Scenic and Nature Archives | Things To Do In Wales

November 19, 2020November 19, 2020

Henrhyd Waterfall

If this waterfall looks familiar, you might recognise it as the entrance to the Bat Cave from the 2012 film The Dark Knight Rises. At 88 feet, Henrhyd is the highest waterfall in South Wales and, thanks to its movie appearance and the resulting increase in people wanting to see it, work has been completed in recent years to make it more accessible without risking damage to the surrounding Site of Special Scientific Interest.

The full walk will take about 2-3 hours but just walking to the falls takes only about 10 minutes. Almost as soon as you leave the car par and start along the path, you can hear the sound of the waterfall and catch a glimpse of it though the trees. At this point you are slightly higher than the top of the falls. The path heads down into the valley to the level of the riverbank below the falls. When you reach that point, the main Nant Llech walk heads off to the right. Turning left, the path leads to a bridge and on to the waterfall basin. If there’s been a lot of rainfall in the days before your visit there will be a lot of spray and the path can be quite slippery so be careful. But if you’re prepared to get wet, you can get really close to the waterfall and even walk behind it.

Henrhyd is just as beautiful in summer or winter.

Other Nearby Waterfalls

Melincourt Waterfall

Four Waterfalls Walk

Useful Information

Car Parking is free.

Henrhyd Falls and Nant Llech walk Map

GPS Coordinates: 51.795628, -3.664320

Postcode: SA10 9PG

This postcode gets you to the village of Coelbren. If your Sat Nav takes you along the A4221 and into the village from the west, keep driving until you exit the village and come to a cross roads. Turn left at the crossroads and the Henrhyd Falls carpark will be on your left a few hundred yards up the hill. If your Sat Nav takes you along Camnant Road (a wide single lane road through some beautiful scenery) keep going until you come to a crossroads, just before a bridge, with a sign for Coelbren pointing to the left. Do not turn left towards Coelbren, cross the bridge and the Henrhyd Falls carpark will be on your left a few hundred yards up the hill.

November 3, 2020December 3, 2020

Melincourt Waterfall

This is an excellent place to stop for a short break if you’re heading to West Wales along the M4 Motorway or the A465 “Heads of The Valleys” road.

Melincourt waterfall is often overlooked because it’s out on its own, away from the better known falls of the nearby Waterfall Country. In my opinion though, it’s as impressive as any of the others and, despite its advantage of being even easier to access, it is usually relatively quiet. Park up in the small free carpark, cross the road and take a short easy stroll along the riverbank through a wooded area. After about 5-10 minutes you’ll reach the lower pool of this 80ft high waterfall.

Other Nearby Waterfalls

Henrhyd Waterfall

Four Waterfalls Trail

Useful Information

Parking is free.

GPS Coordinates: 51.704186, -3.706982

Postcode: SA11 4AS

This postcode will get you to the main road within a few hundred yards of the carpark which is just off the road and is well signposted.

October 5, 2020November 19, 2020

Pontcysyllte Aqueduct

Another of Wales’ UNESCO World Heritage Sites. Built between 1795 and 1805, the Pontcysyllte Aqueduct is a cast iron trough on top of 18 stone piers that carries the Llangollen canal 38m (126ft) high over the River Dee. The design and construction was overseen by respected canal engineer William Jessop, but many of the project’s technical details were developed by Thomas Telford, who would go on to become one of Britain’s most celebrated civil engineers.

Boat trips along the canal and across the aqueduct are available from Llangollen Wharf. The Trevor Basin, adjacent to the aqueduct, has a Visitor Centre and a pleasant canalside Pub. If you’re feeling brave, you can walk along the tow path across the aqueduct. If you do, you’ll be rewarded with some spectacular views. Carry on a little along the canal and enjoy a peaceful calming walk. After that, make your way down into the valley and view the aqueduct from below, the engineering achievement is perhaps even more impressive viewed from this perspective.

So how do you pronounce Pontcysyllte?

The name of this place can be difficult to pronounce if you’re not from Wales (and even for some who are!) It’s pronounced PONT-KUH-SUSTH-TEH

To make the sound I’ve highlighted in bold, put your tongue behind your top front teeth like you would to make an “L” sound and then blow so that the air escapes at either side of your mouth.

September 30, 2020February 3, 2021

Tenby

A walled town with pastel coloured Victorian buildings, three sandy beaches and a pleasant harbour. Laidback Tenby is one of my absolute favourite places in Wales.

The town walls were constructed by the Earls of Pembroke in the 13th century to fortify the town against the rebellious Welsh. Tenby became a centre for trade with South West England, Spain and Portugal and by the late 15th century it was one of the busiest ports in Wales. You can get a glimpse into what life was like at that time by visiting the Tudor Merchant’s House, a restored three story museum building furnished as it would have been in 1500.

After a siege by Parliamentarian forces during the English Civil War in 1648 and an outbreak of plague in 1650 that killed around 500, more than half of the town’s population, shattered Tenby fell into economic decline. Then, in the early 1800s, businessman and politician Sir William Paxton began investing into the town with the aim of turning it into a fashionable bathing resort. His endeavours were a success and Tenby became popular among tourists in the late Georgian and Victorian eras.

Much of Tenby’s Victorian charm remains. A number of hotels sit along The Esplanade overlooking South Beach (pictured) and St Catherine’s Island. Some have little gardens for guests to sit in and enjoy a drink with a view.

South Beach, Tenby — View of South Beach from the Esplanade, Tenby

Entering through one of the gateway arches into the old town you’ll find a lively mix of traditional and modern shops, cafes and pubs as well as quieter residential areas with quaint pastel-coloured homes. Work your way down the hill and you’ll find yourself at the harbour where a number of boat trips including seal spotting and mackerel fishing can be booked. From there you can head up towards the Castle, Museum and Art Gallery or through another gateway arch and down onto Castle Beach. From the beach you get a close up view of St Catherine’s Island, dominated by its imposing fort. One of a chain of coastal fortifications built around the UK in the 19th century, the fort has since served as a house and a zoo! At times, the Island and Fort are open to visitors.

Like most places this good, Tenby can get a little busy during the peak summer season. My favourite times to visit are May/June or September when the weather is still good but the streets and beaches are a little quieter.

Tenby has lots of independently run hotels, guesthouses and rental accommodation available via the main booking websites. It’s also worth noting that there is also a fairly well located Premier Inn that doesn’t usually show up on those sites.

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September 30, 2020November 19, 2020

Porthgain

Porthgain Harbour was built in 1851 to export local slate and was later used to ship bricks, which were made on the eastern side of the harbour, and stone which was stored in large brick-built hoppers, the remains of which still dominate the western side.

This is a beautiful little spot to visit for an hour or so, to enjoy the views out to sea and take a break at the little café or traditional pub, both of which are well regarded. The Pembrokeshire Coast Path passes across the harbour front so it’s also a nice place to start, break or end a walk.

Porthgain is served by a local bus service two days a week in summer and one day a week in winter (Bus Timetables – Bus Routes Map).

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September 19, 2020February 3, 2021

The Elan Valley

In the late 19th century, the burgeoning industrial city of Birmingham, across the border in England, was in great need of clean, fresh water. The solution lay in the hills and valleys of Mid Wales. Between 1893 and 1952, five dams (plus the foundations for a sixth) were built on the Elan and Claerwen rivers to form a series of reservoirs from which water enters into an aqueduct and takes three days to fall 52m (171 feet) as it flows the 73 miles to the Frankley Reservoir in Birmingham.

As fascinating as that is, the Elan Valley is on my favourites list simply because of its breathtaking beauty and its wealth of plant and animal life, for example around 180 species of birds have been spotted in the area. Make sure you’ve got plenty of storage space available on your phone or memory card because you’re going to want to take a lot of photographs! It’s an amazing place to discover by car and each dam is easily accessible from the road but there are also lots of walks and cycle routes through the 70 square mile estate.

I recommend beginning your visit at the excellent Visitors’ Centre where you can find out why the geography and geology of this area make it perfect for water collection and storage. There are also regular exhibitions and events, if you arrange it in advance you can even have a ranger join you in your vehicle to give you a guided tour.

Official Website: elanvalley.org.uk

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