“...pastel-coloured buildings with pleasant views of
                                                        the wooded hillsides above...“

Like other valley communities, Mountain Ash owes its existence to the coal boom of the nineteenth century, becoming a sizeable town within a very short period of time. The shops are centred on Oxford Street, which runs parallel to the Cynon at the foot of a steep slope densely chequered with mid-nineteenth century terraced houses. Well-stocked with traditional butchers, bakers and greengrocers as well as Banks, travel agents and chemists, recent renovation has made the Street an attractive blend of pastel-coloured buildings with pleasant views of the wooded hillsides above the town. Halfway along the street is a statue of the legendary runner Guto Nyth Brân, who is buried in the churchyard of Llanwonno just over the mountain. He is also commemorated on New Year’s Eve by the Nos Galan Races which are held in the streets of Mountain Ash after runners have completed the three miles from Guto’s grave by the light of flaring torches. Indoor recreation in Mountain Ash is centred around the international standard Indoor Bowling Centre. Across the river from the bustle of Oxford Street is an area of parkland and great scenic beauty. In a small garden in front of St Margaret’s Church is a mosaic pavement and memorial to the coal mines of the area, A short walk through the woods will bring you to the Park, which is home to Mountain Ash Rugby Club, one of the oldest in Wales known locally as the Old Firm; whilst higher up are the exquisitely preserved cottages of Cwmpennar, a tiny settlement hidden away from industry and town where time has stood still.

Yr un fath â chymunedau eraill y cymoedd, tyfu yn sgîl llewyrch y diwydiant mwyngloddio yn y 19eg ganrif wnaeth Aberpennar, hithau, gan  dyfu’n dref sylweddol cyn pen fawr o dro.Oxford Street yw canolbwynt y siopau yn Aberpennar, stryd sy’n rhedeg yn gyfochrog ag Afon Cynon wrth droed llechwedd serth, yn frith o dai teras canol y bedwaredd ganrif ar bymtheg. Mae cyflenwad hael o siopau cig, poptai a siopau llysiau traddodiadol, yn ogystal â banciau, asiantau teithio a fferyllwyr yma a chanlyniad gwaith adnewyddu’n ddiweddar yw fod Oxford Street yn gasgliad o adeiladau mewn lliwiau golau sy’n ymdoddi’n ddeniadol i olygfeydd y llethrau serth uwchlaw’r dref. Hanner ffordd ar hyd Oxford Street mae cerflun i goffáu’r rhedwr enwog, Guto Nyth Brân, a gafodd ei gladdu ym mynwent Llanwynno sy ychydig dros gopa'r mynydd. Rydyn ni’n cofio Guto bob Nos Galan trwy gynnal rasys trwy strydoedd Aberpennar unwaith bod rhedwr dethol wedi rhedeg y tair milltir o lan bedd Guto dan olau’r dorch y bydd yn ei dal uwch ei ysgwydd. Canolfan Bowlio Dan Do’r dref ydy canolbwynt gweithgareddau hamdden Aberpennar. Mae ynddi hi neuadd fowlio 8 lôn o safon rhyngwladol ac mae hi’n dal cysylltiad â chlybiau bowlio eraill ledled y byd. Yn ogystal â hynny, mae yma arlwy o fwyd da mewn awyrgylch hamddenol, braf. Ochr draw i’r afon, o gyrraedd prysurdeb Oxford Street, mae llecyn o barc a golygfeydd hyfryd. O flaen Eglwys y Santes Fererid mae gardd fechan ac ynddi balmant mosaïg a chofeb i byllau glo’r ardal ac arni’r arysgrif” Ewch am dro byr drwy’r coed a thoc y dewchchi i’r parc, cartref Clwb Rygbi Aberpennar, un o’r hyna yng Nghymru ac yn mynd dan yr enw ‘Yr Hen Ffyrm’. Yn uwch i fyny ar ochrau’r llethrau mae bythynnod cadwedig, cain Cwmpennar, pentrefan bychan, o olwg byd diwydiant a’r dref, lle mae amser wedi peidio â symud.