Visit Aberfan Places

Welcome to Visit Aberfan Places
The Walkfo guide to things to do & explore in Aberfan

  

Aberfan Places Overview: History, Culture & Facts about Aberfan

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Aberfan history

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Aberfan consisted of two cottages and an inn frequented by local farmers and bargemen until 23 August 1869, when John Nixon and his partners started the Merthyr Vale Colliery. Between 1952 and 1965, with mountains denuded there was severe flooding in the Pantglas area of Aberfan on at least 11 occasions.

Aberfan disaster, 1966

Millions of cubic metres of excavated mining debris from the colliery were deposited on the side of Mynydd Merthyr, directly above the village of Aberfan on the opposite side of the valley. Huge piles, or “tips”, of loose rock and mining spoil had been built up over a layer of highly porous sandstone that contained numerous underground springs. A subsidence of about 3–6 metres occurred on the morning of Friday, 21 October 1966, after several days of heavy rain, a subsidence occurred. At 9:15 a.m. more than 150,000 cubic meters of water-saturated debris broke away and flowed downhill at high speed.

Aberfan geography / climate

Aberfan is situated toward the bottom of the western valley slope of the river River Taff, on the eastern slope of Mynydd Merthyr hill. The Taff runs north-to-south through the village; at the upper side of the settlement, a disused canal bed and a railway embankment run parallel to the river.

You can visit Aberfan places with Walkfo Aberfan to hear history at Aberfan’s places whilst walking around using the free digital tour app. Walkfo Aberfan has 41 places to visit in our interactive Aberfan map, with amazing history, culture & travel facts you can explore the same way you would at a museum or art gallery with information audio headset. With Walkfo, you can travel by foot, bike or bus throughout Aberfan, being in the moment, without digital distraction or limits to a specific walking route. Our historic audio walks, National Trust interactive audio experiences, digital tour guides for English Heritage locations are available at Aberfan places, with a AI tour guide to help you get the best from a visit to Aberfan & the surrounding areas.

“Curated content for millions of locations across the UK, with 41 audio facts unique to Aberfan places in an interactive Aberfan map you can explore.”

Walkfo: Visit Aberfan Places Map
41 tourist, history, culture & geography spots

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Aberfan historic spots	Aberfan tourist destinations	Aberfan plaques	Aberfan geographic features
Walkfo Aberfan tourism map key: places to see & visit like National Trust sites, Blue Plaques, English Heritage locations & top tourist destinations in Aberfan

  

Best Aberfan places to visit

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Aberfan has places to explore by foot, bike or bus. Below are a selection of the varied Aberfan’s destinations you can visit with additional content available at the Walkfo Aberfan’s information audio spots:

Troed-y-rhiw Troed-y-rhiw is a large community village in Merthyr Tydfil, Wales. Its population at the 2011 census was 5,296.

Mynydd Cilfach-yr-encil Mynydd Cilfach-yr-encil is the high point of the ridge of high ground between Taff Vale and Cwm Bargod in the Valleys region of South Wales. It lies within the unitary area of Merthyr Tydfil.

Mynydd Merthyr Mynydd Merthyr is a broad ridge of high ground between Taff Vale (Welsh Cwm Taf) and the Cwm Cynon in the Valleys region of South Wales. It forms the boundary between the unitary authorities of Rhondda Cynon Taff to the west and Merthyrs Tydfil to the east. The high point of 493m is at Mynyd Gethin (OS grid reference SO 044025) The ridge includes subsidiary summits of Twyn Brynbychan and Twyn Sych.

Mountain Ash General Hospital Mountain Ash General Hospital (Welsh: Ysbyty Cyffredinol Mountain Ash) was a health facility on Duffryn Road, Mountain Ash, Rhondda Cynon Taf. It was managed by the Cwm Taf Morgannwg University Health Board.

Ysbyty Cwm Cynon Ysbyty Cwm Cynon (English: Cynon Valley Hospital) is a health facility on New Road, Mountain Ash, Rhondda Cynon Taf. It is managed by the Cwm Taf Morgannwg University Health Board.

Aberfan Aberfan (Welsh pronunciation: [ˌabɛrˈvan] is a former coal mining village in the Taff Valley. It became known for the Aberfan disaster, when a colliery spoil tip collapsed into homes and a school, killing 116 children and 28 adults.

Penrhiwceiber Rangers F.C. Penrhiwceiber Rangers F.C play in the Ardal Leagues South West. The Welsh club were formed in 1961.

Visit Aberfan plaques