Swansea and Neath
Clyne Valley
Old railway through wooded valley from Swansea Bay, surfaced and level the whole way, with the remains of coal and brick works hidden in the trees.
- Distance
- 5.0 mi / 8 km
- Time
- 2 hr 20
- Ascent
- 110 m
- Difficulty
- Moderate
- 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 path follows the old Swansea and Mumbles line and then the Clyne valley railway inland, as far as Gowerton. Flat and firm throughout.
Worth knowing
- Part of the Celtic Trail cycle route, so shared with bikes.
- Clyne Gardens at the seaward end are famous for rhododendrons in May.
- The valley was industrial: look for the ruins of the brickworks and the tramway inclines in the undergrowth.
What you’ll see
Mature woodland, industrial ruins, and Swansea Bay at the seaward end.
Background
The Swansea and Mumbles railway was the first passenger railway service in the world, carrying fare-paying passengers from 1807.