natural wonder
Pontsticill Reservoir
A long reservoir beneath Pen y Fan served by the Brecon Mountain Railway, with forest trails along its eastern shore.
25 km · about 30 min drive
EuropeUnited KingdomWales
Abercarn
Wales, United Kingdom · Europe
About Abercarn
Abercarn works well as a base: 10 minutes from Risca, 25km from Pontsticill Reservoir.
Abercarn is in Wales, United Kingdom, with about 10,000 people. You drive on the left here. The nearest town is Risca, about 5 km away.
Abercarn is a town and community in Caerphilly County borough, South East Wales which until 1972 existed in the historic county of Monmouthshire. It is 10miles (16km) northwest of Newport on the A467 between Duffryn in Newport and Brynmawr. The town lies in the middle portion of the valley of the Ebbw River and isRead more
situated on the south-eastern flank of the once great coal mining region of Glamorgan and Monmouthshire.
Where to Stay in Abercarn
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Frequently Asked Questions
What is there to see near Abercarn?
Within an hour or so of Abercarn: Pontsticill Reservoir (25 km), Sugar Loaf (Y Fal) (25 km), Skirrid Fawr (Ysgyryd Fawr) (26 km), Talybont Reservoir (27 km).
Are there any good drives near Abercarn?
The nearest famous roads are A466 Wye Valley (Chepstow to Monmouth), Gospel Pass and Cheddar Gorge Road (B3135).
Where is Abercarn?
Abercarn is in Wales, United Kingdom, about 5 km from Risca.
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Quick Information
- Population
- 10,118
- Continent
- Europe
- Country
- United Kingdom
- Region
- Wales
- Timezone
- Europe/London
- Coordinates
- 51.6473, -3.1348
Emergency & Services
Essential numbers in United Kingdom
112 also works. NHS non-emergency medical advice: 111. National Highways breakdown assistance on motorways: 0300 123 5000.
Full driving guide for United KingdomTags
Worth the detour from Abercarn
8 notable places within an hour's drive.
scenic viewpoint
Sugar Loaf (Y Fal)
A 596m conical hill above Abergavenny with a 360-degree view over the Usk valley and the Black Mountains; easy from the car park.
25 km · about 30 min drive
scenic viewpoint
Skirrid Fawr (Ysgyryd Fawr)
A landslipped 486m ridge above Abergavenny whose split profile gave rise to the legend it cracked at the Crucifixion.
26 km · about 30 min drive
natural wonder
Talybont Reservoir
A wooded reservoir in the central Brecon Beacons with a lakeside cycle route on the old Brecon and Merthyr railway.
27 km · about 30 min drive
cafe
Rattlesnake Biker Cafe
A characterful biker cafe in the Brecon Beacons serving as a popular pit stop for riders exploring the stunning Welsh mountain roads.
29 km · about 35 min drive
famous road
A466 Wye Valley (Chepstow to Monmouth)
A wooded riverside road through a designated AONB past Tintern Abbey, gentle and beautiful rather than challenging.
32 km · about 35 min drive
natural wonder
Llangorse Lake (Llyn Syfaddan)
The largest natural lake in south Wales, with a reconstructed crannog island dwelling and easy access from the A40.
32 km · about 35 min drive
national park
Brecon Beacons / Bannau Brycheiniog National Park
South Wales mountain range with flat-topped peaks, cascading waterfalls, deep caves and an International Dark Sky Reserve.
33 km · about 40 min drive
Driving roads near Abercarn
- 25 kmSugar Loaf (Y Fal)A 596m conical hill above Abergavenny with a 360-degree view over the Usk valley and the Black Mountains; easy from the car park.
- 26 kmSkirrid Fawr (Ysgyryd Fawr)A landslipped 486m ridge above Abergavenny whose split profile gave rise to the legend it cracked at the Crucifixion.
- 32 kmA466 Wye Valley (Chepstow to Monmouth)A wooded riverside road through a designated AONB past Tintern Abbey, gentle and beautiful rather than challenging.
- 33 kmDevil's PulpitA narrow limestone pinnacle perched above the Wye Valley near Tintern Abbey, offering a dizzying view down through the forest canopy.
- 34 kmPen y FanThe highest peak in southern Britain at 886 metres, the flat-topped summit of the Brecon Beacons offering sweeping views across Wales.
- 34 kmCorn DuPen y Fan's twin summit at 873m, with a Bronze Age cairn and the finest view over the Beacons' north escarpment.
Driving in United Kingdom
- Drives on
- the left
- Petrol
- ~€1.73/litre
- Motorway tolls
- None
When to drive here
April to October
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