Parc Penallta in Caerphilly is home to Sultan the Pit Pony, a 200-metre long/15-metre high sculpture of a joyous pony leaping through the hills! It was designed by Welsh artist Mick Petts, partly to act as a wind barrier to buffer the strong winds from affecting the park. They used 60,000 tons of coal shale, dirt and stone to build this local legend. Impressively, Sultan is one of the largest figurative Earth sculptures in the UK. He’s named after a real horse – a beloved pit pony called Sultan from the local Penallta Colliery. That’s the aim of this sculpture, to honour the mine’s equine workers who lived and worked tirelessly underground in the coal pits. There are viewpoints nearby if you wish to see Sultan from a higher perspective.
Where can I find Sultan the Pit Pony?
Parc Penallta is in western outskirts of Ystrad Mynach. Follow the signs at the Tredomen roundabout on the A472. The main entrance and car park are located midway between Ystrad Mynach and Gelligaer on Penalltau Road. It’s about a 10-minute walk from the centre of Ystrad Mynach.
- Entry: Free
- Parc Penallta is open from 7am-7pm
