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Home , Bridgend County Borough, Candleston Castle, Ewenny River, Merthyr Mawr, Ogmore Castle, River Ogmore

When you get to the village green take the road on the B4282 Nantymoel right towards the To Ogmore and cross the footbridge. A4063 CHOICE : the track Bettws

ahead leads to stepping A48 stones across the River Heol y Cyw Chiffchaff A4061 which will take Photo courtesy of B4281 36 you straight to Ogmore Steven Round and a well-earned break at 37 A473 35 the Pelican7 Inn. You can extend your walk A4106 A48 To Newton to St. Brides Major from here. A4229 Merthyr To get to the Castle and the Pelican Above: Church of St. Teilo Ewenny A48 B4524 avoiding the stepping - stones or to Ogmore continue the circular walk, cross the stone & by Sea B4265 Left: Cottages at Merthyr Mawr stile on the left after the footbridge. Walk Follow the path towards the bridge over the (to get to the Castle Acknowledgements and the Pelican, cross the bridge and Thanks to the following for helping to either 7 St.Teilo’s Church 5 dates back to the 8 prepare the walk and text or for sponsoring middle of the 19th Century, and was the leaflet: built on an ancient site. Indeed stones • Merthyr Mawr Council have been found dating from the 5th • Bridgend Council’s Tourism unit Century suggesting there was an important • Bridgend Historical Society From Bridgend Station Christian cemetery here. Merthyr Mawr is an idyllic little 6 GROUNDWORK BRIDGEND & NEATH settlement, as picturesque as they come, PEN-Y-BONT AR A CASTELL NEDD with an outstanding collection of PORT TALBOT thatched dwellings beautifully Thanks also to the following for use of their positioned around an old village green. images: • Howard Maunders www.beautifulbritain.co.uk • Steven Round www.stevenround-birdphotography.com

Ogmore Castle Designed by design@bridgend Tel: 01656 642046

turn right at the road). To continue the Follow the road using walk, turn left before the bridge and the pavement where follow the waymarked public footpath. possible passing the For further information about this walk, Public Transport Just before Verville farm there is an earth church on your right to pass on your comments and For further information on bus times and bank on your left. This is the last hand side. When you suggestions or to report any practical service numbers telephone Bridgend vestige of the ancient settlement at get to the end of the problems on any of the paths please County Borough Council’s, Public Verville. road turn left - you contact the Rights of Way Section, 8 Transport Section on O1656 642559 or Continue past Verville Farm along the are now on Nolton Environmental and Planning Services the National Bus Enquiry number on waymarked path to the road. When you Street. Continue along Directorate, Morien House Bennett O87O 6O826O8. Information regarding get to the road turn left and continue the pavement then Street, Bridgend Industrial Estate, train times can be obtained via National along the road to a point just before the cross at the Bridgend, CF31 3SH (Telephone O1656 Rail Enquiries on O8457 48495O. New Inn Bridge at which point you need pedestrian crossing 642537 or O1656 642516) or by e-mail at to take the footpath on the right. and retrace your steps to the railway station. Follow the path across the field to Green Woodpecker [email protected] the A48. Cross with care and go through Photo courtesy of Steven Round Car Parking the gate opposite. Then follow the path keeping the river on your left. There is parking provision at the Countryside Code following: Find the stone circle . If you go and investigate it you should be able to find Advice & Information Bridgend Railway Station, out what it was for. Bridgend Recreation Centre and Bowls Hall The going is easy although it may be wet RESPECT Keeping the river on your left continue Parking Area near the swing bridge in 9 in places. Remember to wear suitable along the path passing the tennis club Merthyr Mawr Village. clothes and good shoes/ boots and take PROTECT on your right hand side along Church 9 10 food and drink with you and be 11 You will also find several other pay and Road. Go through the subway where you prepared to get fit! ENJOY display car parks in Bridgend Town Centre. will come out on Merthyr Mawr Road. Always follow the Countryside Code and take care when crossing main roads especially the A48, as this is a very busy, • Be safe – plan ahead fast stretch of road. When you are and follow any signs Accommodation walking on minor roads keep to the right • Leave gates and To make a reservation or to obtain and make use of verges whenever you can. property as you find them information on accommodation contact It should be easy to follow the route one of the Tourist using the map and instructions inside this • Protect plants and animals, and take Information Centres. These are at leaflet. When walking the route try and your litter home McArthur Glen Designer Outlet off look out for the Walk logo that will be Junction 36 the M4 (telephone O1656 • Keep dogs under close control situated on stiles, gates and posts along 6549O6) and at John Street, Porthcawl the route. Directional waymarks with • Consider other people (telephone O1656 786639). yellow arrows will assist you as to which direction to walk in once you are on a For further general information about the public footpath. We also recommend you Follow the Countryside Code wherever Bridgend area you can contact us via refer to the OS Explorer Map 151 Cardiff you go. You will get the best out of the e-mail at [email protected] and Bridgend. countryside and help to maintain it now and for the future. Alternatively, you can visit our website - which is at www.visitbridgend.com Female Black cap (NB The male has the black cap) Photo courtesy of Steven Round Built up areas Bridend Railway Walk route Station Link to other walks River Ogmore & Merthyr MawRiversr Water Street P Roads Walking and cycling route Railway The Rhiw River Court Introduction P Parking Ogmore Road This leaflet describes walks up to about 1 9km (51/2 miles) long from Bridgend To continue on the walk proceed along Broadlands 2 Merthyr railway station. On the way you’ll pass a the walking and cycling route over the The P Mawr Dancing Road riverside nature reserve, the remains of stone bridge and up the slope. About Stone and the pretty estate half way up the slope take the path on Link to Subway village of Merthyr Mawr. You’ll find all your left. This takes you into Craig-y- Broadlands Church Road the facilities you need in Bridgend. Parcau Woodland and Local Nature 9 Bridgend Reserve. Follow this path along the top of 3 Recreation The longest walk should take you about Centre 2 the woodland until you come to a gap in Alternative Stone Circle 1/2 to 3 hours but allow a bit more time the hedge boundary on your right. Bear Route Craig-y Parcau to enjoy the countryside and attractions. 1 right and immediately left to join the A48 River Tennis For convenience purposes the directions 3 Club public footpath. Follow ths down to the Ogmore below are written with the route starting A48. and finishing at Bridgend railway station. CHOICE: If you do not wish to go through You could, however, start from Broadlands Llanerch or Merthyr Mawr. If you are travelling in the woodland the alternative route is to Home A48 the opposite direction simply reverse the go through the chicane barrier at theLink to the top of the slope on the walking and cycleBridgend directions. 4 route and then take the public footpathCircular Walk on your left. If starting from Broadlands Newbridge this is the point to join the walk. Follow Farm this path all the way to the A48 (keeping the woodland on your left hand side). New Inn 3 Bridge Craig-y-Parcau woodland Link to This wood saves lives! Imagine how Candleston uncomfortable life would be without foodCastle and River or shelter. Craig y Parcau provides theseNewton / Ogmore essentials for all sorts of animals andPorthcawl birds. In season you can hear Song Merthyr Home Thrush, Blackcap and Chiffchaff. You Mawr Farm Earth may possibly also see and hear Green Bank Woodpecker. In the Spring the reserve 5 6 supports lots of woodland flowers such as Verville 8 bluebell, wood anemone and yellow St Teilo’s Dipper Photo Courtesy of Steven Round archangel which would suggest that this Church area has been woodland for a long time. Directions It’s now being run as a Local Nature River Reserve to ensure that wildlife continues Turn left out of the station down Court Ewenny to thrive here. Stepping Not to scale Road. At the bottom of the hill turn left Stones Link to the Bridgend on to Nolton Street. Cross the road at Circular Walk All maps in this series are based the pedestrian crossing and take the first 7 upon Ordnance Survey maps. C Crown copyright. All rights reserved street on your right known as The Rhiw. At ( Council) the bottom of the hill cross the River (Licence no. 100023405, 2004.) Ogmore using the left hand side of the Ogmore bridge. Castle Ogmore River 1 CHOICE: to make your way back to the road, carry straight on down the hill (you Parts of the Ogmore River system once ran station, cross the bridge and take the will come to a point where you see a black with coal dust. The water is now next footpath on the left. (pick up the footpath sign on your right hand side clean and the river supports a wide Bluebells and Wood Anemones description at below) pointing up a rough track. This is a link Photos courtesy of Howard Maunders variety of wildlife including Grey Wagtail To continue the walk, cross To continue the walk, turn right and into the Bridgend Circular Walk heading and Dipper. the A48 – take care, it’s busy – to the follow the road and find the stone stile towards ). To continue the walk When you have crossed the bridge turn footpath opposite. Continue through the on the left, opposite the entrance to follow the road downhill towards Home left and follow the walking and cycling woods until you come to a road at which Llanerch Home. Follow the path keeping Farm. At Home Farm, cross the stone stile route past Bridgend Recreation and Bowls point New Inn Bridge will be on your left. next to the wall. When you reach the on the right and cross a small field. Go Centre. A short distance after the Bowls New Inn Bridge was built in the 15th over a wooden stile through a small Centre you will see Bridgend’s oldest and century. The 4 holes in the parapets are wooded area and over another stone stile 2 strangest relic - The Dancing Stone . 4 where farmers once pushed 5 6 to come out on the road. At cock crow on Christmas morning,2 in reluctant sheep into the River Ogmore for CHOICE : to extend your walk to Newton common with certain other stones in a seasonal dip! At the side of the bridge (Porthcawl) turn right and follow the Celtic regions, this ancient stone dances there once stood an Inn where the road to . down to the river to wash. Landlord known as ‘Cap Coch’ (Red Cap) To continue the circular walk, turn left would rob and murder travellers en and follow the road past the church in route to St. David’s Shrine. (Also look out Merthyr Mawr Village. for Dippers here!)

New Inn (dipping) bridge, Merthyr Mawr