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Swansea Ramblers Walk


Neath Canal and Gnoll Park

A 6.5 mile Saturday walk

24th February 2024

Leader: Lucy Davies




Swansea Ramblers visited Neath and walked along the canal to the Lock Cottage.

We then ascended through Cytgoed to Mosshouse Reservoir.   There were views along the way down the Neath Valley and in the distance we could see Mumbles.

After lunch at the reservoir, we made our way to Gnoll Park Visitor Centre then around the ruins of the old mansion.   Returning via Victoria Gardens, some of us then went for a post-walk social in Jersey Marine.

The weather stayed dry and we had a great day out.   



Swansea Ramblers offer a range of walks for most abilities.

Try an easy walk of 2-3 hours or our longer strenuous mountain walks for the experienced walker.

Maybe you'd like to explore walking for the first time with a friendly group of people?
- Come with Swansea Ramblers!

If you'd like to try a Swansea walk then do come along and find out what the great outdoors is all about.

It won't cost you anything to come along and see if walking is for you.
You'll be very welcome to join us for three free walks.

If you enjoy walking with us and want to come on even more of our walks, just become a member.

When you join us for a Swansea Walk, ask us about the other walks and social events we do.






Photographs



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Leader Lucy Davies


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We started in Neath and walked north on the canal


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St Illtyd's Church close to the canal bank


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Heading north on Neath Canal


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Some sort of activity across the canal


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But apart from the Goats, we found the rest were dummies!


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Approaching the canal lock


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Here we will cross and leave the canal


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Time to start walking uphill


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Which we'll take slowly


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On the horizon is the Ivy Tower


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From this height, we can look across Neath Valley to Drumau Mountain


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And Mumbles!


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We passed some curious Chickens


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Then reached the road


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Followed the road for a few hundred yards


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Which brought us to the Mosshouse Reservoir


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Where we had a lunch stop


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We walked around the reservoir


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And found some waterfalls


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Then began the descent to the Gnoll Park Visitor Centre


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This viewpoint used to be hidden in forestry until Ash die-back


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Down we go


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Past a small pond


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Then after the visitor centre, we walked around the main lake


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And past the bottom of the cascade


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A sunny day when the forecast said rain


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The mansion was demolished but the basements remain!


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Descending to leave the park


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On the return, we walked through Victoria Gardens


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And past the bandstand


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The iconic Neath Clock Tower


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Then some of us stopped off at The Towers in Jersey Marine for the post-walk social





Ordnance Survey map of the route walked
Resizable and draggable
(Can be reset to original dimensions by refreshing the page)
Green Swansea Ramblers logo markers where present can be clicked to provide more information



All photographs Copyright  Andrew Morgan 2024
All rights reserved



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