Richard Burton Easy Walker Guided Tour

Step into the footsteps of Richard Burton and explore the landscapes that shaped his life and career. This fascinating guided tour will take you through key locations connected to the legendary Welsh actor and offer insights to his life in Neath Port Talbot. This tour will be a slightly slower pace than the normal tour without missing any of the stops – Extra time will be spent at the stops with seating where possible – A more detailed explanation of what to expect can be found at the bottom of this page.

 

Tour Dates: 18^th of July.

Depart time and location: Please meet us at Afan Forest Car Park (SA13 3HG) at 10:50am. Tour bus will leave promptly at 11am and will return to the car park after the tour is complete. Our tour guide Griff Harries will be waiting for you by the coach in the car park. Parking for the day will cost £2.75.

Duration: 4-hour tour.

 Cost: Tour(s) are free to attend.

 

The tour will start on the Birthplace Trail, exploring the former mining village of Pontrhydyfen where Richard Burton was born and spent his early years. Make sure to pack your camera as the Valley views are simply breathtaking! The tour will then proceed to Taibach on the Childhood Trail where you can discover the places that fuelled his passion for acting and discover the community where he grew up which also inspired his love for literature.

Throughout the journey, our expert guide will bring Richard Burton’s story to life, sharing interesting facts and anecdotes about his upbringing. Midway through the tour there will be a relaxing 30 minute comfort break, the perfect tour pitstop to enjoy a coffee and slice of delicious cake.

The guided tour will take roughly 4 hours and will require a some physical activity to walk the gentle trails. Please wear suitable footwear and dress for the weather.

 

Easy Walker tour information. 

Once the bus arrives at the first location there will be a very short uphill walk from the main road to the car park of Pontrhydyfen Rugby Club (location of the Richard Burton Mural)

After the first stop there will be a 0.3 mile walk which includes a moderate incline at the start over the famous aqueduct to Bethel Chapel for a 40 minute stop and the chance to grab a coffee and cake. There are also toilet facilities here if needed. The entrance to the café has 5 steps.

The coach will then collect you from the Chapel and take you into Port Talbot for the next leg of the tour. There will be an option here to stay on the coach or take a short walk to visit the Plaza café and the transport hub to see the poem benches. The Plaza Café also have toilets if needed.

The coach will then take you into Taibach to stop at the community centre followed by a visit to the house where Richard grew up.

There will then be a 0.3 mile gentle downhill walk to the next stop on the tour before getting back on the coach which will take you to the last location on the tour at Taibach memorial park. There will be an option to walk into the park and spend some time here looking at the Richard Burton wording on a sign within the park.

The coach will then return the group to the Afan Forest Park Car Park.

Total Expected walking distance: 2200 meters