The Community takes its name from the village of Ystradfellte but also includes the larger village of Pontneddfechan which lies at the head of the Vale of Neath.  In addition it takes in a large tract of rather sparsely populated country around the valleys of the Afon Hepste, Afon Mellte and Nedd Fechan which all converge on Pontneddfechan.

The lie of the land

Ystradfellte Community ranges in height from about 70m where the Nedd Fechan and Mellte meet at Pontneddfechan to 715m at a trig point on the south-west flank of Fan Fawr (OS grid reference SN 964189).  Other notable summits include those of:

• Fan Llia 632m (SN 938186)
• Fan Dringarth 617m (SN 940193)
• Carn y Goetre 458m (SN 946144)

The area is drained by a number of rivers which are hugely important in landscape terms. 

In the west, the Nedd Fechan rises on the slopes of Fan Nedd and flows southwards.  It is joined by the Afon Pyrddin, continuing south to meet the Afon Mellte at Pontneddfechan. these rivers boast several spectacular waterfalls including Sgwd Gwladus, Scwd Einion Gam and Scwd Ddwli.

Further east, the Afon Llia arises between Fan Nedd and Fan Llia and flows southwards until at Castell Coch it meets the Afon Dringarth. The combined waters continue south as the Afon Mellte. The upper reaches of the Dringarth have been impounded as Ystradfellte Reservoir.

East again the Nant Hepste-fechan and the Afon y Waun combine near Hepste-fechan to form the Afon Hepste.

The Nedd Fechan and Mellte meet at Pontneddfechan and continue south-westwards (outside of the community boundaries) as the Afon Nedd / River Neath.

Solid rocks

The underyling rocks range from Old Red Sandstone in the north through Carboniferous Limestone, Twrch Sandstone and Bishopston Mudstone to Coal Measures in the south.

Legacy of the Ice Ages

Much of the lower ground is plastered with glacial till.  The deep gorges of the Mellte, Hepste and Pyrddin rivers were carved out by large quantities of sediment-laden glacial meltwater during successive ice ages

Archaeology

The area is particularly rich in remains from several eras.  There are large numbers of field systems, settlements, house platforms, burnt mounds, cairns and standing stones, the latter including Maen Llia and Maen Madoc.  The Roman road Sarn Helen runs through the area.  The remains of Castell Coch lie at the confluence of the Llia and Dringarth.

There is extensive evidence of silica mining within the gorge of the Nedd Fechan with adits, leats and tramways.  Former quarrying and mining activity at Craig-y-ddinas is visible as too are the remains of the Nobel Gunpowder Works along the banks of the Afon Mellte east of Pontneddfechan.

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 A4221/A4109 Inter valley Road between Glyn-neath and Abercraf and the A465 Heads of the valleys Road to Hirwaun and also along the B4242 road from Pontneddfechan to Glyn-neath.  The nearest stations are at Neath and Merthyr Tydfil.

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