country park in Neath Port Talbot

Afan Forest Park (Welsh and locally in English: Afan Argoed) is in Glamorgan, Wales.

Understand edit

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

History edit

Landscape edit

Flora and fauna edit

Climate edit

Get in edit

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 edit

There are no fees to enter the area, although there are in some locations car parking fees.

Get around edit

See edit

  • 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 edit

Buy edit

Eat edit

  • 1 Afan Lodge, Afan Rd. Mountain bike lodge with restaurant

Drink edit

Sleep edit

Lodging edit

  • 1 Bryn Bettws Lodge and Log Cabins, Gyfylchi Farm, Pontrhydyfen, Port Talbot, SA12 9SP, +44 1639 642040, . 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 edit

Backcountry edit

Stay safe edit

Go next edit

This park travel guide to Afan Forest Park is a usable article. It has information about the park, for getting in, about a few attractions, and about accommodations in the park. An adventurous person could use this article, but please feel free to improve it by editing the page.