Geo-Trips :: Mopping up the greens on Mynydd Aberdare and Mynydd Merthyr
Between the Cynon and the Taff
A walk from Abercanaid, Sun, 5 Oct 2008 by Graham Horn
Many of the ridges between the South Wales valleys are wonderful for walking, with easy access. They tend not to be well known because of their location, so although many of the valleys had been photographed by 2008 a lot of the areas in between had not been. This was a trip to mop up the remaining green squares between the Cynon and Taff valleys.
I can't actually remember the sequence of events, although the map will make it clear. I know that it was a mixture of untracked moorland, good forest paths and some diabolically wet forest tracks, as some of the photos show.
The main walk was from the woodland parking area at Abercanaid, but this report also includes a few other squares which involved a drive. It is amazing how far you can actually get into some of the squares remaining in the car, such as nearly to the summit of Mynydd Aberdare. Others involve a satisfying walk though.
Click the blue circles to see a photograph taken from that spot and read further information about the location. The blue lines indicate the direction of view. There is also a slideshow of this trip. ( )
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End of Harlech Drive, Bryngwyn
A modern housing estate has been built at Bryngwyn. The main road, Harlech Drive,... more
South-western slope of Mynydd Aberdare
This shows most of the square, the south-western slopes of Mynydd Aberdare.... more
South-western slope of Mynydd Aberdare
This is taken from the extreme north-eastern corner of the square, checked with... more
Track towards Mynydd y Capel
This path skirts the western side of the high ground leading to Forest Chapel,... more
Woodland trail at Graig Gethin
The western edge of the car park is just in the square. Various trails into the... more
Coed Morgannwg Way
The route of this regional long distance path passes through woodland to the north... more
Above Merthyr tunnel
A forest road contours through forestry above Merthyr tunnel. This view... more
Forestry road at Blaencanaid
A forestry road heads north, shortly to go under a line of pylons over the hill... more
At the summit
This is near the summit of a col between the Cynon valley (behind us) and the Taff... more
On the watershed?
This is the track along the summit of Twyn Gwersyllfa, supposedly the watershed... more
West from Mynydd Gethin Forest
The map of the square shows extensive forestry. In practice this has been... more
Below Mynydd Gethin
There are many tracks through the Mynydd Gethin forest not shown on the 1:50K map,... more
In Mynydd Gethin forest
This is the main forest road through the eastern part of the forest, being joined... more
In Mynydd Gethin forest
The forestry roads and tracks in this square seem particularly erratic on the... more
Edge of the forest
This is where the forest track along the watershed of Mynydd Merthyr comes out of... more
Mynydd Merthyr
This is looking along the crest of Mynydd Merthyr from the south-east, this... more
Room for more this way
A million trees, but the route points to space where many more can be planted.
Harlech Drive, Bryngwyn
A modern housing estate has been built at Bryngwyn. The main road, Harlech Drive,... more
Winch Fawr
Farm on the eastern slopes of Mynydd Aberdare.
Mynydd Aberdare
From the track between the Cynon and Taff valleys, looking at the more southerly... more
Mynydd Aberdare
From south of the summit where this transmitter is situated.
South-western slope of Mynydd Aberdare
Looking south towards Aberdare and Aberaman. Not many people come up to this moor.
South-western slope of Mynydd Aberdare
Looking south from the extreme north-western corner of the square (checked with... more
Boundary of Aberdare and Merthyr Tydfil
The stone is not quite on the boundary, which I reckon is where the fence changes.... more
Road to Mynydd Cilfach-yr-encil
One of those roads that climbs up out of the valley to a hill farm, and continues... more
Penddeugae Fach
A hill farm overlooking the Taff valley above Troedrhiw.
Directions on Mynydd y Capel
There is a series of "loops and links" walks in the area. These stones... more
Track towards Mynydd y Capel
The track climbs up the south-western slope of the mountain, with good views above... more
Track from Mynydd y Capel
Going north, the track descends to the road towards Pendducae Fach Farm, seen... more
Looking down on Troedrhiw
The picture is centred on a sports ground belonging to Afon Taf comprehensive... more
Looking down on Aberfan
The picture is centred on the blocks of houses at the north end of Aberfan, known... more
Penddeugae Fach
A hill farm between the Mynydd y Capel (behind us) and Mynydd Cilfach-yr-encil, on... more
Lane from Pendducae Fach
The lane runs obliquely into the Taff valley, here below the tree line. It is... more
Looking down on Aberfan
Most of the centre of Aberfan is seen from a lane that climbs the eastern side of... more
Lane into Merthyr Vale
The lane descends the eastern side of the Taff valley with Merthyr Vale down to... more
Looking down on Merthyr Vale
The picture is centred on the bridge across the River Taff near Merthyr Vale... more
Looking down on Mount Pleasant
The picture is centred on the long ramps of the accessible bridge over the railway... more
Lane above Mount Pleasant
A narrow tarmaced road, known as The Parish Road, descends the eastern slope of... more
Across the Taff valley
Looking from Merthyr Vale to Aberfan across the River Taff unseen in the trees... more
Glyndwr Street, Merthyr Vale
A different style of newer terraced houses off the A4054, running down to the... more
Autumn in Merthyr Tydfil
On the A4054 past the Hoover factory, the leaves are starting to turn.
Track at Gethin woodland park
A tree has fallen and seems to have taken the gate with it, but on closer... more
From the Coed Morgannwg Way
The route is difficult to follow through this woodland, but the trees and ground... more
Towards Merthyr
A steep incline above Merthyr Tunnel, where there used to be an inclined plane... more
Quarries above Merthyr Tunnel
The remains of quarries in the area, with an inclined plane through the trees from... more
Forest road in Gethin forest
One of the forest haul roads, an easy route from the Craig Gethin car park.
Forestry at Blaencanaid
This is a large forest, either side of the watershed between the Cynon and Taff... more
Down to the Taff
The line of power cables starts its descent from the watershed towards the Taff... more
Scrambling into the forest
The forest is plagued by scrambling bikes tearing up and down the forest roads and... more
Track on Twyn Gwersyllfa
This is the watershed, but the water lies deep in the ruts caused by the... more
Twyn Gwersyllfa
In the very wet forest on the watershed between the Cynon and Taff valleys.
Carn Las
The antiquity marked on the maps as Carn Las appears to be this pile of stones in... more
On the watershed
The forest track at Twyn Gwersyllfa on the watershed between the Cynon and Taff... more
On the watershed?
The watershed between the Taff and Cynon valleys retains water in the ruts on the... more
On Twyn Gwersyllfa
There is a forest rise along the top of the mountain, that is rather soggy.
Near Carn Castellmeibion
At the edge of one part of the forest, and this gate indicates that this is a... more
Old fence
A new fence has been erected behind us and the old one neatly rolled up. These... more
Edge of Gethin forest
Planted forests stop abruptly and you can see something of the land on which they... more
Edge of Gethin forest
Planted forest often stops abruptly and you can see something of the land on which... more
In Gethin forest
There are more forest rides shown on the 1:25K map, so I am not as deep into the... more
In Gethin forest
The forest rides are all pretty muddy and cut up by motorcycle scramblers.
Edge of Gethin forest
The section to the right has been felled in recent years, which is not immediately... more
Forest drainage
Extensive work has been undertaken to ensure that the rides drain properly,... more
Scrambling in Gethin forest
The forest is plagued by motorcycle scramblers who are ruining many of the forest... more
Scrambling in Gethin forest
Another motorcycle scrambler howls along one of the forest tracks.
Forest clearing
The forest is not as dense as the map implies.
Track in the forest
There are some smaller tracks that the scramblers cannot get into. They are... more
Why the scramblers can't reach
A track comes in from the left, but a large bund has been placed to prevent the... more
Scrabbling for resources
I was reminded of battery hens; trees kept largely in the dark, cheek by jowl with... more
Mynydd Merthyr forest
Both main scales of map seem to have missed this forest road, or else it is... more
Forest carpet
Fungi a plenty, ferns, moss.
On Mynydd Merthyr
Back on the watershed between the Taff and Cynon valleys, although in this dense... more
On Mynydd Merthyr
Forest tracks can be spooky places.
Like a dead sheep
This was like coming across a carcase of a dead sheep on the moor. An unseen... more
Along Pen Rhiwporthmon
The summit of the ridge between the Taff (left) and Cynon (right) valleys. Out of... more
On Pen Rhiwporthmon
A wall runs along the watershed. To the left (east) of the wall are sheep... more
Into the Taff valley
To the east of the square are sheep pastures dropping down to the Taff valley.
Panic!
They wouldn't see many walkers on their patch.
Outside the forest
The south-eastern part of the square is open moorland. I found this concrete... more
Quarry in the forest
Evidence of small scale quarrying activity in a forest clearing.
On the forest road
The ferns at the road side brought a little bit of colour.
In Gethin forest
On the forest road, and a planted tree has escaped.
In Gethin forest
Three quarters of this square is forest like this.
Forest road margin
Walking along the forest road for miles the verges take on an interest because... more
Track to the car park
In a big forest like this it is always useful to know where the car park is. This... more
From Gethin forest
The view is north-east over Pentrebach towards Mynydd Merthyr. In the foreground... more
Descent from Gethin forest
This track leads to the car park for Gethin forest, where there is an extensive... more
Track junction
We are on a track descending to the car park. The crossing track is the main... more
Track into Gethin forest
One of the routes from the car park.
Craig Gethin car park
Striking off point for many miles of paths in Mynydd Gethin forest.
All images © Graham Horn and available under a
Creative Commons licence 
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