We are so fortunate to have the beautiful Afan Forset on our doorstep. Just a few minutes down the hill from our home and we can nip onto the wonderful Sustrans network and cycle for miles and miles…..well as far as we can physically manage. Adventure Husband has always made the most of the mountain bike trails and Boy1 is starting to get more adventurous with his off-roading, but as a family we tend to walk rather than cycle.
The weather was so glorious last weekend, we decided that we needed to make the most of the day – take a picnic and allow ourselves the day off from the chores that take over day to day life ……
The route takes you from Cwmafan along the Richard Burton Trail and into Afan Forest Park.

Boy2 has just jumped up to the next size mountain bike (handed down from Boy1) and he did really well considering this was the first time riding it!

We stopped for a picnic ….

…. and cycled up to the Afan Forest Centre, where the South Wales Miners Museum is located and enjoyed a coffee (or ice-cream if you are 11 yrs and 2 months).


On our way back, we cycled through Pontrhydyfen, where Richard Burton was born.

You can almost see the house where Richard Burton was born in this one …

Actually, I think that is the chimney, bottom right.

And finally, the steel sculptures of Richard Burton, Dick Wagstaff (the retired ranger of Afan Forest Park) and another famous local welshman…..

I’ll leave you to guess the one in the middle…clues are … 1. He is someone’s uncle, and 2. He is funny (well I think so).