The Dramatic Heart of Wales tourism brand has launched a new 'spooky itinerary' for Halloween, offering a self-guided two-day break through Neath Port Talbot's haunted sites, including Margam Castle and Neath Abbey.
The region, described as the 'dramatic heart of Wales', combines industrial heritage with natural landscapes and a coastal-to-valleys geography. Port Talbot and the Afan Valley were recently shortlisted to be officially named the UK's first Town of Culture.
Many travellers pass through the area on the M4 en route to destinations such as Tenby and Carmarthen, but the region offers waterfalls, a country park, biking trails and a sandy beach. Port Talbot is known as a star factory, producing talents such as Richard Burton and Michael Sheen, and as an industrial town famous for its steelworks. On September 30, 2024, primary steelmaking ended at the site after 100 years, a significant setback for the area.
Haunted Histories itinerary
The Haunted Histories itinerary is one of six new self-guided, two-day short breaks introduced by the Dramatic Heart of Wales brand. It takes visitors "deep into the darker side of the Dramatic Heart of Wales, from Margam Abbey Church and its centuries of history to spooky stories around Margam Castle and Neath Abbey."
The itinerary recommends Ivy Cottage, a holiday cottage in Margam Country Park, as accommodation. Set within 1,000 acres of parkland, the cottage has three bedrooms, a fully equipped kitchen, a dining area, and a lounge with a wood burner, with private gated access to the park.
Margam Castle and its ghostly legends
Margam Castle, part of the 1,000-acre Margam Country Park estate, is free to enter, unlike many other Welsh castles such as Cardiff and Caerphilly. The Entrance Hallway and Staircase Hall are open to the public, and ticketed ghost-hunting events take place during the spooky season.
The castle's most infamous spirit is allegedly Robert Scott, a gamekeeper murdered on the estate. His presence is said to rage through the castle, with reports of him ascending the Gothic staircase. Security guards report unsettling sounds, hurried footsteps and low, chattering voices echoing through the empty halls after nightfall.
Visitors can also attend Margam's Scream Time event, an adults-only experience featuring characters such as Rotten Rodney and axeman Jack, with jump scares, live performances and interactive games. Scream Time runs from October 15 to November 1.
Historic abbey and other spooky sites
Margam Country Park also contains Margam Abbey, founded in 1147 as a Cistercian monastery until its dissolution in 1536. The abbey now serves as a parish church. The nearby Margam Stones Museum houses a collection of nearly 30 inscribed stones and crosses, some dating from sixth-century Wales.
For more ghost stories, visitors can detour into Neath town centre, where the Gywn Hall Cinema, a Victorian theatre that burnt down years ago, is said to have spooky goings-on reported by staff. Dining options include Sand Rabbit Bar & Grill in Aberavon, near the three-mile stretch of Aberavon Beach, and Bella Ciao, a family-run Italian restaurant on Forge Road in Port Talbot.
