Swansea Valley
The Swansea Valley is the name often given to the valley of the River Tawe area in Brecknockshire and Glamorgan. It reaches south-west and south from the Brecon Beacons National Park down to the city of Swansea. A distinction is often drawn between the Lower Swansea valley and the Upper Swansea valley which have different characters; the former was more heavily industrialised during the 19th and 20th centuries.
Notable towns and villages
Notable towns and villages in the area include Clydach, Pontardawe, Ystradgynlais, Ystalyfera and Abercraf.
In its September 2005 document Towards a Valleys Strategy, Neath & Port Talbot County Borough Council notes "a marked divide between the more remote communities at Ystalyfera and along the Twrch and Amman valleys and the reasonably prosperous southern communities of Pontardawe, Alltwen, Rhos, and Trebanos." [1] The area is served by the A4067 Swansea-Brecon road, but has had no rail connection since passenger services on the former Midland Railway line between Swansea and Brynamman via Ystalyfera ceased in 1952.
Attractions
The Upper Swansea valley is the site of Dan yr Ogof Caves, claimed to be the largest show cave complex in Western Europe.[2] South of Abercrave, the valley was formerly a region of heavy industry including coal mining and iron-making and there is plenty of the industrial heritage surviving; the Swansea Canal was built along the valley in the late 18th century to serve the nascent local industries. In 1878 opera singer Adelina Patti made her home at Craig-y-Nos Castle.[3]
References
- Location map: 51°45’33"N, 3°47’23"W
