access track. access seen. seen. Views over over Views plantation. Continue along the well defined track. defined well the along Continue plantation.

the cemetery maintenance buildings and rough and buildings maintenance cemetery the left the remains of the St Johns Colliery can be can Colliery Johns St the of remains the left through a way marked field gate to enter the the enter to gate field marked way a through

following the well defined path heading towards heading path defined well the following the rough track changes to a tarmac road. On your On road. tarmac a to changes track rough the At the edge of the forestry plantation you will pass will you plantation forestry the of edge the At

the corner of the boundary wall continue ahead continue wall boundary the of corner the through a way marked gateway then turn left as left turn then gateway marked way a through

wall of the cemetery on your right hand side. At side. hand right your on cemetery the of wall track. Turn right and follow the track passing track the follow and right Turn track. Minehead on a clear day. clear a on Minehead

head towards the cemetery keeping the boundary the keeping cemetery the towards head crossing two more stiles until you reach a rough a reach you until stiles more two crossing way you have just come you can see all the way to way the all see can you come just have you way

metres in front of you. Climb over the stile and stile the over Climb you. of front in metres Follow the well defined path through the fields the through path defined well the Follow VIEWPOINT! At this point if you turn and face the face and turn you if point this At VIEWPOINT!

copse where you will see another metal stile 50 stile metal another see will you where copse

of you. Climb over the stile and enter into a small a into enter and stile the over Climb you. of plantation.

on your left hand side. hand left your on

another drainage channel and a metal stile in front in stile metal a and channel drainage another of you. Cross over the stile to leave the forestry the leave to stile the over Cross you. of

plantation, keeping the fence and then a stone wall stone a then and fence the keeping plantation,

Continue along the path where you will find find will you where path the along Continue ont fr in line fence the in stile a for looking trees the

through the field gate heading towards the forestry the towards heading gate field the through

track. Cross the track to follow the path in between in path the follow to track the Cross track.

your left to reach a way marked field gate. Pass gate. field marked way a reach to left your

Views over to from Garth Hill Garth from Llangynwyd to over Views

path through the trees until you reach a rough a reach you until trees the through path

right hand side. Cross the field moving gradually to gradually moving field the Cross side. hand right

At this point leave the forest track and follow the follow and track forest the leave point this At

The boundary fence for the forestry will be on your on be will forestry the for fence boundary The

down the hill on your left in between the trees. trees. the between in left your on hill the down

Moel Cynhordy Moel bend where you will see a way mark post pointing post mark way a see will you where bend

on the track for approximately 300 metres from the from metres 300 approximately for track the on

mark post where the track will bear right. Continue right. bear will track the where post mark 1, 3, 4 and 5 from this point. this from 5 and 4 3, 1,

Alternatively there are links to Llynfi Valley Walks Valley Llynfi to links are there Alternatively After passing the third junction you will see a way a see will you junction third the passing After

catch a train to return to Garth station. Garth to return to train a catch junctions with other tracks on your right hand side. hand right your on tracks other with junctions

Follow this track bearing left ignoring three three ignoring left bearing track this Follow station is signposted in front of you and you can you and you of front in signposted is station

the traffic lights turn right by Somerfield. Somerfield. by right turn lights traffic the

follow the road passing under a railway bridge. At bridge. railway a under passing road the follow

View of site of St. John Colliery John St. of site of View

drainage channel bridged with wooden planks. wooden with bridged channel drainage next road junction turn right into Castle Street and Street Castle into right turn junction road next

diagonally across the field until you reach a reach you until field the across diagonally Hotel public house on your left. On reaching the reaching On left. your on house public Hotel

Cross the stile and follow the well defined path defined well the follow and stile the Cross road downhill to Crown Road passing the Crown the passing Road Crown to downhill road

Turn right at the next road junction following the following junction road next the at right Turn

metal stile on your left. your on stile metal

junction you will see a sign posted footpath and a and footpath posted sign a see will you junction part of the site in 2008. in site the of part

e th after Just left. the to off branches road another Comprehensive School, which was opened on on opened was which School, Comprehensive

towards the forestry plantation. forestry the towards continuing straight ahead at the junction where junction the at ahead straight continuing for various uses including the new Maesteg new the including uses various for

through a bridle gate set in the fence line, heading line, fence the in set gate bridle a through n the grid cattle a over passing first road tarmac the former washery site is currently being redeveloped being currently is site washery former

approximately 200 metres turn left and pass and left turn metres 200 approximately After passing the old colliery site continue along continue site colliery old the passing After supplied to the steel and domestic markets. The markets. domestic and steel the to supplied

field boundary fence on your left. After After left. your on fence boundary field at the Maesteg Central Washery before being being before Washery Central Maesteg the at

right at this point. Pass over the stile keeping the keeping stile the over Pass point. this at right mine in the Llynfi Valley area. area. Valley Llynfi the in mine number of collieries in the Llynfi Valley was treated was Valley Llynfi the in collieries of number

Maesteg Washery Maesteg stile on your left hand side. The main track turns track main The side. hand left your on stile closed in November 1985. It was the last deep last the was It 1985. November in closed . Coal, extracted from a from extracted Coal, . 6

eee s to able be will you right your to distance the In a see will you mountain the of top the near you As shafts to extract coal from deeper seams. St. John’s St. seams. deeper from coal extract to shafts

John’s colliery opened with the sinking of two of sinking the with opened colliery John’s

park to exit onto the highway and turn left. left. turn and highway the onto exit to park Gower. the of and Ridgeway Ogwr the Valley, until the seam was exhausted in 1908. In 1908 St 1908 In 1908. in exhausted was seam the until you reach a ‘T’ Junction where you turn right. right. turn you where Junction ‘T’ a reach you

the car park of Maesteg Cemetery. Cross the car the Cross Cemetery. Maesteg of park car the Garw the in mountains the of top the of views older Cwm du colliery which was open from 1850 from open was which colliery du Cwm older this junction turn left following the way mark until mark way the following left turn junction this

St John’s Colliery John’s St Follow the track to a kissing gate which leads onto leads which gate kissing a to track the Follow the of site the on stood 5 have will you hill the of top the At VIEWPOINT! The path will meet a junction with another path. At path. another with junction a meet will path The

Advice and Information Countryside Code Car Parking There is parking provision at the following: The going can be steep and may be wet and slippery RESPECT PROTECT ENJOY G On-street parking in Garth in places with some stiles to climb. Remember to LLYNFI VALLEY G wear suitable clothes and good shoes/boots and Be safe - plan ahead and follow any signs G Maesteg train station G take food and drink with you and be prepared to get Leave gates and property as you find them G fit! Always follow the Countryside Code. When you Protect plants and animals, and take your litter home G are walking on minor roads keep to the right and Keep dogs under close control Accommodation ALK 1 G W Consider other people make use of verges whenever you can. To make a reservation or to obtain information Follow the Countryside Code wherever you go. on accommodation contact one of the Tourist You will get the best out of the countryside and help Information Centres. These are at McArthur Glen to maintain it now and for the future. Designer Outlet off Junction 36 the M4 (telephone 01656 654906 ) and at John Street, (telephone 01656 786639 ). For further general information about the area you can contact us via e-mail at [email protected]. Alternatively, you can visit our website - which is at www.bridgend.gov.uk Moel Cynhordy It should be easy to follow the route using the map and instructions inside this leaflet. When walking the Acknowledgements route try and look out for the Walk logo that will be situated on stiles, gates and posts along the route. Thanks to the following for helping to either Directional way marks with arrows will assist you as prepare the walk and text or for sponsoring the to which direction to walk in once you are on a leaflet public right of way. We also recommend you refer to G the OS Explorer Map 166 Rhondda and Merthyr Barrie Evans G Roy Meredith Tydfil. Darren Valley

For further information about this walk, to pass on your comments and suggestions or to report any practical problems on any of the paths please Public Transport contact the Rights of Way Section, Communities For further information on bus times and Directorate, Morien House Bennett Street, service numbers telephone Bridgend County Bridgend Industrial Estate, Bridgend, CF31 3SH Borough Council’s, Public Transport Section (Telephone 01656 642553 or 01656 642593 ) on 01656 642559 or the Traveline or by e-mail at [email protected] on 0871 200 22 33 www.traveline.info Up to 8 km (5 miles) 3 1/2 hours Llynfi Valley Walk 1 16pp DL:Llynfi DL.qxd 27/5/09 11:11 Page Llynfi ValleyWalk116ppDL:LlynfiDL.qxd27/5/0911:11Page2

Llynfi Valley Walk 1 Up to 8km (5 miles) 3 1/2 Hours

This leaflet describes a walk from Garth Station to Maesteg Station through the Llynfi Valley countryside and requires you to make your own way back to your starting point. The route is Llangynwyd Village from Moel Cynhordy approximately 8km (5 miles). The walk should take approximately 3 to 3 1/2½hours to complete but you should allow a bit more time to enjoy the views of the countryside. The route uses a combination of maintainable highway, public 5 footpaths and public bridleway. 6 Darren Valley and Maesteg For convenience the directions below are written with Garth Station as the starting point. You could, however, equally start from Maesteg Station or any point along the route, and if travelling in the opposite direction, simply reverse all directions. There is also a link to Llynfi Valley Walk 2 from Garth Station.

1 The Llynfi Valley. The Llynfi valley is named after the which runs along the valley and literally means 'smooth stream'. The source of the River Llynfi is on Caerau Mountain and runs down through the valley, joining the four miles from Bridgend. The Llynfi valley is surrounded by green hills and in Garth there is a wooded valley, The Darren, with a picturesque viaduct, which once carried the Port Talbot Railway 4 line across the Cwmdu valley.

Leave Garth Station by the exit leading to Mill 3 Street. Continue along Mill Street heading north towards Maesteg under the railway bridge. Take the third turning on the right at the Garth Inn. After approximately 25 Metres you will reach a 1 fork in the road. Take the left hand fork and continue up the lane.

At the end of the lane climb over a stile and continue straight ahead over a small brook. Continue up the hill following a series of 3 way Key marker posts. When you reach the final way marker post turn right and follow the ridge for Main Route N approximately 300 metres. 2 Sites of Interest VIEWPOINT! To your left, views can be seen of surrounding countryside.

This map is reproduced from Ordnance Survey material The path will then descend down to the right. You with permission of Ordnance Survey on behalf of the Controller of Her Majesty’s Stationary Office©  Crown copyright. will see another way marker post. Take the track to Unauthorised reproduction infringes Crown copyright and may Darren Valley lead to prosecution or civil proceedings. (Bridgend County your right. You will come to a fork. Take the track Borough Council Licence Number 100023405, 2009). to your right which goes down the hill. You will then come to a stile. Climb over the stile and continue to follow the well defined path to the right that follows the line of the telegraph poles.

You will then reach a second stile climb over the the next field boundary heading in the direction of 3 The Darren Valley comprises a 20 hectare stile and follow the defined path through the the houses in front of you. Just before you reach area of stream-valley broadleafed woodland. Oak, scrub. After approximately 30 metres you will join the houses bear right down a green lane and you birch, grey willow, alder and ash trees can be seen another track. Turn right and follow this track will then exit on to another tarmac track. Bear left and herons can be spotted fishing the Nant Cwm down an incline until you reach a dismantled following the track. You will then pass over a stile Du. railway which is now a tarmac access road and adjacent to a gate. Continue down the lane until public footpath. the junction with Station road where you will see a Follow the path through the wood which runs way mark. parallel to a rough road until you reach a second Turn left and follow this track until you pass Coed y stile. Go over the stile and turn left heading along Garth house on your right. Ahead of you will be a Turn left on to the road, passing the houses on the track. Pass over a small bridge adjacent to a field gate. Go through the gate and over a stile at your right and under an old brick viaduct, keeping ford and continue until you meet a way marked the river on your right. T-junction. Turn right and continue along the track which rounds a hair pin bend. You will reach a 2 The Viaduct formed part of the Port Talbot metal field gate with a small pedestrian gate to the right hand side. Pass through the pedestrian gate Railway which transported coal mined from the Darren Valley Woods Llynfi Valley through to the Docks at Port Talbot for and continue along the track. shipment. It was opened in 1898. This section of known as Moel Cynhordy. You will pass the VIEWPOINT! To your right, views can be seen of the line ran its last passenger service in 1934 and remains of some old mine workings and through a the Darren Valley. finally closed in 1984. second gate way. As you pass along the track you will pass two metal Continue up this lane to a hair-pin bend. Take the gates set in the fence line to your left. At the third 4 Moel Cynhordy is believed to be the site of a track leading off to the right which is a way marked metal gate turn left on to a track heading up the flying accident on the 29th September 1942 when bridleway and the wooded entrance to the Darren mountain. a Royal Canadian Air Force Spitfire crashed into Valley. You will see a stile on your left hand side in the mountain during a training exercise when the the fence line after 300 metres. Continue along the rough track up the mountain lone pilot became separated from the lead plane. Viaduct