Crynant (Creunant) village lies at the bottom of the Dulais valley. It grew out of three separate farms, which merged into a single village where sheep and cattle farming is still part of the economy. The surrounding hillsides are home to thousands of sheep and herds of meat cattle. The village now has a small industrial estate on what was originally part of the large Treforgan colliery site and there are several shops and three pubs in the village.  

Just outside the village on the road to Neath is the Cefn Coed Colliery Museum named after the mine which once occupied the site. This is a popular attraction where for a modest charge visitors can gain a glimpse of life in the mines and see the massive winding gear that lowered the "cage" full of miners deep into the ground.

The village is on what was once known as St Illtyd's way, an ancient route through Neath to Southwest Wales. Gelli Galed, an old ruined 17th century farmhouse on a ridge of Marchywell mountain overlooking the village, is thought to have once been a chapel where monks would rest and pray on their way to St David's in Pembrokeshire.  It was certainly used as a chapel by local people during the 18th century and it has a secret chamber thought to have been used for hiding fugitives during turbulent times.  

The river Dulais, once known locally as the Black river due to pollution by coal dust from the local mines, is now a lovely clear stream, which feeds local trout fishing lakes. At Maes Mawr the slaughter house used to stain the river red with blood and the local rugby team's emblem with its red wavy lines at the top of the Crynant badge is said to reflect the days when the river was often blood stained.