Garw Valley
Attractions include the Garw Valley Railway, a four and half mile narrow gauge steam railway, which volunteers began re-laying in 2016. Regular passenger rail services had previously ceased in the valley in 1953, though occasional "enthusiasts' trains" used the line in 1996 and 1997.
Governance
At the local level, Garw Valley elects 13 community councillors to Garw Valley Community Council, from the four wards of Bettws, Llangeinor, Pontycymmer and Blaengarw.
At the county level, until 2022 the community was covered by four electoral wards, of Blaengarw, Pontycymmer, Llangeinor and Bettws, each electing one county councillor to Bridgend County Borough Council. Following a boundary review, the four wards were combined to form a new Garw Valley ward, electing three county borough councillors.