Nant-y-moel Tourist Information

Nant-y-moel is not on the usual tourist trail. There is no gift shop, model village or funfair. There are no queues to get in on a Bank Holiday Monday. In fact, tourists don't seem to come here. But that doesn't mean they shouldn't.

This small ex-mining village has an industrial heritage typical of the South Wales Valleys, and has suffered in the past as the industrial cogs ground to a halt and the work dried up. But the land has been reclaimed, creating grassy open hillsides, the people have survived to tell the tale and a picturesque little haven has emerged.

If you like a good walk on a blustery mountain, a spot of birdwatching, mountain biking, paragliding or just a dramatic drive with spectacular views, without the potential crowds of the Brecon Beacons, try this valley.

From the viewpoint at the Bwlch, where you can see Treorchy and the Beacons in one direction, over the channel to Somerset in the other, down the wooded Ogmore valley with it's cycle path, there's a day out for you. Bring a map and warm clothes (it gets very windy at times!), have a pub lunch in the Blaenogwyr, get yourself a bag of sweets from the sweetie shop with jars of old fashioned sweets and even use the public loos with their "official" graffitti - of the strictly artistic variety.

But most importantly, make time to chat to the locals - friendly, quirky, and all with a tale to tell. This place could have died when the mines did - but it didn't!

Description by Karen Steadman