At its northern end the Neath Canal parts company with its noisy neighbour, the busy A465 'Heads of the Valleys' road, and the atmosphere becomes altogether more peaceful. This stretch is just before Ysgwrfa, lock number 14, beyond which the B4242 road between Glyn Neath and Aberdulais has been built across the canal bed, meaning that navigation to Glyn Neath - should it ever be considered - would be difficult to achieve.