NOTICE OF WEBSITE CLOSURE - THIS SITE IS MIGRATING TO NEW ADDRESS WWW.SEARAT.ME.UK DURING SEPTEMBER 08

Welcome to our family website, named 'Y Dolydd' after the Welsh name for the part of the village of Tonna where we live, in the beautiful Vale of Neath in South Wales, close to the Brecon Beacons national park, Gower Peninsula and Afan Forest Park - one of the Top Ten mountain biking destinations in the world. We are Steve, Anne and our children Rhys, Jordan and Rebekah.

The Neath Valley in its present form was carved out of ancient sandstone, limestone and coal deposits by river and glaciers then farmed, quarried and mined by people from many Nations - Ancient Britons, the Welsh who displaced them, then Romans, Saxons, Normans and in recent centuries by an influx of working men and women from across Wales, England, Ireland and mainland Europe. This legacy has given our valley a rich archaeological, cultural and industrial heritage - the area was home to some of the earliest iron and steel making at the dawn of the industrial revolution. The scars left by early heavy industry are healing and although manufacturing remains an important local employer, the area is returning to being one of outstanding natural beauty, attracting many visitors who enjoy walking, horse-riding and cycling around the hills or water sports on our rivers, lakes and coast. Wind-turbines grace mountain tops that once towered over collieries, showing how our area still provides energy to the nation.

Of course the area wouldn't be so green if wasn't one of the wettest places in Europe! We do have sunshine but we gets lots of rain too, fresh from the Atlantic. If you're visiting outside of the summer months, bring waterproofs and wellies.

Neath and Port Talbot have produced great talents in the performing arts including Richard Burton, Anthony Hopkins, Stanley Baker and Ray Milland (actors); Katherine Jenkins , Rebecca Evans, Ivor Emmanuel (music), and Max Boyce (folk music/comedian). In sport Neath has a proud Rugby Union tradition.

If you're visiting and need to know where Tonna is have a look at the 'Contact' page.

Steve 2008

Looking for the recumbent cycles section? - click this text to get there.