Two walks start near this spectacular quarried limestone cliff formed on the Neath Disturbance at the head of the Vale of Neath.
OS grid ref SN 912079 (car park) to SN 920086
The shorter walk runs beside the Sychryd to a view of the Bwa Maen – a tight geological fold which earns the name of the ‘bow or arch rock’. The longer walk explores the former gunpowder works strung out along the north bank of the Afon Mellte.
Geology
- Carboniferous: Limestone, Twrch Sandstone (Basal Grit)
Maps
- OS Landranger 160, Explorer map OL12
- Geological — BGS 1:50,000 sheet: 231 ‘Merthyr Tydfil’
Guides
- ‘The Old Gunpowder Factory at Glynneath’
- ‘Explosive Times’ ‘manga’-style graphic novel booklet
- Audio trail — follow this link to download the ‘Powder Trail’.
Facilities
- Waterfalls Centre — new in 2008 — at Pontneddfechan gives information on & interpretation of local area and wider Geopark
- Cafe in community hall at weekends
- Interpretive ‘wind-up’ audio trail to Gunpowder Works
- Car parking at SN 912079
- Entry: free
Accessibility
- Flat; barrier free
Transport links
- By car — beyond the end of the B4242
- By train — nearest stations at Neath and Merthyr Tydfil — see Traveline Cymru
- By bus — see Traveline Cymru