Sirhowy Heritage Trail

Stand in the footsteps of photographers from the past to explore Upper Sirhowy.

Stand in the footsteps of photographers from the past. The Sirhowy Heritage Trail App allows you to explore old images of the Upper Sirhowy and see how it used to look when coal trains rumbled along this cycle trail. Blend these old photographs with today's landscape and see just how much it has changed since the collieries disappeared.

The Upper Sirhowy Valley in Caerphilly, South Wales is steeped in industrial history. Coal mining was at the heart of this industry and the pits that lined the River Sirhowy were linked by a tram road. The Sirhowy Tramway, which opened in the late 18th century, was one of the earliest railways of its kind and was responsible for the growth of Newport as a major coal port, and ultimately, a city. The ‘black gold’ and iron from this region powered the Industrial Revolution.