In reply to Bulls Crack:
That boardwalk is rather crass to say the least.
In the case of the Crafnant path, access from either end would be problematic for folk with mobility issues. There is also miles and miles of accessible lakes and forest tracks a stone's throw away in the Gwydyr Forest for those who struggle with rough terrain.
It's was also one of the few bridleways in the area enjoyed by mountain bikers for its technicality. It is now a high speed race track which has ruined it for MTBs and also conjured up safety issues which could cause conflict between different user groups.
A similar project was carried out a few years ago at Bwlch Maesgwm and it still looks terrible not to mention the areas which get washed out after heavy rain.
In truth, it's just another vanity project masterminded by the SNPA's access officer Peter Rutherford and was carried out quickly and with minimal consultation as they had to use the funding quickly.