Short and
Long Walks around Abercynon
Abercynon
Short Walk
A short walk of 5.8 miles, 9.3 Kms, to the North &
East of
Abercynon. The first half is flat, running along the Trevithick tramroad,
the setting for the world's first railway journey. The
second half climbs steadily to a prominent rocky outcrop with great views before
descending back to Abercynon. Shops, pubs, payphones in Abercynon - nothing en
route. Good point to take a break - the rocky outcrop.
The walk starts at the Navigation House pub. You may be able to park near here at weekends or down Martins Terrace
opposite the pub. If coming by train alight at Abercynon South station and head
to the Merthyr end of the platform to take a path which goes past a corrugated
iron building with Harris Fireplaces marked on it. Turn right at the end of the
building to cross a river and turn left along the road to meet a main road by
the Navigation House.
OS Explorer map 166. For a map to get to the start click here
Trevithick’s Tramroad
Locomotive by Terence Cuneo from Glamorgan Historian vol.3
To the left of the Navigation House, as you face it, is the Fire Station and to the left
of the Station is a tall wooden waymark for the Taff Trail (ST 08460/94947). A
small commemorative stone plaque to Richard Trevithick is in front of the Fire
Station. Head down the narrow lane by the Fire Station and Taff Trail waymark.
You pass under a large grey road bridge with the river on your left. A
pedestrian bridge across the river is passed and then another grey metal road
bridge overhead. After passing through some houses the road becomes a narrow
track which shortly afterwards crosses the river. Cross Goitre Coed road and keep
ahead following the Taff Trail waymark. The road re-crosses the river (ST
09027/96523, 1.81 miles, 36 mins,).
Remains of a bridge
Pass
under a stone railway bridge, then by a metal gate and the massive remains of
two bridges on your right. From this point note the slabs of stone in the track
on which the rails of the Penydarren tramroad were laid with their
characteristic indentations. Pass a pond and house on left and the track brings
you to a metal barrier with road beyond. Turn left down the road following the
Taff Trail sign and cross the river by a narrow arched bridge, Pont-y-Gwaith,
meaning the works bridge, (ST 08027/97589, 3.23 miles, 1 hr 5 mins,). Pont-y-Gwaith
was constructed in 1811 to replace a wooden bridge associated with the nearby 16th
century ironworks.
Pont-y-Gwaith bridge
Head up the road and then ascend the concrete steps to go through a
tunnel under the main road to meet a country lane. Take the lane ahead which
ascends the hillside heading towards some pylons with good views opening up and
pass a farm on the right. As the road starts to descend take the rough track on
the right which continues uphill towards the prominent rocky outcrop which you
reach in 4.22 miles, 1 hr 30 mins, (ST 07846/96433).
The boundary stone
Take the narrow path which ascends on the left of the outcrop then pass
through the gap in the rock and head left along a faint track which runs
along the top of the ridge. The grassy path passes between bracken, heading
towards pylons. Where the path forks keep right towards the pylons. You pass
under electricity cables and then cross a rickety wooden stile. Pass a
rectangular inscribed boundary stone. The path starts to descend, roughly
following the line of the electricity cables. Cross a wooden stile and head
towards buildings with a wire fence and then stone wall on your left. Cross a
stone and wooden stile at the bottom left-hand corner of the field (ST
08653/95562, 5.08 miles, 1 hr 50 mins,) with the main road beyond and walk past
the houses to the left. At the end of the houses turn right along a road which
crosses over the main road and then curves to the right. 30 yards after the bridge take the rough track to
the right of the road passing a concrete garage with grey door on your left. The
cinder track passes the remains of a canal lock, now incorporated into a garden
on the right. Pass a children’s playground on the right, cross a road to
finally meet the main road by a bus stop. Turn left along the road, under a
railway bridge to come to the Fire Station and Navigation House. (5.8 miles, 2
hrs 10 mins)
For map of route, see below
Abercynon
Long Walk
A walk of just under 13 miles, 20.7 Kms, with some ascent and
descent but with most of the second half along a ridgeway. No facilities en
route but the start is at Abercynon Leisure Centre. Apart from some short
stretches of country lane the route is along footpaths, bridleways, through
forest and alongside streams and with good views. This area once had many collieries
although there is little sign of them now. Good stopping points include
the 'gap in the trees', 3rd paragraph; the corner of the plantation, 5th
paragraph; the 6 boulder viewpoint and the rocky outcrop. This walk route was
created by Ian Moody.
From Cardiff on the A 470 follow route ‘Abercynon avoiding low bridge’,
i.e. not the first turning to Abercynon but taking the A 4059 from the A 470
roundabout. Turn left
signposted Abercynon, pass a playing field and take second left before the road
goes over a bridge. Head down the lane until you get to a car park by the
brick-built Leisure Centre.
OS Explorer map 166. For a map to get to the start click here
which is at ST 08060/95438.
With your back to the Leisure Centre, cross the footbridge over the
railway line and follow the path to the left. Where the path levels turn right
to meet a road after 20 yards. Turn left along the road, crossing when it is
safe to do so. After 50 yards, turn right up a short bit of tarmac road which
soon becomes a narrower track curving right and heading steadily uphill. When
you come to a cemetery the right of way goes to the right, past a metal gate
and alongside the cemetery wall although, if it is open, you can walk through
the cemetery and leave by another gate in the right-hand wall. At the end of
the cemetery, keep ahead along the path with the trees on your left. After 200
yards and by a wooden stile, take the path to the left which winds uphill
through the trees (ST 07366/95804). The path reaches a stile on the edge of a field.
(0.97 miles, 20 mins).
Cross the stile and head uphill but slightly right to follow the course
of a stream. When you crest the hill look to the right to a stony area and
wooden stile in the fence beyond. Cross the stile, aiming for a plantation ahead
to reach a wooden stile set in a bit of stone wall. Cross this and then another
wooden stile by a metal gate which brings you onto a lane. Head right along the
lane as it skirts around the plantation and then forks right. You are now
heading towards another plantation with two large electricity pylons. Pass a
road junction off to the left and then the first pylon. 50 yards beyond this
take the path off to the left heading into the trees. (1.9 miles, 40 mins, ST
06015/96100).
Views through the gap in
the trees
Keep the trees on your right and wire fence on left. A gap in the trees
ahead offers fine views as the footpath curves initially to the left and then descends, keeping
alongside the wire fence. You come to a wide dark cinder track – turn left
along this to pass some farm buildings. The track curves right, descending
steadily. Pass a more open area with track off to the right, but continue
downhill. After 100 yards, look out for a stile on your left but don’t take
it. Instead turn right along the path now heading gently uphill. (2.66 miles, 56
mins).
Where the path forks take the right fork, the path partly a stream, and
continuing to ascend. On meeting a broad stony track, head left along it,
downhill. Cross a river, now heading to the right, uphill. When the track curves
sharp left, keep straight ahead along a path through trees, parallel with the stream on
your right. On reaching a road, turn right, then left through the large metal
barriers, ignoring an earlier footpath sign on the left. Keep ahead with the
stream on your right. The path crosses the stream – now start counting
electricity poles. Between the second and third poles, look to the right for a
gap in the fence and a path heading to the right, uphill. Go through a metal
gate, passing a house on the left and noting the Thunderbox on the right, some
20 yards beyond the gate. Walk along the road as it curves right and then
zig-zags passing a metal gate, a stone wall now on your right. When the road
curves sharp right again, take the upper grassy path to the left following the
bridleway sign, alongside a stone wall. (4.56 miles, 1 hr 35 mins, ST
04303/97541).
The Thunderbox
Pass through a gap in the walls ahead in the corner of the field and keep
walking in the same direction along an indistinct path towards the only
electricity pylon with supporting cables to the ground. Cross a track and as you
crest the hill you can see ahead across the valley to the ridge that we shall be
returning on later. As you approach the pylon you will see a track not far to
the right. Get on to this track and head left along it, the track dropping down
towards a plantation. Where the track meets the corner of the plantation, keep
straight ahead, ignoring the stile to the right, and descending along a path
with wire fence and stone wall remains on your right. Pass a metal gate and keep
descending as the path crosses the path of the stone wall and heads into the
trees. Keep ahead as the path crosses a wide metal track, passing a waymark post
and emerge on a road by a housing estate. Cross the road and go down some steps,
then take the path to the left between wooden fences. Pass a wooden and metal
crossing, then the path drops down into some trees, crosses a stream, and then
joins a stony track. After 200 yards turn right as the track heads down a
concrete lane. Pass through a gap alongside a metal gate and meet a main road.
(6.42 miles, 2 hrs 15 mins, ST 03103/99718).
Left, the Gorsedd today.
Right, barefoot girls from Mountain Ash Higher Grade School dance in the Gorsedd
circle during the 1946 National Eisteddfod. The stones were erected for the 1905
National Eisteddfod.
Turn right to head along this road, crossing when safe. After 150 yards
and just before the bus stop on the left, take the footpath off to the left,
just past a little house called The Lodge. The path crosses a railway line, then
go through a metal gate and pass a pond on the left. Follow the path as it
crosses the park heading towards a metal bridge. On approaching the main road
take the tarmac path to the right and cross the main road by the footbridge
opposite Mountain Ash Comprehensive School. Head up the lane opposite with the
school on your right. The road passes houses on the left, then starts to
descend. You pass a house on your right which was the Lodge that led to Dyffryn
House and then pass a play area. On meeting a main road our route will be taking
us up the footpath on the other side of this road but a short walk to the right
brings you to the War memorial and beyond this the Gorsedd. The footpath heads
uphill through the trees via a rusty kissing gate. The path meets a lane by a
waymark sign – head right up this lane. The lane brings you into a farmhouse
– head up a track ahead passing first a green gate and then a rusty metal
gate. 20 yards beyond this by a wall and a metal gate, head right, uphill,
across a field, passing a ruined building on your left. Just past the building
take the stony track ahead, heading towards a metal gate with a small copse of
conifers on your right and then a house. The path now heads slightly to the
right towards the corner of the trees on your right. The path levels with a
stone wall now on your right. When the path forks take the path to the right
continuing alongside the wall and passing a plantation of birch on your right.
When the track approaches a stream and meets another path crossing, keep
straight ahead through the bracken and then head left along another path
slightly uphill before dropping down to the stream. Cross the stream and take
the path which ascends on the far side to the right. (8.6 miles, 3 hrs).
The Birch grove
Cross a wire fence with stone wall on your right. Keep ahead with the
conifer plantation on your left. Pass another wire fence. Just beyond this and
by a tree which is blocking the path ahead you come to another wire fence.
Don’t cross this but head left, steeply uphill on a grassy area, wire fence on
your right. After 50 yards of ascent look out for a path on your right by what
might once have been a stile. Take the very dark path which ascends through the
trees, passing some massive boulders on the way, to emerge on a track by a
waymark post. Head left up the track to reach six boulders on the left – a
good stopping point with fine views. (9.13 miles,
3 hrs 20 mins, ST 05625/99816).
6 boulder viewpoint
The track curves right as you head through the plantation. Later, the
clearance of trees on the right offers up views of our route from earlier. When
the main track curves sharp left keep ahead down the stony track into the
plantation. Keep ahead when a track meets from the right and ignore another off
to the left. The view again opens up to the right – ignore another track which
ascends to the left. The track passes a metal gate with a hinge that would have
taken the world’s strongest man to bend into place. After 20 yards head left
uphill along a track coming from the right. The track eventually curves left,
heading uphill to meet a stone wall by a stile. Cross the stile and just beyond
this take the track to the right which heads along the top of the ridge. Keep on
the ridge to cross a wooden stile by a metal gate, continuing ahead towards the
rocky outcrop. On reaching the outcrop take the narrow path which ascends on the
left of the rocks and then pass through the gap in the rocks. Turn left to get
back on top of the ridge – a good vantage point. (11.9 miles, 4 hrs 10 mins,
ST 07861/96428)
On top of the outcrop
looking back to the route we have taken
Continue along the top of the ridge on a grassy path. Where the path
forks take the right fork, heading towards an electricity pylon. Cross a stile,
keeping along the ridge with the electricity cables on your left. Pass a marker
stone. The path then descends steeply to a wooden stile. Cross this and turn
right with wire fence and newly planted trees on your right. After a while you
will see the Leisure Centre below. When the wire fence curves to the right, keep
ahead, downhill, to meet a broad grassy track by a wooden fence. Follow the
track to the right, downhill, with the road on your left, to reach a stone
stile. Cross the stile then and then the road – taking particular care as the
cars may be moving fast. Go down some steps, cross a narrow road and then some
more steps. Head left for 40 yards then turn right down a tarmac path with large
stone wall on left. Descend some more steps and just before the Leisure Centre
car park turn left and then right across a bridge over a river to enter the car
park. (12.9 miles, 4 hrs 35 mins).
Route map for both walks
