I have just added this to the map of places to fly your drone at Drone Scene:
Tucked away in the hills above Margam, Brombil Reservoir is a striking example of industrial infrastructure evolving into a natural landmark. Originally constructed in the early 20th century, the reservoir was designed to supply water to the burgeoning heavy industries of Port Talbot, specifically it’s massive steelworks (seen towards the horizon in some of the shots beyond the valley)
It represents a vital era when South Wales was the engine room of the British Empire, requiring sophisticated water management systems to fuel its furnaces.
The turquoise colour of the water visible in the photos capture the reservoir’s most famous trait: its vibrant, almost tropical blue-green water. This colour isn’t natural and is caused by the refraction of light against the white calcium carbonate (limestone) lining or mineral deposits from the surrounding colliery waste, creating a stark, beautiful contrast with the rugged Welsh hills.
You can clearly see the valley’s industrial scars slowly being reclaimed by nature in the shot’s which show the reservoir framed by the steep, dramatic slopes of the valley, and how the site has transitioned from a strictly functional utility to a “reclaimed” wilderness. The crumbling concrete edges and the heavy stone masonry are leftovers of it’s industrial past, now being slowly softened by the encroaching ferns and gorse.
In the wide-angle panoramic shots, the reservoir appears like a jewel in the landscape. It sits at a strategic elevation, demonstrating how Victorian and Edwardian engineers utilized gravity to transport water down to the steelworks on the coastal plain below.
Today, Brombil is no longer operational, having been decommissioned as more modern supply systems took over.
There are a number of different TOAL points at the site which I’ve marked, but it’s the one at the higher elevation that gives the wider contextual view. The best place to park is before the flyover which takes you back under the M4
The originator declared that this location was not inside a Flight Restriction Zone at the time of being flown on 18/04/2026. It remains the responsibility of any pilot to check for any changes before flying at the same location. Landowner permission may be required before taking off.
