Balaclava

Settlement in Glamorgan

Wales

Balaclava

Church and Refinery at Clydach The chimney stack of the nickel refinery dominates the town of Clydach near Swansea. Here it can be seen to the south of a church in the middle of town. — Church and Refinery at Clydach Credit: Nigel Davies

Balaclava is a small village located in the county of Glamorgan, Wales. It is situated in the southern part of the country, near the coast of the Bristol Channel. The village is part of the larger community of Penarth, which is known for its scenic beauty and rich history.

Balaclava, with its picturesque setting, offers stunning views of the surrounding countryside and the nearby sea. The village is characterized by its quaint charm and peaceful atmosphere, making it an ideal place for those seeking a tranquil retreat. The area is dotted with beautiful traditional cottages and well-maintained gardens, adding to its overall appeal.

Despite its small size, Balaclava boasts a close-knit community that takes great pride in preserving the village's heritage. The residents actively participate in local events and initiatives, fostering a strong sense of belonging and community spirit. The village also has a few amenities, including a local pub and a small convenience store, catering to the daily needs of its inhabitants.

One of the highlights of Balaclava is its proximity to various natural attractions. The stunning coastline offers opportunities for scenic walks and beachcombing, while the nearby countryside is perfect for hiking and exploring. Additionally, the village is within easy reach of popular tourist destinations such as Cardiff, where visitors can explore historical sites, cultural landmarks, and vibrant nightlife.

In conclusion, Balaclava is a charming village in Glamorgan, Wales, known for its idyllic setting, close-knit community, and access to natural beauty. It is a place where residents and visitors can enjoy a peaceful and relaxing lifestyle, while still having easy access to larger urban centers and tourist attractions.

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Balaclava Images

Images are sourced within 2km of 51.687267/-3.873513 or Grid Reference SN7000. Thanks to Geograph Open Source API. All images are credited.

Church and Refinery at Clydach

The chimney stack of the nickel refinery dominates the town of Clydach near Swansea. Here it can be seen to the south of a church in the middle of town.

Nigel Davies

Clydach Refinery seen from above

Here is a view of the Inco nickel refinery as seen from the trail up Mynydd Gelliwastad.

Nigel Davies

Footbridge, Glais

The footpath crosses the line of an old railway below.

Chris Eilbeck

River Tawe, near Glais

Looking upstream, taken from the A4067 bridge.

Chris Eilbeck

Dismantled railway to Clydach tinplate works

As seen from SN6900 : Footbridge, Glais The OS have recently updated their maps to remove the rails from this line but the tree growth suggests they have been gone for much longer. The cutting is wide enough for two tracks and there are now two worn paths side by side along the course. The visible bridge is part of the more recently built A4067.

Nigel Davies

North end of closed Garth Road

Garth road has taken a beating from redevelopments. The new A4067 (bridge pictured in SN6900 : Dismantled railway to Clydach tinplate works) isolated the north end of this road so it has been blocked off. It seems to be used mainly by dog walkers - hence the red bin - and presumably the farmer can still open the gate for access to fields.

Nigel Davies

End of the road

The decent tarmac of Garth Road ends here and a narrow footpath descends to a new footbridge allowing circuitous access to Clydach.

Nigel Davies

Viewing stand - or bus stop shelter?

From a distance, it seems that some new viewing shelters have been built on each side of the rugby pitch here. Closer inspection indeed revealed that these stands *were* re-purposed bus stop shelters complete with their now non-functioning matrix display boards (inside) and a current timetable stating that the bus stop gave times from Swansea Railway Station. One suspects that you'd be waiting a long time here if you wanted to catch the 17 the Gowerton or the 24 to Moriston Hospital...

Hywel Williams

Swansea Canal overflows into Lower Clydach River

Just don't ask what the water level is. The aqueduct here is also a handy overflow maintaining the level in the canal. The excess falls down into the Lower Clydach River just before it joins the Tawe.

Nigel Davies

Footbridge over River Tawe at Clydach

This bridge allows access to the playing fields SN6900 : Viewing stand - or bus stop shelter? on the other side of the river.

Nigel Davies

Mineral line bridge over Tawe

The dismantled mineral line that used to run into the Mond refinery (now the Inco works SN6901 : Clydach Refinery seen from above) is now blocked off at the works fence. You can still get on to the bridge to look at the river though.

Nigel Davies

Dismantled mineral line crosses the dismantled Swansea Vale line

The dismantled mineral line to the Mond refinery used to cross over the branch of the railway that ran up the west side of the Vale of Swansea where it crossed to join the east side branch at Glais.

Nigel Davies

Dismantled Swansea Vale railway heading east towards Glais

This is the view looking east from on top of the bridge here SN6900 : Dismantled mineral line crosses the dismantled Swansea Vale line To the west this portion of the line disappears. It looks like the raised embankment forms a convenient stand to watch the games at the playing fields SN6900 : Viewing stand - or bus stop shelter?

Nigel Davies

St Mary's Church, Clydach

Nigel Davies

Trig pillar on Mynydd Drumau

The top of this mountain is flat, wide farmland and this trig point is in the middle of it. It's no good for surveying the Swansea and Neath valleys directly either side of it, but you get a good view of the neighbouring hills.

Nigel Davies

Pylons at north end of Mynydd Drumau

A straight line of pylons runs southwest from the north tip of Mynydd Drumau towards the Swansea Valley. This photo was taken from just below the pylon (not pictured) where the lines turn east into the Neath valley.

Nigel Davies

Fields above Glais

A large open field above the village of Glais. Cwm-cyrnach-uchaf farm can be seen to the left of the picture. The square block on the horizon is the DVLA building.

Hywel Williams