Garw Valley Walk 4 2013:Layout 1 3/1/14 08:53 Page 1

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n i a m e h t o t t u o d e w o t e r e w h c i h w s t a o b m o t t o b t a l f e n i P e l o p e g d o L , e c u r p S a k t i S e r a w o l l o f o t d e s u n a v m a e r c e c i n a s 0 6 d n a s 0 5 9 1 e h t n I d n a d a e h r e v o h g i h g n i y l f s n e v a R r o s d r a z z u B e e s y a m

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AdviceandInformation CountrysideCode VisitorInformation For advice on where to stay, places to eat and RESPECT PROTECT ENJOY The going can be steep and may be wet and slippery things to do: please contact 01656 815338 GarwValley in places with some stiles to climb. Remember to email touristinformation@bridgend.gov.uk G Be safe - plan ahead and follow any signs wear suitable clothes and good shoes/boots and take or alternatively visit www.bridgendbites.com food and drink with you and be prepared to get fit! G Leave gates and property as you find them G Protect plants and animals, and take your litter home Walk4 Always follow the Countryside Code. When you are For further general information about the G Keep dogs under close control walking on minor roads keep to the right and make Bridgend area you can visit G Consider other people use of verges whenever you can. www.bridgend.gov.uk It should be easy to follow the route using the map Follow the Countryside Code wherever you go. You and instructions inside this leaflet. When walking the will get the best out of the countryside and help to Acknowledgements route try and look out for the Walk logo that will be maintain it now and for the future. Thanks to the following for helping to either situated on stiles, gates and posts along the route. prepare the walk and text. Directional way marks with arrows will assist you as G Garw Heritage Society, particularly: to which direction to walk in once you are on a public A Short History of the Garw Valley – 1850/1950 right of way. We also recommend you refer to the OS by A.H.Williams – August 1950 Explorer Map 166 Rhondda and Merthyr Tydfil. G Gordon Farmer G Gerald Jarvis For further information about this walk, to pass on G Cover photo supplied by John Finch - ©John finch your comments and suggestions or to report any practical problems on any of the paths please contact the Rights of Way Section, Communities Directorate, Civic Offices, Bridgend County Borough

Council, Angel Street, Bridgend, CF31 4WB Top of Garw Fechan looking south (Telephone 01656 642553 or 01656 642593 ) or by e-mail at [email protected] PublicTransport For further information on bus times and service numbers telephone Bridgend County Borough Council’s, Public Transport Section on 01656 642559 or the Traveline ALLEY V WA W L R K on 0871 200 22 33 www.traveline.info A S G

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I W T R H A I A G CarParking U M CE W RDDED C There is parking provision at the following: G Limited on street parking in Pont-y-Rhyl Last coal train out of the Garw valley Upto6km( 31/4 miles) Garw Valley Walk 4 2013:Layout 1 3/1/14 08:54 Page 2 GarwValleyWalk4

Key 8 Main Route Sites of Interest N 1 Link to community Upto6km(3 /4 miles) 7 route 2to2 1/2 Hours

This map is reproduced from Ordnance Survey material with permission of Ordnance Survey on behalf of the Controller of Her This leaflet describes a circular walk starting and Majestyʼs Stationary Office© Crown copyright. Unauthorised ending at the Braich-y-cymmer in Pont-y-rhyl. The reproduction infringes Crown copyright and may lead to prosecution or civil proceedings. (Bridgend County Borough Council Licence walk leads you northwest through Cwm Garw Number 100023405, 2013). Fechan, a tributary of the Garw river. It offers a 6 sheltered and shorter route compared to some other Garw Valley Walks and will suit a wide range of abilities. There are good links to other rights of way for those who wish to explore further and walk up on to the surrounding hills. The whole route is approximately 6 kms taking about 2 hours to 5 complete, allow a bit more time if you wish to rest and take in the views of the valley. The route uses a 9 combination of public footpaths, bridleways, maintainable highway and permissive paths along forest roads. Most of the route is located on land managed by Forestry Commission Wales.

For convenience the directions below are written with the Braich-y-cymmer as the starting point. You could, however, equally start from any point along the route, 4 and if traveling the opposite way, simply reverse the directions.

The Garw Valley is a former coal-mining community 3 nestled between the hillsides of the Ogmore & Llynfi Valleys. Cwm Garw Fechan is a separate and distinct valley between the Garw and Llynfi Valleys and joins the Garw River at Pont-y-rhyl. All of these valleys comprise the highland area of Bridgend County Borough and rise steeply to the north.

Cwm Garw Fechan’s woodlands are a tranquil area with an abundance of wildlife. The conifers have attracted certain birds which have adapted especially to make the most of these trees. These include the 2 Crossbill, Goldcrest, Red Poll and Goshawk. Salmon, Trout and Sewin breed in the stream, Adders have 1 been seen on open ground and dragonflies are attracted to small ponds in the woodland.

Waymakers & Geology: The route of Garw Valley Walk 4 is marked with stone waymarkers which are made up of pairs of upright stones with stone walling ‘flowing’ through the gap Garw Fechan footbridge between the stones. These waymarkers represent the DIRECTIONS: 2 Garw Fechan Road. The first miners came from rocky gorge to be found further upstream in Cwm From the Braich-y-cymmer walk northwest up Garw the neighbouring valleys to sink trial Levels in the sides Garw Fechan, and the waterfalls which are a feature Fechan Road which is to the left hand side of the pub of the mountain. These Levels looked like rabbit holes of the river. You will see the Walk logo and arrows in the mountain side each with its “droppings” of slag showing the route on each of the waymarkers. 1 Pont-Y-Rhyl. The village of Pont-y-rhyl expanded and rock at the entrance. The steep slopes on your at the end of the 19the Century when deep coal left are partially covered in a thin layer of colliery spoil The artwork to be seen on the waymarkers was mines were sunk in the valley. The nearest deep mine from such levels. produced by school children in 2012 from Ffaldau was Lluest Colliery on the opposite side of the Garw Primary School in Pontycymmer and Tynyrheol Primary Valley. There was a school in the village, church and It is difficult for plants to grow on the steep spoil but School in Llangeinor. The public artist, Nigel Talbot, chapel, shops and a railway station. one which has established is the Rhododendron, an worked with the school children and explored ideas evergreen and invasive species introduced to Britain around the flora and fauna of the area and fossils of At this time the Braich-y-cymmer pub was known as around 1763 as a garden plant. Two more alien the future. the Garw Junction Hotel because of its proximity to species that can be seen along the streamside are the railway station. These railway lines were used to Japanese Knotweed and Himalayan Balsam. All 3 of transport coal rather than passengers and miners these plants are aggressive colonisers which reduce would walk miles both above and below ground to the biodiversity of an area by out-competing other reach the coal face. It was an offence, and extremely plants and animals. dangerous, to try and hitch a lift on the coal trains.

LINKS: Follow this road past the end of the terraced row of There is a community route following the line of an houses and continue on the public footpath through old railway between Bryngarw Country Park and the entrance gate to No 18 Garw Fechan Road. There Blaengarw which can be accessed from Pont-y-rhyl by is a pedestrian gate for walkers to use if the main gate crossing the road outside the Braich-y-cymmer, is shut. The path follows the route of an old tramway turning right over the river bridge and then left down to Garw Fechan Colliery. a lane. Follow the track past the house and outbuildings, keeping the stream on your left. When you come to a bridge over the Garw Fechan, approximately 150m after the house, do not cross but stay on the same track. Go through the kissing gate which is flanked by stone walls. Stone waymarker Forestry track