Graigfelen

Settlement in Glamorgan

Wales

Graigfelen

Descent from Allt y Fanog Credit: Alan Hughes

Graigfelen is a small village located in the county of Glamorgan, Wales. Situated on the western side of the River Taff, it is nestled amidst the picturesque landscapes of the South Wales Valleys. The village is part of the community of Taff's Well, sharing close proximity with the nearby towns of Pontypridd and Cardiff.

Graigfelen boasts a rich history, with evidence of settlement dating back to the Bronze Age. The village's name translates to "rock of the beacon" in Welsh, reflecting its historical significance as a landmark for signaling and navigation. Today, the area is primarily residential, offering a serene and peaceful atmosphere away from the bustling city life.

The village is surrounded by lush green hills and offers breathtaking views of the Taff Valley. It is a popular destination for outdoor enthusiasts, with numerous walking trails and nature reserves nearby, such as Garth Mountain and Taff Bargoed Park. These natural attractions provide opportunities for hiking, wildlife spotting, and enjoying the tranquility of the countryside.

Despite its small size, Graigfelen offers essential amenities to its residents, including a local pub, convenience stores, and a primary school. For further amenities and services, residents can easily access the nearby towns of Taff's Well and Pontypridd, where they will find a wider range of shops, restaurants, and leisure facilities.

Graigfelen's convenient location provides easy access to major transport links, including the M4 motorway and nearby train stations, making it an attractive place to live for commuters working in Cardiff or other nearby cities. With its charming village atmosphere and natural beauty, Graigfelen offers a peaceful retreat in the heart of Glamorgan.

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Graigfelen Images

Images are sourced within 2km of 51.697594/-3.9043021 or Grid Reference SN6801. Thanks to Geograph Open Source API. All images are credited.

Descent from Allt y Fanog

Alan Hughes

Trapped waymarker

Tree roots have grown around the waymarker, gripping it tightly.

Alan Hughes

Public footpath and stile

Across Cathelyd towards Cwm Clydach.

Alan Hughes

Gateway and stile

Alan Hughes

Waterfall on Lower Clydach River

Alan Hughes

Cwm Clydach Nature Reserve

Alan Hughes

Footbridge over Lower Clydach River

Alan Hughes

Approaching the footbridge from Cathelyd

Alan Hughes

False puffball

Enteridium lycoperdon. A silvery grey fungus on a rotting tree trunk in Cwm Clydach. See Link

Alan Hughes

Lower Clydach River

Now a RSPB nature reserve, this beautiful valley belies its industrial past. Old mine buildings lurk among the trees and the bronze discolouration of the water is due to mine seepage.

Alan Hughes

Masons Arms, Rhyd-y-pandy

A remote pub standing alone at a road junction.

Nigel Davies

Trig pillar on Mynydd Gelliwastad

This trig pillar is right next to a rutted trail across the mountain. This is the view east towards Clydach below. If you look carefully, you can see the chimney from the Inco nickel refinery popping up above the bushes just a little to the right of the pillar top. Swansea, Port Talbot and much of the Swansea valley are also visible from this hill.

Nigel Davies

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

Information board in Cwm Clydach Nature Reserve

The tree lined valley surrounding a crescent shaped portion of the Clydach river is designated as an RSPB Nature Reserve. This information board is near the car park at the south end. The trail and public footpath follow the river most of the way up to the next road bridge at Pont Llechart.

Nigel Davies

Bend in the River Clydach

This is the view southeast down the river. Although it is now a nature reserve and quite overgrown, there are numerous small signs of mining industry here: building foundations, buried steel ropes and the stone walled artificial bank of the river, visible on the curve in the distance.

Nigel Davies