Pontneddfechan

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The GuardianOct 20, 2026

‘How green are our valleys?’: in the footsteps of miners on south Wales’s new forest trail

The first stage of an ambitious new hiking route that will link woodlands across Wales takes walkers into the wild hills above the valleys’ old mining villages Bracken and heather ripple across the plateau. I exhale into the chill autumn air and my breath mists a view that reaches all the way to Gower and the ochre peaks of Bannau Brycheiniog (formerly the Brecon Beacons). Far below, the Ogmore…

13 things in this story
  • Sgwd GwladysHotelpub with rooms near Pontneddfechan
  • Elsewhere
  • Wales Forest TrailTrailBannau Brycheiniog National Park, United Kingdom50-mile pilot route linking woodlands across Wales
  • Caffe MatteoRestaurantBarry, United Kingdombusy with dog walkers sipping cappuccinos
  • Hensol ForestPlaceBannau Brycheiniog National Park, United Kingdomancient pine trees cushion the ground
  • Vale ResortHotelBannau Brycheiniog National Park, United Kingdomholds two trump cards for walkers: spa and bar
  • Coedwig GellihirPlaceBannau Brycheiniog National Park, United Kingdomsmall broadleaf woodland
  • Ynysmaerdy ForestPlaceBannau Brycheiniog National Park, United Kingdomriver at the edge of the forest
  • Coed Bach DimbathPlaceBlackmill, United Kingdomcommunity woodland with otter hide
  • Blaenogwr FarmHotelNant-y-Moel, United KingdomGeorgian farmstead marooned in the village
  • Blaenogwr HotelRestaurantNant-y-Moel, United Kingdomserves fish with potatoes and laverbread
  • Afan Forest parkPlaceBannau Brycheiniog National Park, United Kingdomlarge commercial woodland with wind turbines
  • Craig y LlynSightBannau Brycheiniog National Park, United Kingdomhighest point of the valleys at 600m
  • Cwm GwrelychPlaceBannau Brycheiniog National Park, United Kingdomrainforest-like valley with waterfalls
Read the full piece at The Guardian →
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