The Leaping Stiles Walking website can be considered as a resource for visitors, local communities and individual residents. For keen local walkers it offers a chance to consider a range of routes outside of their immediate community in neighbouring areas, some of which are accessible using public transport. The range of walks listed on the website also suggests walks that are fully accessible for disabled users, the elderly or families with pushchairs, and walks that are dog friendly – all of which would be of interest to local residents as well as visitors.

The first phase of the project was launched in May 2007, and was very well received. There was a clear demand for the project to be widened to incorporate all of North and Mid Powys, and this project funded through the RDP will extend the geographical area to benefit businesses and communities throughout this region.

The Leaping Stiles website development element of the project will be co-ordinated by a Tourism Project Officer, whose role it will be to work with communities to identify suitable walks, liaise with colleagues in Powys Countryside Services Section, organise the route mapping and grading processes, manage the website development contract, formulate and implement a marketing plan for both the Leaping Stiles website and the wider outdoor activity product in Powys.

The circular walks element of the project will identify small settlements, which have few if any local outdoor recreation amenities. The project will create 12 localised community circular walks throughout Powys, based around small rural communities, providing locally the opportunity for quiet recreation for residents and visitors in areas otherwise not likely to be provided with such facilities. Therefore the project will promote exercise, well-being and access to local countryside without the need to travel great distances.