Richard Burton walking trails and centenary events

Though a century has now passed since his birth, the Welsh actor Richard Burton remains a figure of interest and intrigue around the world. 

Many fans remember him for his captivating performances in classic films like My Cousin Rachel and Cleopatra, others for his distinctive gravelly voice, which the actor once claimed was infused with Welsh coal. But for many, it’s Richard’s extraordinary life that ensures the actor’s legacy lives on: a son of a Welsh miner who made it onto the London stage, lit up Hollywood, and formed one of the world’s great power couples alongside the actress Elizabeth Taylor.

To mark the centenary of the great man’s birth, the county of Neath Port Talbot, where the actor was born, has planned a number of activities and events to celebrate Richard’s legacy, from walking trails showcasing his old haunts to hosting dramatic performances in the chapel that hosted his memorial service.

Two curated walking trails web together a number of sites associated with Richard’s formative years. Namely 'The Birthplace Trail', based in Pontrhydyfen, where Richard was born, and 'The Childhood Trail', in the town of Port Talbot, where Richard grew up.

'The Birthplace Trail' forms a loop around the village of Pontrhydyfen, a small village in the Afan Valley in West Wales. Visitors can tackle the stops along the trail in any order they like, but perhaps a good place to start is outside Richard’s first home, where he lived along with his 12(!) other siblings. The humble abode is situated in the shadow of the village’s 200-year-old aqueduct (now a foot bridge), on which the actor was snapped walking with his father during one of his visits home from Hollywood – a photograph often recreated by fans.

From here, visitors follow the main road along to the Miners Arms pub (now the Pontrhydyfen RFC Clubhouse), where Burton’s parents met and married, before looping back along Penhydd Street, where many of Richard’s family lived. The actor would make frequent trips to visit his family here throughout his career, even bringing along his wife Elizabeth Taylor on several occasions (the actress reportedly dubbed the village, 'Pontrhyheaven'). The route also takes in Bethel Chapel, now home to a beautiful cafe, where 800 people gathered to mourn after the actor’s sudden death at the age of 58.

Like 'The Birthplace Trail', 'The Childhood Trail', which takes fans around Richard-associated sites in the town of Port Talbot, doesn’t have a specific order, but a nice starting point is the Taibach Community Education Centre on Margam Road. This former youth club is where Richard starred in some of his earliest productions, honing his craft before his big move to theatres in London’s West End.

Other stops on this route include Richard’s sister’s home on Caradog Street, where the young actor lived during his school years (Richard’s mother died when he was just two years old), and Taibach Library, where a young Richard developed his ferocious appetite for reading and poetry.  A nice spot to end the walk is at the peaceful Talbot Memorial Park, where a flowerbed-flanked monument to Burton features a poem penned by the actor about walking in the hills surrounding the town.

Along with the walking trails, a number of special events are taking place during 2025 to bring Richard’s legacy to life, both within Neath Port Talbot and in other locations around Wales.

Guided walking tours are taking place on scheduled dates throughout 2025. Departing from the Visitor Centre in Afan Forest Park, the walks take in the sites of both the 'Birthplace' and 'Childhood' trails under the guidance of Green Badge Guide Griff Harries, who will share facts and anecdotes from the famed thespian’s upbringing in Wales. The tours are free (though booking in advance is recommended), and last around three hours, with a thirty minute pit-stop for refreshments at the halfway point. The guided tours take place on: 25 April, 30 May, 20 June, 20 September and 18 October. A tour with a sign language interpreter present runs on 22 August. Visit the Richard Burton 100 website to book.

A number of Burton experts are giving talks about the iconic actor and his colourful career on dates throughout the year. Two of these are by the author Angela John, who has written a book focused on the life of Philip Burton, Richard’s teacher and, later, legal guardian, from whom Richard gained his first lessons in acting – as well as his adopted surname. The first talk on Philip Burton, and his role in Richard’s story, is at The New Plaza in Port Talbot on 25 April, while the second is at the The National Library of Wales in Aberystwyth on 14 May.

In June, John J. Johnston, an Egyptologist and former Vice-Chair of the Egypt Exploration Society, is giving an illustrated lecture on Richard Burton’s contribution to the portrayal of the ancient world on film, with the actor having stepped into the sandals of a number of iconic figures from early history, including Alexander the Great and Roman general Marc Antony. The lecture, titled Richard Burton’s Decade in the Ancient World, takes place at The Egypt Centre at Swansea University on 18 June.

Additionally, from 7 July to 14 November, Port Talbot’s Aberafan Shopping Centre plays host to a special exhibition focused on Richard’s life. The exhibition, featuring photographs and letters written by the man himself, tells the story of Richard’s journey from miner’s son to Hollywood A-lister.

There couldn’t be a celebration of Richard Burton’s life without a few dramatic performances thrown in. Over 100 Welsh school children will take part in Halen yn y Gwaed, a Welsh-language play that tells tales from Richard’s life. The performance takes place at Margam Country Park on 28 May and forms part of the 2025 Urdd Eisteddfod.