Ystrad & Llwynypia

Ystrad and Llwynypia sit in the Rhondda Fawr valley in Rhondda Cynon Taf, arranged along the River Rhondda with terraces and streets running parallel to the valley floor. Llwynypia railway station is on the Rhondda Line, providing rail links toward Pontypridd and Cardiff, and local bus routes connect the settlements to neighbouring communities. The valley layout and compact main streets reflect the area’s development during the 19th and early 20th century coal boom.

The landscape still shows traces of that industrial past: spoil tips, stone-built chapels, and former miners’ institute buildings close to the railway corridor. Local facilities include community halls, primary schools and small shops serving residents; regular events and club meetings continue to use the old institute and social club spaces. Paths follow the river and climb the surrounding slopes, offering practical walking access rather than long-distance trails, and the railway remains a clear spine for travel and day-to-day links to the rest of Rhondda Cynon Taf.