SwanseaCAM - 310802 Vale of Neath Waterfalls

ARCHIVE PICTURES.

Saturday 31st August 2002.
Waterfalls in the Vale of Neath.

Image produced from the Ordnance Survey Get-a-map service. Image reproduced with kind
permission of Ordnance Survey and Ordnance Survey of Northern Ireland

The Angel Inn at Pontneddfechan is where we start our walk to see the waterfalls on the Pyrddin and Nedd Fechan rivers. Here in the Vale of Neath we have an abundance of waterfalls which has led to the region becoming known as 'Waterfall Country'.

A broad path near the Inn leads us through woods on the left bank of the Nedd Fechan. On our right the land falls away into a deep gorge.

Further along the path we come to the ruins of a double-race mill, little now remains except for a few broken walls. The mill was used by farmers for grinding their corn. Set into a nearby bank is one of the original millstones.

Not far from the ruined mill is the entrance to a flooded silica mine. Up to about 90 years ago silica was mined here and had been since the early 1820's. A large number of old mine workings are to be found on both banks of the river The silica was used for making high quality fire bricks. Such was the exceptional quality of the brick they became known all over Europe and America and were exported worldwide. The bricks were made at Pont Walby,near Glynneath, the works closing in 1920.

A non-Welsh speaking visitor might wonder what this warning sign is all about....
	......but a glance at the other side makes everything clear.

A short distance upstream the rivers Nedd Fechan and Pyrddin meet and we follow the Pyrddin to Sgwd Gwladys, our first waterfall.

Following the example of these walkers, we go behind the waterfall to get to the other side. Once safely across we return down the river bank to the junction of the Pyrddin and the Nedd Fechan, then we follow the left bank of the Nedd Fechan to look for the Horseshoe, Lower Ddwli and Upper Ddwli Falls.

The path to the falls on the Nedd Fechan is uneven, some sections are steep and can be slippery when wet. . At places there is a drop of fifty to sixty feet down to the river bed.

Down at the bottom of the gorge, on the river bed, the scenery is beautiful. The trees, in summer dress, displaying their various shades of green, are for the most part deciduous, with groups of beech and oak.

We have arrived at the Horseshoe Falls, the first of the falls on this river.....

...... it gets its name from the semi-circular ledges.

Looking upstream from the top of the Horseshoe Falls. The river is quite shallow during drier periods but there are deep pools in places and when in flood it can be very dangerous.

A shaft of sunlight catches the tumbling water as we make our way to.....

......the Lower Ddwli Falls.

There are many quiet places on the river where it is nice just to sit, relax and watch the water as it flows past.