Port Talbot

The steel industry's legacy runs deep through this Welsh industrial town, where the massive Tata steelworks dominates the skyline like a monument to heavy industry. Port Talbot sits on Swansea Bay's eastern edge, a working town that's refreshingly honest about its industrial heritage rather than trying to pretty it up for tourists.

Beyond the works, the landscape opens up dramatically. Mynydd Pen-y-cae and Mynydd Tyle-Coch rise to the north, offering proper hiking territory with views across the Bristol Channel on clear days. The hills here are part of the same upland system that feeds into the Brecon Beacons, making this an unexpectedly good base for mountain walking.

Water features prominently too. Lluest-Wen Reservoir provides a peaceful contrast to the town's industrial buzz, while Llyn Fach sits tucked away in the hills above. For something more active, Spring Valley Watersports centre offers kayaking and sailing lessons.

The cultural side is quietly proud - there's even a Statue of Max Boyce celebrating the beloved Welsh entertainer and rugby commentator. St John Kemble RC Church and Addoldy Welsh Independent Chapel represent the town's religious heritage, while Glynneath Library serves the local community.

Getting here is straightforward enough. The M4 runs right past, and several train stations including Maesteg provide rail links to Cardiff and beyond. From holiday parks in the area, you're perfectly placed for day trips to both the Brecon Beacons and the Gower Peninsula - two of Wales' most celebrated landscapes. Port Talbot makes an honest, unpretentious base for exploring this corner of south Wales.