Melincourt, a region in the scenic Neath Valley of South Wales, is defined by its dramatic natural landscape, featuring the impressive Melincourt Waterfall and surrounding ancient upland oak woodlands. The area's geology, with the Melincourt Brook dropping significantly from a plateau, creates a unique environment for outdoor pursuits. This setting provides diverse terrain suitable for several sports like hiking, road cycling, touring cycling, jogging, and more.
Melincourt offers numerous routes for outdoor enthusiasts, with more…
72
Routes
4.2
(123)
Average rating
643
People visited

4.2
(15)
67
hikers
8.95km
02:23
100m
100m
Moderate hike. Good fitness required. Easily-accessible paths. Suitable for all skill levels.

3.3
(12)
52
hikers
8.61km
02:20
120m
120m
Moderate hike. Good fitness required. Easily-accessible paths. Suitable for all skill levels.

3.1
(10)
44
hikers
6.21km
01:41
80m
80m
Easy hike. Great for any fitness level. Easily-accessible paths. Suitable for all skill levels.

4.6
(5)
26
hikers
5.20km
01:20
30m
30m
Easy hike. Great for any fitness level. Easily-accessible paths. Suitable for all skill levels.
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4.5
(2)
15
riders
41.5km
01:48
370m
370m
Moderate road ride. Good fitness required. Mostly well-paved surfaces and easy to ride.

3.6
(7)
43
riders
44.9km
01:46
130m
130m
Easy road ride. Great for any fitness level. Mostly well-paved surfaces and easy to ride.

32
riders
8.02km
00:20
50m
50m
Easy road ride. Great for any fitness level. Mostly well-paved surfaces and easy to ride.

5.0
(1)
17
riders
53.9km
02:25
500m
500m
Moderate road ride. Good fitness required. Mostly well-paved surfaces and easy to ride.
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4.7
(3)
6
runners
8.95km
01:00
100m
100m
Moderate run. Good fitness required. Mostly paved surfaces. Suitable for all skill levels.

5
runners
9.10km
01:00
120m
120m
Moderate run. Good fitness required. Mostly paved surfaces. Suitable for all skill levels.

4
runners
8.56km
00:53
40m
40m
Moderate run. Good fitness required. Mostly paved surfaces. Suitable for all skill levels.

3
runners
6.32km
00:41
110m
110m
Moderate run. Good fitness required. Mostly paved surfaces. Suitable for all skill levels.
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4.8
(4)
18
riders
Moderate bike ride. Good fitness required. Mostly paved surfaces. Suitable for all skill levels.

4.8
(6)
19
riders
Moderate bike ride. Good fitness required. Mostly paved surfaces. Suitable for all skill levels.

4.5
(6)
12
riders
42.6km
02:40
440m
440m
Moderate bike ride. Good fitness required. Mostly paved surfaces. Suitable for all skill levels.

4.0
(2)
10
riders
Moderate bike ride. Good fitness required. Mostly paved surfaces. Suitable for all skill levels.
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4.5
(4)
8
riders
19.5km
01:24
180m
180m
Easy mountain bike ride. Great for any fitness level. Suitable for all skill levels.

4.0
(2)
7
riders
35.5km
02:32
400m
400m
Moderate mountain bike ride. Good fitness required. Suitable for all skill levels.

10
riders
55.9km
02:51
200m
200m
Moderate mountain bike ride. Good fitness required. Suitable for all skill levels.

4
riders
39.9km
02:40
350m
350m
Moderate mountain bike ride. Good fitness required. Suitable for all skill levels.
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Melincourt is primarily known for the Melincourt Waterfall Nature Reserve, featuring an 80-foot (24-meter) waterfall. The area offers diverse landscapes for outdoor activities, including ancient upland oak woodlands and historical industrial remnants.
Melincourt offers a variety of outdoor activities, including Hiking, Road cycling, Touring cycling, Jogging, and Mountain biking. Users have rated routes in the region an average of 4.41 out of 5 stars.
Hiking options include a short walk to Melincourt Falls, the 5-mile (8 km) 'Turner Trail', and longer loops like the Melincourt Falls – Resolven Canal Basin route. For more details, explore Hiking around Melincourt.
The walk to Melincourt Falls is generally family-friendly, but paths can be uneven and slippery, especially after rain. More challenging routes like the 'Turner Trail' offer a longer experience, taking approximately 2-3 hours.
Yes, a popular family-friendly walk leads to the base of Melincourt Falls. This route is approximately 0.7 miles (1.1 km) and typically takes 15-20 minutes from the car park.
Cycling routes include sections of the Neath Canal towpath for touring, and the B4242 for road cycling. Adventurous cyclists might also consider parts of the 'Heads of the Valleys' cycle route. Find more options in Road Cycling Routes around Melincourt and Cycling around Melincourt.
Joggers can utilize the well-maintained paths within the Melincourt Waterfalls Nature Reserve for shorter runs. The canal towpaths also provide relatively flat and accessible surfaces suitable for jogging. Consult Running Trails around Melincourt for more routes.
The main natural attraction is the Melincourt Waterfall, an 80-foot (24-meter) cascade where the Melincourt Brook drops into a wooded valley. It has been a notable site for over 200 years and was sketched by J.M.W. Turner.
Yes, remnants of a 17th-century blast-furnace and ironworks can be found on the northern boundary of the Melincourt Waterfalls Nature Reserve. These sites offer a glimpse into the area's industrial heritage.
The most popular walk to the base of Melincourt Falls is approximately 0.7 miles (1.1 km) from the car park. This route typically takes about 15-20 minutes to complete.
Melincourt is a popular destination on komoot, with more than 2,300 visitors sharing their experiences. Routes in the region have an average rating of 4.41 out of 5 stars from over 400 ratings.
Komoot offers several guides for Melincourt, including Hiking around Melincourt, Road Cycling Routes around Melincourt, Cycling around Melincourt, Running Trails around Melincourt, and MTB Trails around Melincourt.
For information related to the Melincourt Waterfalls Nature Reserve, the Neath Port Talbot Council is the primary contact. Their main inquiry number is 01639 686868.

