Walks around
Llanwonno
Left, St Gwynno's Church and surrounding
countryside. Right, waterfall.
Three walks around Llanwonno between the Rhondda and Cynon Valleys. Walk A
is 3.7 miles, B is 7.5 and C is 3.4 miles but you can link C to A or B to make
them longer. Most of the walking is at or above 1,000 feet but the going is good.
Whilst there are plantations of conifers there are also many deciduous trees.
Fine views, pleasant countryside, a variety of wildlife and historical
connections make for a good day's walking. Refreshments near the start at the
Brynffynon Hotel, but no facilities en route.
Explorer Map 166 - ST 03338/95943 is the start point - a car park set in
woodland. Easiest approach by car is probably via Penrhiwceiber which is also
the nearest railway station - about 2 miles from the start.
For a map to get to the start click here.
This map also covers walks A and C and most of B.
Walk A
A short, fairly level walk
of 3.7 miles on good
surfaces which includes a church, reservoir and waterfall. The reservoir and
waterfall are good stopping places.
The
grave of Griffith Morgan or Guto Nyth Bran
From the car park, turn left along the road passing the Brynffynon pub on
left and church on right. At a road junction turn right along the road. On the
right is the entrance to St Gwynno's church with the gravestone of
Guto Nyth Bran just
to the right of the porch. After
a few hundred yards turn right off the road along a bridleway signposted
Daerwynno and past a green metal barrier, descending through beech trees. (ST 02688/95741).
After about 7 minutes turn right down a winding track when you see a
marker post pointing to Daerwynno. Go through the metal kissing gate to
enter the Daerwynno centre and head to the right of the main building, leaving
the centre by another kissing gate. Turn left along the main track for about
half a mile where the track meets a T junction with stone pillar on right. (32
mins, 1.52 miles, ST 02266/97217).
The
Clydach Reservoir
Turn right along another track.
Ignore a track descending to the left. After a while you will get glimpses of
the Clydach reservoir through the trees on your left. As you get level with the
far end of the reservoir you can take some wide steps to the left which gives
access to the reservoir area. (42 mins, 2.06 miles). Continue along the track
passing a low marker post on left with blue, red and green arrows and a track
off to the right. Keep ahead a hundred yards to reach another low marker post
this time following the green arrow pointing to the left which brings you via
some steps to the Pistyll Goleu waterfall. (49 mins, 2.42 miles).
The
Waterfall
Return
back along the track to the previous low marker post, now turning left to follow
the track. Stay on the track as it curves right, where a narrow grassy path goes
straight ahead. Pass through green barriers. The track curves left with marker
post on right and emerges on the main track opposite the Daerwynno centre. (1 hr
5 mins, 3.08 miles). Turn left along the track following the red arrow direction
which brings you back to the car park. (1 hr 18 mins, 3.74 miles).
See
route map below
Walk B
Adder basking on a footpath
A longer walk
of 7.5 miles covering the main features on the short walk
- church, waterfall and reservoir but heading further into the forest. Good,
firm walking and mostly level. After heavy rain the stream crossing needs care.
Good stopping places are the Quarry viewpoint, waterfall and reservoir.
From the car park, turn left along the road passing the Brynffynon pub on
left and church on right. At a road junction turn right along the road. On the
right is the entrance to St Gwynno's church with the gravestone of
Guto Nyth Bran just
to the right of the porch. After
a few hundred yards turn right off the road along a bridleway signposted
Daerwynno and past a green metal barrier. (ST 02688/95741). Ignore a main track
to the right signposted Daerwynno and then another
main track off to the left. Later, where the main track curves to the right keep
ahead along a narrow path. This subsequently curves right to meet a main track -
head left along this track. The track meets a quarry on the right and just
beyond this is a viewpoint. (2.14 miles, 43 mins, ST
01504/97913.)
View from the Quarry
Take the broad track to the right just past the quarry and then ignore the
first track to the right. At a junction of tracks with power lines clearly
visible overhead, take the right fork which heads uphill following the direction
of the power lines. (ST 01635/98093). Where you meet another track, turn right along
it, still following the power lines. After 100 yards at a major junction where
many of the trees have been felled and which is marked by a stone pillar, turn
right for another 100 yards and then left along a broad track, initially
parallel with the power lines which are now over to your left. At a T junction (ST
03362/97646) turn right curving downhill. Later, where the main track curves right
uphill, follow the narrower path which descends to the left by a waymark post.
The path brings you down to a stream, the Sychnant, which you need to ford at the most suitable
point and ascend on the far side onto a path. (ST 03612/96466, 4.44 miles,
1hr 30 mins).
Turn right towards green metal barriers, cross a drive, and
take the path beyond a second set of barriers, following a route marked by red
arrows. At a marker post turn right down through the trees to the Pistyll Goleu waterfall
viewpont. Retrace your steps and continue to the right along the
main track ignoring side paths to the left. Shortly after a stone wall on the
right take the wide steps down to the right to view the Clydach Reservoir.
Retrace your steps and carry on to the right along the main path. Where a main
track forks sharp left, marked by a stone pillar, (ST 02266/97217) follow this
track, almost doubling back on yourself. You pass the Daerwynno Centre on your
right - keep ahead to emerge on the road opposite the car park. 2 hrs 20 mins, 7.5 miles.
See
route map below
Walk
C
Viewpoint
by the quarry; the Brecon Beacons just visible in the distance
This
short walk of 3.4 miles heads in the opposite direction from the first two, towards Mynachdy and
Ynysybwl. Although the shortest of the walks, it is the least level with a
couple of steady ascents. The going is quite good and route-finding
straightforward. You could start this walk from Mynachdy, heading up Mynachdy
road and then turning left over the stone bridge.
From the car park and with your back to the road, take the footpath which
ascends to the left, parallel with the road on your left and passing through
some large stone boulders. When you reach a broad track, turn left, continuing
uphill. At a junction of tracks head left along the main track. Just this side
of a quarry on your left you will find a good viewpoint over the valley with the
Brecon Beacons in the distance. Stay on the track which soon descends, leaving the forest.
Cross two cattle grids and then some conifers on your right. Where the main
track curves left, go right towards a metal gate and stile. (27 mins, 1.37
miles).
A
wooden gate! So what? Find out here.
Cross the stile and head left to cross another stile, the track now curving
right. Pass a new wooden gate on right, keeping ahead to pass the large barn on
your left via a metal gate. The track passes a stile and 30 yards beyond this
turn right over an old stone bridge (ST 04788/95219) and
follow the track uphill passing buildings on your left. Carry on to the top of
the hill where the track levels and take the marked footpath to the right via a
metal gate. (43 mins, 2.1 miles, ST
04354/94849).
Head up the stony track for 100 yards then diagonally left along the field -
the path is unmarked - and drop down towards a metal gate with wire fence on
left. Go through the gate and continue alongside the fence to the end of the
field with stone wall beyond and crossing a wooden stile on the left by a metal
gate. Continue towards the plantation with the wire fence now on your right.
Just before reaching the plantation head left along a broad track towards a
footpath sign. Cross the stile by the sign and turn left along a track. (58 mins,
2.78 miles).
The track passes through some large boulders. 100 yards beyond this point take
the footpath to the left by a waymark post, dropping down through the trees to
meet a forest road. Cross the road and keep ahead, following the direction of
the waymark post. After 50 yards a stile brings you out of the forest and follow
the waymark direction ahead through bracken. The path becomes fainter as bracken
gives way to grass but keep in the same direction, the tower of St Gwynno's
church becoming visible to the left as you head just to the left of a telegraph
pole and drop down to meet the road by a stile. Now head right up the road to
return to the car park. (1 hr 12 mins, 3.41 miles).
Route
map of all 3 walks
