Swansea and Neath
Cistercian Way: Margam to Neath
Between two abbeys on the route that links every Cistercian house in Wales, over the hills behind Port Talbot.
- Distance
- 6.2 mi / 10 km
- Time
- 3 hr 20
- Ascent
- 300 m
- Difficulty
- Demanding
- Shape
- There and back
Where it is
The circle shows the general area, not the exact start. Use the directions link below to get to the car park itself. Contours and paths shown are OpenTopoMap, drawn from OpenStreetMap data.
The route
The Cistercian Way climbs from Margam over the hills towards Neath Abbey. Field paths, forestry and open hill.
Worth knowing
- The Cistercian Way is a 650-mile circuit of Wales linking the monastic houses.
- Neath Abbey at the far end is a substantial ruin and free to visit.
- The route crosses industrial ground as well as hills, which is part of the point.
What you’ll see
Margam abbey and orangery, hill ground, and Neath Abbey at the end.
Background
The Cistercians shaped medieval Wales more than any other order, and their houses were centres of wool production and learning.