Sychryd Waterfalls (Boiling Pool (Pwll Berw))

The walk up Sychryd Valley rewards you with a proper waterfall experience - not some trickle behind a gift shop, but the real thing. The falls crash down over dark rock into a pool so clear you can see straight through it, and on a decent day the water's actually inviting enough for a swim. The locals call it Pwll Berw, the Boiling Pool, though it's not actually boiling - the name comes from how the water churns when it's full after rain.

This is walker territory, no question. The path from Neath winds through the valley and takes a decent hour to reach the falls properly, so you need to be reasonably fit and have proper boots. It's free, which is brilliant, but don't come expecting crowds or facilities - there's nothing but the water and the rocks.

Families with younger kids will find it a slog, to be honest. Teenagers who fancy a swim and don't mind a proper walk? They'll love it. History buffs get less from Sychryd itself, but you're close enough to Neath - proper industrial heritage town - to make a day of it. If you're camping at Four Falls Glamping just 2.2 miles away or Willow Springs a bit further out, this is an excellent half-day walk that justifies the location. Go early, bring a towel if you're brave enough, and definitely don't attempt it in heavy rain when the path gets sketchy.