It is bordered by the village of Wyndham to the south and by the Bwlch y Clawdd mountain to the north.

As with the rest of the Ogmore Valley, it was mainly a farming community up until the middle of the 19th century when coal mining became widespread across South Wales.

[citation needed] The last coal mine (Wyndham/Western Colliery) closed in 1983, resulting in high unemployment at that time.

[1] Part of the former colliery site is home to Aberfields (known locally as The Planka), which hosts a number of community sports and leisure activities.

Prior to 1996, Nantymoel was a ward to Ogwr Borough Council, electing one councillor.