💨
Paddleboards, kayaks, rowboats… and plenty of people making the most of a Saturday on the water at Swiss Valley. 🙌
Turns out you don’t need perfect weather to have a bloody good time.
Who’s getting on the water next? 👀
📍 Swiss Valley Reservoir, Llanelli
14/08/2026
These aren’t models. This isn’t a staged photoshoot. This is just what a couple of weeks at Swiss Valley looks like!!!
Families, couples, grandparents, kids, first-timers and people who clearly should not be trusted when handed a paddle… 😂
Over the last couple of weeks we’ve been snapping photos whenever we get a chance, and looking back through them reminded us what we actually love about this place.
It’s not really about paddleboards, kayaks or rowing boats.
It’s about getting outside. Trying something new. Spending proper time together. Having a laugh. And occasionally discovering that the person who claimed they “definitely know how to row” absolutely does not. 🚣♀️
You don’t need to be experienced. You don’t need to be particularly sporty. And you definitely don’t need to know what you’re doing before you arrive.
You just need to turn up. We’ll help with the rest.
So here are some snapshots of summer at Swiss Valley Reservoir. ❤️
And if you’re scrolling through these thinking “we really should do that…” — take that as your sign.
☀️ Paddleboards
🛶 Kayaks
🚣 Rowing boats
👨👩👧👦 Family adventures
🌲 All surrounded by the reservoir and woodland
Come and make your own photo worthy of the next album.
👉 Book your next adventure with us online, or pop down and see us at Swiss Valley Reservoir.
Not something you see every day at Swiss Valley Reservoir…
Earlier today, a red kite and a raven were spotted properly fighting in the air above the reservoir.
After the aerial scrap, the raven broke away and landed in a tree, while the red kite followed before settling on the handrail to the tower around 20 metres away — somewhere we’ve never seen a kite perch before.
For a moment there was a bit of a stand-off with the raven seemingly mocking the Kite.
Ravens are powerful, intelligent and incredibly agile, while red kites are superb in open air, so neither is exactly an easy opponent.
If you’re into your birdie then we have a breeding pair of red kites that love here at Swiss Vally!
Just another completely unexpected wildlife moment at Swiss Valley.
Who do you reckon would have won if it had carried on?
13/08/2026
You don’t see the Swiss Valley spillway looking like this very often… 👀
The reservoir is currently being deliberately lowered ahead of planned maintenance works, which means the spillway is now completely dry.
We took the opportunity to send the drone from the bottom of the spillway all the way up to the reservoir and capture something that, most of the time, is hidden underneath flowing water.
We’ve uploaded the full uninterrupted three-minute flight to YouTube if you fancy having a look.
Watch the full video here: https://youtu.be/aXwoniWCa6s?is=bbMIkntzMV92pKtE
There’s quite a bit more to explain about why the reservoir is being lowered, why it’s done gradually, and what’s happening over the next few weeks — so we’ll do a proper video on that very soon.
Swiss Valley Reservoir Spillway Runs Dry | Planned Reservoir Lowering – August 2026 A rare aerial view of the spillway at Swiss Valley Reservoir during...
August so far… ☀️💦
A lot of paddling. A lot of splashing. A few questionable launches. And a LOT of fun. 😂
And we’re not even halfway through the month yet 👀
If you’ve been saying “we need to do something this summer” — this is your sign.
📍 Swiss Valley Reservoir, Llanelli
Tag the person you’re getting on the water with 👇
We had a bit of an incident on site yesterday… so let’s talk about fires. 🔥
What might seem like a harmless little fire can very quickly become a much bigger problem — particularly around woodland, grass and public spaces.
So, a quick reminder from us: no fires, BBQs or open flames on site.
It keeps the site safe, protects the surrounding environment, and saves the fire brigade and police having to make an unnecessary trip out.
Enjoy the reservoir. Bring the picnic. Leave the fire at home. 👍
RespectTheOutdoors
A little update from this weekend!
Ft a happy customer and a happy joe!
Don’t forget we have watersports hire starting at just £18.50 & sauna sessions through stating at just £12.
Oh and did we mention, we’re county award winners?
Click here to claim your Sponsored Listing.
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Reservoir View, Lower Lliedi Reservoir, Swiss Valley
Llanelli
SA148FB