RESOLVEN / VALE OF NEATH, WALES, UK (GREAT BRITAIN)

Melincourt Falls (Sgwd Rhyd Yr Hesg in Welsh) is one of the unsung waterfalls in an area of South Wales known as Waterfall Country.

Melincourt Falls is an 80 feet (24 m) high waterfall on Melin Court Brook, a left-bank tributary of the River Neath / Afon Nedd, in the county borough of Neath Port Talbot, South Wales. It’s in a 13 acre / 5 hectare nature reserve managed by the Wildlife Trust of South and West Wales.

History

The falls have been drawing visitors for at least two centuries – they are certainly known to have inspired J. M. W. Turner to paint them in 1794.

It can be accessed by the public footpath from the B4434 Resolven to Tonna Road. The entrance to the path is on the opposite side of the road from the public car park.

On the northern boundary of the reserve the remains of a blast-furnace and iron works can be found. Built on the 17th Century, the works were opened in 1708 for 100 years of iron production. The great overshot water wheel was powered by water carried in a channel from above the falls.