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.
18 km · about 20 min drive
EuropeUnited KingdomWales
Pontypool
Wales, United Kingdom · Europe
About Pontypool
Pontypool works well as a base: 10 minutes from Cwmbran, 25km from A466 Wye Valley (Chepstow to Monmouth).
Pontypool is in Wales, United Kingdom, with about 36,000 people. You drive on the left here. The nearest town is Cwmbran, about 5 km away.
Pontypool (Welsh: Pont-y-pŵl [ˌpɔntəˈpuːl]) is a town and the administrative centre of the county borough of Torfaen, within the historic boundaries of Monmouthshire in South Wales. As of 2021, it has a population of 29,062.
Where to Stay in Pontypool
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Frequently Asked Questions
What is there to see near Pontypool?
Within an hour or so of Pontypool: Sugar Loaf (Y Fal) (18 km), Skirrid Fawr (Ysgyryd Fawr) (18 km), A466 Wye Valley (Chepstow to Monmouth) (25 km), Devil's Pulpit (26 km).
Are there any good drives near Pontypool?
The nearest famous roads are A466 Wye Valley (Chepstow to Monmouth), Gospel Pass and Cheddar Gorge Road (B3135).
Where is Pontypool?
Pontypool is in Wales, United Kingdom, about 5 km from Cwmbran.
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Quick Information
- Population
- 35,686
- Continent
- Europe
- Country
- United Kingdom
- Region
- Wales
- Timezone
- Europe/London
- Coordinates
- 51.7011, -3.0444
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 Pontypool
8 notable places within an hour's 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.
18 km · about 20 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.
25 km · about 30 min drive
scenic viewpoint
Devil's Pulpit
A narrow limestone pinnacle perched above the Wye Valley near Tintern Abbey, offering a dizzying view down through the forest canopy.
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.
26 km · about 30 min drive
natural wonder
Pontsticill Reservoir
A long reservoir beneath Pen y Fan served by the Brecon Mountain Railway, with forest trails along its eastern shore.
26 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
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.
29 km · about 35 min drive
Driving roads near Pontypool
- 18 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.
- 18 kmSkirrid Fawr (Ysgyryd Fawr)A landslipped 486m ridge above Abergavenny whose split profile gave rise to the legend it cracked at the Crucifixion.
- 25 kmA466 Wye Valley (Chepstow to Monmouth)A wooded riverside road through a designated AONB past Tintern Abbey, gentle and beautiful rather than challenging.
- 26 kmDevil's PulpitA narrow limestone pinnacle perched above the Wye Valley near Tintern Abbey, offering a dizzying view down through the forest canopy.
- 30 kmWaun FachThe highest point of the Black Mountains at 811m, a broad peaty summit above the Vale of Ewyas and the Gospel Pass.
- 32 kmSymonds Yat RockA famous viewpoint 504 feet above the River Wye, where peregrine falcons nest and the river performs a dramatic horseshoe bend.
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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