See Neath Port Talbot from a new perspective with these captivating new videos!

See Neath Port Talbot from a new perspective with these captivating new videos!

Often recognised for its steel making heritage, visitors might be excused for thinking that Neath Port Talbot is dominated by its steelworks but now a new range of videos which showcase the rural areas of the county are aiming to challenge this common misconception.

The six new videos produced via the Tourism Development in Neath Port Talbot Project, highlight the beautiful scenery that surrounds the county and show-off the area’s world famous mountain bike trails, scenic walking trails, wildlife and breath-taking waterfalls.

Starting in the east of the County, Margam Country Park is well known as a great family day out and is a great starting point to discovering both flora and fauna in Neath Port Talbot. Margam Country Park also offers a range of adventure activities and has its very own zip wire.

Heading towards the western edge of Neath Port Talbot’s five valleys you will be greeted first by the Afan Valley, a well-known mecca for outdoor activity. Afan plays host to an extensive network of mountain bike trails and people travel from all over the world for an exhilarating experience.

The family friendly Rookie trail highlights that the Afan Valley is not just great for experienced mountain bikers but children and beginners too.  In the Afan Valley, you will also find South Wales Miners’ Museum, where you can meet local people who actually worked at the coal face.

North of the county, the Vale of Neath, also known as Waterfall Country, has some of the most breath-taking waterfalls you’ll ever see. The most famous of them all is Sgwd Gwladys at Pontneddfechan, but if you are looking for a less strenuous walk then head to Melincwrt Waterfall or Aberdulais Falls which are both easily accessible from the A465.

Did you think that St Patrick, the patron Saint of Ireland was Irish? Then think again because it is said that he actually hails from the village of Banwen in the Dulais Valley which neighbours the Vale of Neath. In the Dulais Valley, you will also find a rich mining heritage at Cefn Coed Colliery Museum.

And finally to the West, there’s the Swansea Valley and Amman Valley. Surrounded by the River Tawe and extensive wildlife the Swansea Valley is home to the thriving cultural town of Pontardawe where you’ll find Pontardawe Arts Centre and Cwm Du Glen, a picturesque walk along an ancient wooded valley located slap bang in the middle of the town centre. The Cwmtawe Cycle Way (National Cycle Route 43) meanders alongside the River Tawe and stretches the length of the valley offering a great way to see the Swansea Valley on two wheels.

The most western of the five valleys within Neath Port Talbot, the Amman Valley, is home to beautiful views over the Brecon Beacons and is known widely as the ‘Gateway to the Black Mountains’. At Tai’rgwaith you can experience an alternative, and just as exciting, take on a day at the races through the sport of harness racing at Amman Valley Trotting Club.

So as you can see, our valleys are packed with outdoor activities, history, culture and areas of natural beauty. With all this activity you may want to spend a few days taking it all in, so we also have a concentration of excellent quality accommodation, activity providers and country parks to ensure that you enjoy all that our rural areas have to offer. To find out more and to view the videos go to www.visitnpt.co.uk/discover

Cabinet Member for Regeneration and Sustainable Development, Councillor Annette Wingrave said: “Neath Port Talbot Council is committed to raising the profile of the county borough as a visitor destination and these stunning videos capture the everyday beauty of our Valleys as a place to visit, live or invest in”.

The Tourism Development in Neath Port Talbot project is funded by Welsh Government Rural Communities – Rural Development Programme 2014-2020, which is funded by the European Agricultural Fund for Rural Development and the Welsh Government.

Gallwch weld Castell-nedd Port Talbot o safbwynt gwahanol trwy wylio’r  fideos trawiadol hyn!

Gan fod yn enwog gynhyrchu dur, mae llawer o ymwelwyr â Chastell-nedd Port Talbot yn disgwyl i’r dref fod dan gysgod y gwaith dur, ond erbyn hyn mae amrywiaeth o fideos newydd ar gael sy’n dangos bod ardaloedd gwledig y sir yn mynd ati i herio’r camsyniad cyffredin hwn.

Mae’r chwe fideo newydd, a gynhyrchwyd gan y Prosiect Datblygu Twristiaeth yng Nghastell-nedd Port Talbot, yn dangos y golygfeydd syfrdanol o gwmpas y sir, ac yn arddangos llwybrau beicio, llwybrau cerdded, bywyd gwyllt a rhaeadrau byd-enwog yr ardal.

Gan ddechrau yn nwyrain y sir, mae Parc Gwledig Margam yn adnabyddus fel lleoliad sy’n cynnig diwrnod allan gwych i’r teulu, ac mae’n fan dechrau delfrydol ar gyfer dod o hyd i fflora a ffawna yng Nghastell-nedd Port Talbot. Mae Parc Gwledig Margam hefyd yn cynnig amrywiaeth o weithgareddau antur ac mae ganddo wifren sip.

Gan symud tuag at orllewin pum cwm Castell-nedd Port Talbot, cewch eich croesawu’n gyntaf gan Gwm Afan, sy’n fecca adnabyddus am gynnig gweithgareddau awyr agored. Mae Cwm Afan yn cynnig rhwydwaith mawr o lwybrau beic mynydd a daw pobl o bedwar ban byd i roi cynnig ar y profiad cyffrous hwn!

Mae’r llwybr Rookie, sy’n addas i deuluoedd, yn amlygu’r ffaith nid beicwyr mynydd profiadol yn unig sy’n gallu mwynhau ymweliad â Chwm Afan, ond plant a dechreuwyr hefyd. Yng Nghwm Afan, gallwch ymweld ag Amgueddfa Glowyr De Cymru, lle gallwch gwrdd â phobl leol sydd wedi gweithio yn y diwydiant glo.

I ogledd y sir ceir Cwm Nedd, a adwaenir hefyd fel Gwlad y Sgydau, ac sy’n cynnig rhai o’r rhaeadrau prydferthaf erioed. Sgwd Gwladys ym Mhontneddfechan yw’r enwocaf oll, ond os ydych chi’n gobeithio dilyn llwybr cerdded sy’n ychydig llai egnïol, ewch i Raeadr Melincwrt neu Raeadr Aberdulais, y mae’r ddwy ohonynt yn hawdd eu cyrraedd o’r A465.

Oeddech chi’n meddwl bod Padrig Sant, nawddsant Iwerddon, yn Wyddel? Wel, meddyliwch eto oherwydd, yn ôl y sôn, fe ddaeth o bentref Banwen yng Nghwm Dulais ger Cwm Nedd.  Yng Nghwm Dulais gallwch hefyd ddod o hyd i dreftadaeth lofaol gyfoethog yn Amgueddfa Glofa Cefn Coed.

Ac yn olaf, awn i’r gorllewin, lle ceir Cwm Tawe a Dyffryn Amman. Mae afon Tawe a bywyd gwyllt helaeth yn amgylchynu Cwm Tawe sy’n gartref i Bontardawe, tref ddiwylliannol a bywiog lle gallwch ddod o hyd i Ganolfan Celfyddydau Pontardawe a Glyn Cwm Du, llwybr cerdded pert ar hyd hen gwm coediog yng nghanol y dref. Mae Llwybr Beicio Cwm Tawe (Llwybr Beicio Cenedlaethol 43) sy’n dilyn afon Tawe’n estyn ar hyd y cwm ac yn cynnig ffordd wych o weld Cwm Tawe ar ddwy olwyn.

Dyffryn Aman yw’r mwyaf gorllewinol o’r pum cwm yng Nghastell-nedd Port Talbot ac yma cewch olygfeydd godidog dros Fannau Brycheiniog, ac fe’i hadnabyddir yn eang fel ‘Porth y Mynydd Du’. Mae Tai’rgwaith yn cynnig profiad gwahanol, ond yr un mor gyffrous, â diwrnod yn y rasys drwy gamp rasio â harnais yng Nghlwb Trotian Dyffryn Aman.

Felly, fel y gallwch weld, mae ein cymoedd yn cynnig llu o weithgareddau awyr agored, hanes ac ardaloedd o harddwch naturiol. Gyda’r holl weithgarwch hyn, efallai hoffech dreulio ychydig ddiwrnodau’n ei fwynhau, felly mae gennym hefyd amrywiaeth o ddarparwyr llety, gweithgareddau a pharciau gwledig o safon er mwyn sicrhau eich bod yn mwynhau’r cyfan sydd gan ein hardaloedd gwledig i’w gynnig. I ddarganfod mwy ac i wylio’r fideos ewch i www.visitnpt.co.uk/discover

Meddai’r Cynghorydd Annette Wingrave, Aelod y Cabinet dros Adfywio a Datblygu Cynaliadwy, “Mae Cyngor Castell-nedd Port Talbot yn ymroddedig i godi proffil y fwrdeistref sirol fel cyrchfan i ymwelwyr ac mae’r fideos syfrdanol hyn yn dangos harddwch bob dydd ein cymoedd fel lle i ymweld â nhw, byw ynddynt neu fuddsoddi ynddynt.”

Ariennir y Prosiect Datblygu Twristiaeth yng Nghastell-nedd Port Talbot gan Gymunedau Gwledig Llywodraeth Cymru –  Rhaglen Datblygu Gwledig 2014-2020, sydd wedi’i hariannu gan Gronfa Amaethyddol Ewrop ar gyfer Datblygu Gwledig a Llywodraeth Cymru.