Neath, Wales - A walk along the ridge behind my house

[Horizondave]

I have wanted to walk the ridge (270 metres above sea level) just to the north of my house in Neath, Wales ever since I arrived in Wales in September last year.  As we have been in lockdown for months and the winter keeping me from leaving the house except for essential reasons it has been difficult for me to fulfill my wish,  However a change in rules allowing us to stay local but drive from our house for non essential reasons allowed me to get my walking boots on.

The ridge is part of the area called Mynydd Drumau and is approached through an area called Dyffryn Woods.  The official car park for the ridge walk is closed due to Covid restrictions but my neighbour advised me of a small track that has car parking for about 5 cars and is just 100 metres from the start of the walk.

There are two ways of getting to the ridge.  The most widely used trail is a compacted dirt and gravel track which takes about 45 minutes as it winds its way up the contours of the lower woods.  The quickest route is literally straight up from the small car park that cuts up through the woods and across the dirt and gravel track a few times.  Problem is it is very steep with the last couple of hundred metres even steeper via wooden steps that the locals call fondly 'The Steps Of Doom'.  Of course yours truly decided to take the hard route, I nearly didn't make it.

The first part was acceptable even though I am not that fit but once the wooden steps appeared I was glad I was alone with no body looking on;  I stopped about 5 times including sitting panting a few times.  Maybe not a great idea for a guy who has had open heart surgery but I kept telling myself it was good for me and eventually I could see the last step.  Well relief when I got there and climbed the style to the ridge with the view making up for all the hurt.

Stunning views of Neath, Swansea Bay, Brecon Beacons, Port Talbot Steel Works and even the Devon coast across the Bristol Channel.  Wasn't the clearest of days but I just kept walking the ridge before realising that my daughter needed picking up from school so a 2 hour 15 minutes walk only which I hope to repeat tomorrow.

Just a few pics. For info I live just below the green open area in the middle of the first photo, about half a mile from the ridge car park.  The main town of Neath is on the topside of the first photo

 

 

Edited March 18, 2021 by Horizondave

[Toy Boy]

Nice photos, thanks. My cousin's family lived for almost half a century on top of Cimla Hill, which I think is more or less opposite where you were, I think you can see it in your first photo. The kids moved out a long time ago, her hubby sadly died of the Big C 3 or 4 years back, and it had a huge effect on her mentally so now she lives with her youngest son and his family down at Burry Port and I don't have any real reason to go back to Neath. I'm Godfather to the youngest lad and when he and his brother were kids I used to spend a lot of time down there with them, especially down the swimming pool. I've got a lot of fond memories of Neath. I love the waterfall country up the valley, and have personal reasons for saying that Melyncourt falls is my favourite anywhere.

[Chappo]

nice photos. I have been cycling up that hill - man it was a killer - but coming down was fun 🙂

[Sherlock]

Nice photos Dave. I imagine with blue skies that the views are even better!

[Lemondropkid]

Brilliant photos, thanks for posting them- quite a change from city life!

[AJSP]

Nice one, bet the airs fresh as up there. Some fantastic views . As Sherlock says, on a good and sunny day it would be even better. Nice to see some remnants of natural stone walls, which i admire due to the art of wall building and length of time they have been standing!

[boydeste]

Thanks for the pics and well done on making the effort, your body will thank you for it, just maybe not tomorrow or the day after!  LOL

[Horizondave]

19 hours ago, Toy Boy said:

Nice photos, thanks. My cousin's family lived for almost half a century on top of Cimla Hill, which I think is more or less opposite where you were, I think you can see it in your first photo. The kids moved out a long time ago, her hubby sadly died of the Big C 3 or 4 years back, and it had a huge effect on her mentally so now she lives with her youngest son and his family down at Burry Port and I don't have any real reason to go back to Neath. I'm Godfather to the youngest lad and when he and his brother were kids I used to spend a lot of time down there with them, especially down the swimming pool. I've got a lot of fond memories of Neath. I love the waterfall country up the valley, and have personal reasons for saying that Melyncourt falls is my favourite anywhere.

Used to walk the falls at Pontneddfechan but due to the lockdown I have had to walk nearer home recently.  Haven't done Melyncourt yet but hopefully will do in April.

I live between Bryncoch and Cadoxton on the west side of the river, Cimla is on the other side of the river just east of Neath.  I do like to go to Gnoll Country Park often which is nearby, great walking there also.  

Edited March 19, 2021 by Horizondave

[Toy Boy]

3 hours ago, Horizondave said:

Used to walk the falls at Pontneddfechan but due to the lockdown I have had to walk nearer home recently.  Haven't done Melyncourt yet but hopefully will do in April.

I live between Bryncoch and Cadoxton on the west side of the river, Cimla is on the other side of the river just east of Neath.  I do like to go to Gnoll Country Park often which is nearby, great walking there also.  

My cousin lived not far from the school at the top end of Cimla, it was easy getting down to the Gnoll, the swimming pool and Neath town centre, but it was a bugger getting back up again unless you had wheels!

[Yessongs]

Very nice pics...

[thumper63]

Beautiful country.

[Horizondave]

Been doing exercise mainly inside but did the ridge again yesterday, lovely day.