Neath Port Talbot: A weekend break only 2 hours from Hereford

Neath Port Talbot,  or the “Dramatic Heart of Wales”, is one area that you may not have considered. Known as an industrial hub, it may not be the first location that springs to mind if you’re after beautiful scenery and nature. But nestled among the industrial parts of the county are hidden gems of stunning countryside and coast – and these make for some lovely day trips if you’re staying nearby.

I visited this month and couldn’t believe how much there was to see and do. Although I used to live in south Wales, I had never really given Neath Port Talbot a chance and had always just driven past on my way to more popular holiday hotspots in the country like the Gower and Pembrokeshire. However, it's safe to say that Neath Port Talbot is an underrated part of Wales and deserves more tourism than it gets.

My partner Ryan and I stayed at the Tower Hotel and Spa at Swansea Bay, which has a beautiful Victorian tower at the centre of its grounds, along with a restaurant and spa facilities.

The Victorian tower at Towel Hotel illuminated at night (Image: Bridie Adams)

Having travelled there straight from the Hereford Times office and keen to get some food before last orders at 8.30pm, we went straight to the restaurant when we arrived. There was a good amount of choice on the menu, with plenty of veggie and vegan options, and all at a reasonable price.

We both tried the southern fried chicken as a starter, and then I had roast turkey while Ryan ordered a steak. We were way too full to get a dessert each but couldn’t resist sharing a chocolate brownie to finish the night.

We headed up to our room, a suite in the main part of the hotel, and were amazed by the striking view of the hotel’s tower from our balcony. The room was warm, welcoming, and very comfortable, perfect for getting some rest ready to explore the next day.

Our deluxe suite at the Tower Hotel (Image: Martin Ellard Photography)

The next morning, we had a full Welsh breakfast at the hotel restaurant and then checked out the spa. It was small but had everything you could need – a swimming pool, jacuzzi, sauna and steam room.

The spa at the Tower Hotel (Image: Martin Ellard Photography)

Next, it was time to brave the rain and venture out to Aberavon, near Port Talbot. The weather wasn’t really on our side, but we geared up with wellies and waterproofs and went for a walk along the seafront. Despite nearly being blown away by the ridiculously strong winds, we had a lovely stroll by the sea and admired the choppy waves from the beach. Usually, I’m happy to have a paddle in any weather, but it was just a bit too nippy for me on this day.

The seafront at Aberavon (Image: Dramatic Heart of Wales)

My favourite part of the trip was our very last stop of the weekend: a visit to Margam Country Park. It has a huge castle and orangery, both of which are beautiful, and some stunning walking trails.

A massive castle sits at the centre of Margam Country Park (Image: Martin Ellard Photography)

We warmed up with a hot chocolate from the café, which was delicious, and then spent a good couple of hours walking around and admiring the park.

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Having never really stopped to look around this part of Wales before, I now have a newfound appreciation for it.

If the weather was better, we would have loved to have explored more of the countryside and gone to have a look at the abbey and ironworks – but those can be a treat for another time.

If you like variety on your weekend trips, you would love Neath Port Talbot. From learning about its vast industry and rich history to discovering its natural beauty, there is plenty to do.