The community does not lie within the Geopark but borders it along the Afon Pyrddin.

The lie of the land

The community ranges in height from 110m at Sgwd Gwladus on the Afon Pyrddin to around 460m near the summit of Hirfynydd (SN 843078)

Solid rocks

The area is underlain by rocks of the Lower and Middle Coal Measures.  Upper Coal Measures rocks form the top of Hirfynydd.  Much of the area has been opencasted. 

Several geological faults are known to run NNW-SSE through the area.

Legacy of the Ice Ages

It is believed that the upper Tawe once ran through the valley now occupied by the Afon Pyrddin.  Several ice ages have worn away and smoothed the land.

Archaeology

The remains of both a Roman camp and a Roman fort lie in the fields between the Inter Valley Road and the Afon Pyrddin.  The Roman road known as Sarn Helen runs between them then south through Banwen.

Maps

Geology

Sheet 231 'Merthyr Tydfil' of the British Geological Survey’s 1:50,000 map series of England and Wales gives full coverage of both the bedrock geology and superficial deposits of the Community area.  It is available in two editions.  BGS publishes a 'memoir' to accompany these maps.

General

The following Ordnance Survey maps cover the Community:

• Landranger sheet 160 'Brecon Beacons' (1:50,000 scale)
• Explorer sheet OL12 'Brecon Beacons National Park/Western area' (1:25,000 scale)

Public transport

Bus services operate along the A4109/A4221 Inter Valley Road between Glyn-neath and Abercraf and the A4109 through Seven Sisters. The nearest stations are at Neath, Aberdare and Merthyr Tydfil.

See Traveline Cymru for bus and train services including stops, timetables and route-planning information.