All walks › Rhondda and the Western Valleys
Rhondda and the Western ValleysPontrhydyfen and the Bont Fawr
Great stone aqueduct across the Afan valley, built to carry water to an ironworks, in the village where Richard Burton was born.
- Distance
- 3.7 mi / 6 km
- Time
- 2 hr 5
- Ascent
- 180 m
- Difficulty
- Moderate
- Shape
- Circular
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
Paths follow the river and the old railway from the village, with a climb for the view of the aqueduct. Gentle.
Worth knowing
- The Bont Fawr of 1827 carried water in a trough on top to power the Oakwood ironworks.
- Richard Burton was born in the village in 1925 and Rebecca Evans too.
- The Richard Burton Trail follows the old railways up the valley.
What you’ll see
The aqueduct across the valley, the Afan river, and the old railway formations.
Background
John Reynolds built the aqueduct in 1827 to carry water to drive the blast furnaces at Oakwood, a mile down the valley.