Afan Forest Park
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Afan Forest Park (Welsh and locally in English: Afan Argoed) is in Glamorgan, Wales.
Understand
Also known as Afan Argoed Country Park, it is 48-square-mile (120 km²) of forest. It is set in the Afan Valley near Neath and Port Talbot. Named in the top ten "places to ride before you die" by Mountain Biking UK Magazine. Largest urban forest in Europe, set in the steep sided Afan Valley just north of Port Talbot. The forest contains several world-class mountain biking trails as well as long established graded walking trails
- 1 Afan Forest Park Visitor Centre, Cynonville.
History
Landscape
Flora and fauna
Climate
Get in
The park starts about 10 km north of the M4 Port Talbot junction. Closest rail stations are Maesteg and Neath. Buses to the visitor centre from Bridgend and Maesteg (First Cymru 32 & 36), from Port Talbot (First Cymru 23), from Neath & Swansea (First Cymru 159).
Fees and permits
There are no fees to enter the area, although there are in some locations car parking fees.
Get around
See
- 1 South Wales Miners Museum, Afan Forest Park, Cynonville, ☏ +44 1639 850564. Apr-Sep: 9:30AM-5PM (until 6PM at weekends). Oct-Mar: 10:30AM-4PM (9:30AM-5PM at weekends). This museum in the country-side near Neath provides a look at life in a South Wales colliery. Exhibits include working machinery and records of lives of local miners. Admission: Adult £1.20.
Do
- Mountain biking. A number of trails in the park
- Walking.
Buy
Eat
- 1 Afan Lodge, Afan Rd. Mountain bike lodge with restaurant
Drink
Sleep
Lodging
- 1 Bryn Bettws Lodge and Log Cabins, Gyfylchi Farm, Pontrhydyfen, Port Talbot, SA12 9SP, ☏ +44 1639 642040, b.griffiths_son@btopenworld.com. Bryn Bettws features single room log cabins which accommodate 2-5 people with kitchenette and washroom. There's also a shared onsite restaurant. This is an ideal location in the Afan Valley for mountain bikers and walkers who want to explore Afan Forest Park and the surrounding area.
Camping
- 2 Willow Springs Campsite, Llwyn Y Fynnon Farm, Glyncorrwg, ☏ +44 7903 799793.
- 3 [dead link] Glyncorrwg Ponds, Ynyscorrwg Park, Glyncorrwg, Port Talbot, SA13 3EA, ☏ +44 1639 851900. A small camp site set right in the heart of Afan Forst Park, with visitors centre.