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Home , Ancient woodland, Bryngarw Country Park, Brynmenyn, Garw Valley, Kenfig, Llangynwyd

Once in the woods go four country parks. Go west on the over a wooden stile, Ridgeway for Country Park and and follow the foot- Afan Park, east for Bryngarw B4282 path until you see a Country Park and north from Llangenid Nantymoel To track on your right to Dare Valley Country Park. hand side. Ignore this Turn right along the Ridgeway and A4063 and stay on the lower follow the waymarked path across the Bettws path next to the river fields. When you go over the stile near A48 to a point where the City Farm follow the access track to the Heol y Cyw A4061 path moves away right to the junction with B4281 36 Elephant Hawk moth from the river. Cross Bettws Road. At this point Photo Courtesy of Paul Chesterfield over another wooden turn left and walk for a 37 A473 35 stile then cross a small bridge over a A48 short distance then A4106 To stream and out of the wood. Continue cross over the road A4229 Newton straight ahead towards the stone foun- Merthyr opposite the junction Mawr A48 B4524 Ewenny dations of an old farm building then to Tudor Drive. St Brides Major Ogmore by Sea with the stone wall on your right hand Continue to follow the B4265 side continue until you see a field gate signs along a rough track, with a wooden stile along side it. Go over which is a registered Rosehips Acknowledgements the stile. Keeping the line and river Byway Open to All Traffic. Photo courtesy of 7 8 Colin Davidson Thanks to the following for helping to either on your left hand side continue on the At the first stile on the path. Go over a wooden stile and cross prepare the walk and text or for sponsoring right leave the Ridgeway Walk and the leaflet: the stream at which point you will see a follow the waymarked natural surface • , and waymark post. Follow the track for a footpath to . Councils. short distance until you see another way- • Bridgend Council’s Tourism unit. Bryngarw Country Park (9) is divided into mark post on your left side. Follow the From Tondu Station four areas – , grassland, formal direction of the disc on the post so that gardens and water features surrounding GROUNDWORK BRIDGEND & NEATH you are heading towards an electricity Bryngarw House. The gardens around the PEN-Y-BONT AR A CASTELL NEDD pylon in the top left hand corner of the field. PORT TALBOT house are Edwardian and were laid The Ogwr Ridgeway Walk (8) links three out between 191O and 1918. They include Thanks also to the following for use of their other regional routes – the Coed some fine Japanese Maples, Magnolias and images: Morgannwg Way, the Sky to Sea Walk and Rhododendrons. • Paul Chesterfield www.imagesfromnature.net the Ffordd y Bryniau. Using this network • Hania Arensten www.gardensafari.net Within the park you may see Dipper on of long distance paths you can walk to • Colin Davidson www.CabO.tripod.com the river, also Kingfisher are likely here, Designed by design@bridgend Tel: 01656 642046

church. Follow this tarmac footpath past stiles, gates and posts along the route. Public Transport the school and across the common. When Directional waymarks with yellow arrows For further information on bus times you get to the road cross the road and will assist you as to which direction to and service numbers telephone Bridgend follow the pavement along the street walk in once you are on a public foot- County Borough Council’s Public opposite known as Queen Street. path. We also recommend you refer to the Transport Section on O1656 642559 or the OS Explorer Map 151 Cardiff and Continue along the public bridleway, National Bus Enquiry number on O87O Bridgend and the OS Explorer Map 166 which follows a rough track and 6O826O8. Information regarding train & Merthyr Tydfil. descends through the . times can be made via National Rail Coytrahen Colliery (1O) was a drift mine For further information about this walk, Enquiries on O8457 48495O. once employing 25O men. It closed in the to pass on your comments and 192Os. suggestions or to report any practical Cross the bridge over the Llynfi River and problems on any of the paths please Car Parking continue on the track to the main road contact the Rights of Way Section, There is parking provision at the in Tondu (Maesteg Road). Turn left and Environmental and Planning Services following: return to the station. Directorate, Morien House Bennett Street, Bridgend Industrial Estate, Bridgend, Tondu Train Station CF31 3SH (Telephone O1656 642537 or Advice & Information Parc Tondu and Wood Warblers in the woodland. O1656 642516) or by e-mail at The going is easy although it may be wet Bryngarw is also a good place to look for [email protected] Parc Slip Nature Park 9 fungi particularly in the autumn. Look 10 in places. Remember to wear 11 out for waxcaps and spongecaps in the suitable clothes and good shoes/boots Bryngarw Country Park wet grassland areas. Well maintained and take food and drink with you and Countryside Code (Note there is a charge to park at Bryngarw) be prepared to get fit! Always follow the paths and trail guides will ensure that RESPECT PROTECT ENJOY. you get the most out of your visit. Call in Countryside Code • Be safe – plan ahead at the Visitor Centre or telephone the and take care when Accommodation and follow any signs Rangers on O1656 725155 for more crossing main roads. When you are walk- To make a reservation or to obtain information. • Leave gates and ing on minor roads information on accommodation contact Keeping Bryngarw House on your left property as you find them keep to the right one of the Heritage Coast Tourist hand side take the access road. You will and make use of Information Centres. These are at note a pond on your right hand side. • Protect plants and animals, and take verges whenever you McArthur Glen Designer Outlet off Continue along the tarmac your litter home can. Junction 36 the M4 (telephone O1656 road to a point where you Tondu Ironworks • Keep dogs under close control 6549O6) and at John Street, Porthcawl come to the main gate. circa 1910 and 2004 It should be easy to (telephone O1656 786639). Leave the park via the follow the route • Consider other people main gate and turn using the map and Follow the Countryside Code wherever For further general information about the left at the road. At the instructions inside you go. You will get the best out of the Bridgend area you can contact us via next road junction, turn this leaflet. When countryside and help to maintain it now e-mail at [email protected] right and pick up the walking the route and for the future. surfaced public footpath try and look out for Alternatively, you can visit our website - Blackberries on the right just after the the Walk logo that which is at www.visitbridgend.com Photo courtesy of will be situated on Colin Davidson Ogwr Old Industries & New Parks Bettws Ridgeway Walk Ogwr Ridgeway Walk Introduction To begin the Old Industries New Parks City Farm Circular Walk go through the metal This leaflet describes walks up to 9km staggered barrier to the right of the 8 (51/2 miles) long from the railway station church and follow the Celtic Trail cycle Garw in Tondu. The area is rich in industrial Valley route. This is part of Route 4 of the remains and countryside attractions. On Built up areas Cycle National Cycle Network. This section of the way you’ll pass the site of Tondu Route cycle route runs along what was the line Walk route Ironworks, the Engine house of which is of a railway used to move coal around now the Offices of Groundwork Bridgend Link to other walks Bryngarw Tondu Ironworks and was built by Sir and ; the Trust Bryngarw House Robert Price in the 183Os. This part of the Rivers Coytrahen of South & West Parc Slip Nature Country 9 walk has a tarmac and wooden board- Park Park; and, Bryngarw Country Park. You’ll Roads walk surface. Continue to follow the cycle River find all the facilities you need in Tondu, track to Parc Slip Nature Park. Railway Llynfi 7 Coytrahen and Bryngarw Country Park. P Should you wish to take a short detour The longer walk, which should take you P Parking whilst on this section of route Park Terrace Pond about 21/2 to 3 hours, incorporates part of (2) is a well preserved example of 19th the Ogwr Ridgeway Walk, a long River century employer built housing for workers. 1 distance path giving access to some of 3 Garw 6 the most beautiful scenery in South Parc Slip Nature Park (3) is the head- quarters of The Wildlife Trust of South Wales. M and West Wales. It is situated on the site ae Common For convenience purposes the directions Quarry 5 st of an old colliery and opencast coal eg 10 below are written with the route R workings. It has been restored to provide o Church starting and finishing at Tondu train 4 ad a variety of wildlife habitats, including Cwm Risca Tondu station. You could however start from grassland, wildflower , Farm House Queen Street School Parc Slip Nature Park or Bryngarw Farm and woodland. You will see Lapwings in Ynysawdre

Country Park or any point along the To n d u the spring and summer, Green F River route. If you are travelling in the o Park 2 Woodpeckers in the woods and Golden u Ogmore opposite direction simply reverse all n Terrace Plover which sometimes stop off in the t a Railway the directions. i P Park Railway Autumn/Winter. You will n Tondu Station R 1 P Continuation Directions also find the Painted Lady o Parc a P of Route 4 From Tondu Station leave butterfly and the Elephant Slip 3 d Celtic Trail Hawk moth within the park Nature the platform via the Reserve and the in the Footbridge, turning left at P Car the top of the steps. At the pond areas. You will also Park Map not to scale main road (known as see flora such as Rosehips, Celtic Trail All maps in this series are based upon Ordnance Survey maps. Maesteg Road) cross the Bramble and Southern C Crown copyright. All rights reserved Continuation of ( Council) road and turn left and Marsh Orchids within the Route 4 Celtic Trail (Licence no. 100023405, 2005) proceed along the pave- park. The Celtic Trail runs ment. Painted Lady butterfly Photo Courtesy of Paul Chesterfield through the Park and a and adults participate in the creation of down the steps, over the small wooden Before starting the walk you may like to network of other paths, some EcoDysgu via schools, youth services and bridge and straight down the hill visit Parc Tondu the entrance to which of which are accessible by community groups. They have all through the trees to the main road (the will be on your right hand side and is wheelchair, are open to the helped to create trails, sculp- A4O63 Maesteg Road). situated behind the new Parc Derllwyn public. For more information tures, willow huts, even a Celtic Just before you reach the road is the line housing development and adjacent to the contact the Trust on O1656 roundhouse and compost toilets! of Sir Robert Price’s Tramroad (6). This was Celtic Trail. 7241OO. For more information or to take built to bring coal from his collieries at part in this project contact Parc Tondu (1) is the most complete To continue on the circular Feliln Fach and Bettws to the ironworks at walk turn right when you reach EcoDysgu on Bridgend O1656 Tondu. Price also constructed a water- Victorian ironworks in Britain and is in 728137. the process of being developed by the point opposite the Trust’s course alongside to carry water from the Groundwork Bridgend and Neath Port headquarters where the Cycle To continue on the walk bear to the works. Talbot. There is also a small natural route meets Fountain Road. right through farm buildings When you come to the point where the Follow this road until you come Common Frog and then take the waymarked woodland and landscaped parkland, Photo Courtesy of Hania Arentsen footpath meets the main road cross the Trail and mountain bike course. to a crossroad. Go straight path on the left over the wooden road (but take care as it can be busy). ahead following the signs for Cwm Risca. stile. Head downhill towards the huge You now have a CHOICE: to get back to Sir Robert Price, a Herefordshire MP At a bend in the road take the sign posted tree in the field. Just beyond the oak founded the ironworks in Tondu in 1838. the station, turn right and follow the public footpath on the right. Bear left to tree you will emerge onto a track. pavement to Tondu; to continue the walk, Unfortunately, he had little experience of cross a wooden stile, follow the waymarks business and his venture ended in The track you are on is the disused line turn left, and take the next and keep the field boundary on your of the Duffryn, Llynfi and Porthcawl footpath on the right which is signposted bankruptcy, allowing John Brogden & Sons right. Cross another 2 stiles and continue to take over in 1854 and create a Railway (5), completed in 1828 to serve and has a metal kissing gate at the along the edge of a small wood keeping industries in and around the Llynfi start. Go through the kissing gate down successful company based on iron the fence line on your right. Pick up working, coal mining and railways. A Valley. It was originally a horse drawn the steps and follow the path to the the farm track, (which is also a public tramway but was later rebuilt to road. 2 slump in the iron industry in the 187Os sent 4 footpath) to Tondu House Farm. 5 6 the company into receivership in 1878. accommodate locomotives. The Llynfi River (7) is part of the Ogmore Tondu House Farm (4) and the surround- A 1OOm detour (by kind permission) to the river system and was once heavily polluted In 1888 Colonel North became a local ing woodland is currently being managed hero when he rescued the business and left along this tramway will take you with coal dust. The water is now clean by EcoDysgu. Visitors will find themselves past a loading platform to a quarry and the river supports a wide variety of local jobs. His company concentrated on breathing in the freedom of 42 acres of coal and survived until nationalisation in where pennant sandstone was quarried wildlife including grey wagtail, herons , pasture and workshop for the ironworks and local housing. You and dippers. 1947, after which Tondu became the West space. Birds that you will find in the can also see a trolley bus which was used When you get to the road turn right. Wales HQ of the National Coal Board. woodland include Great Spotted and by the M.o.D during the Second World Using the road go over the river and then For more information on Parc Tondu Green Woodpeckers, Nuthatch, Treecreeper, War for top secret munitions testing. under the railway bridge. Climb over the contact Groundwork Bridgend & Neath and migrants such as Blackcap, To continue the walk return to the stone stile on the left and follow the Port Talbot on Bridgend – (O1656 7278OO) or Chiffchaff and Willow Warblers in public footpath and follow the walk public footpath into the woods. e.mail: [email protected] summer. Groups of children, young people