Best walks to or from Port Talbot Parkway

Neath Station to Port Talbot Parkway Station

you can see all the way around Swansea Bay and across the sea to Exmoor on a clear day. A scenic, very largely off-road walk on woodland and hill trails, climbing high onto Mynydd Dinas to the national coast path with sweeping views over Swansea Bay and the steelworks and across to Exmoor. A steep descent into Port Talbot with many wooden steps; trails are tree-rooty and muddy in short sections. Follows the Wales Coast Path along the top of Mynydd Dinas; picks up Baglan and Briton Ferry as jumping-on points.

Tough: steep ascents. 11km.

A steep descent with lots of wooden steps into Port Talbot; short tree-rooty and muddy sections hinder wheeling. Keep an eye out to get under the M4 and cross a busy road correctly near Port Talbot.

Lunch: Shops at Briton Ferry are a short detour off-route.

Documented by Slow Ways — download GPX route

Port Talbot Parkway Station to Maesteg Station

Tough: steep ascents. 11km.

Documented by Slow Ways — download GPX route

Port Talbot Parkway Station to Pyle Station

A very direct, efficient and mostly flat route, largely following National Cycle Route 4 on segregated and traffic-free cycle paths, pavements and quieter lanes. Mainly urban and alongside dual carriageways and not especially scenic; tarmac narrows to about a metre leaving Pyle and is poorly maintained in places. Follows National Cycle Route 4 and shares signage with the Wales Coast Path; a detour into Margam Park (free for walkers) would greatly enhance the walk.

Easy: 10km, moderate ascents.

Mostly runs alongside busy dual carriageways; the path narrows to about a metre wide leaving Pyle and is poorly surfaced in places.

Documented by Slow Ways — download GPX route

Swansea Station to Port Talbot Parkway Station

A flat, functional, fully paved route primarily following National Cycle Network route 4, predominantly alongside main roads and dual carriageways on cycle tracks and with industrial stretches and some pleasant detours. The one climb is up to the bridge at Briton Ferry; the Port Talbot end runs through a landscaped energy park. Mostly follows National Cycle Network route 4; a parallel canal towpath (Tennant Canal) is a quieter alternative for part of the way.

16km. Gentle ascents.

Lunch: A sandwich shop, supermarket and pub/cafe alongside the route at the Bay Campus detour.

Documented by Slow Ways — download GPX route