Walks Nos 54 and 55, Ystradowen Border Vale Walks Though at the northern edge of the Vale, this area's attractions readily bear comparison with other areas further south. It possesses a landscape that is slightly higher; more wooded and has more lakes. Livestock farming dominates so the walker is less liable to encounter crop blockages during summer months.The main walk traverses fertile farmland, both coniferous and deciduous woods and open limestone down land.As well it skirts two historic houses, a beautiful lake and just touches on the southern extremity of the once important S mining area. One of the shorter walks goes past a flourishing fish farm. Distance Main walk 7 miles; short option A, 3 miles; option B, 31/2 miles. Map Explorer 151. Parking Road side in Ystradowen, also a small car park at Talygarn Church. Parking elsewhere on route is very limited. Public Transport E11 bus service between and Talbot Green, running approximately hourly. (not on Sundays). Refreshments White Lion at Ystradowen. To ilets Photograph © G.Woosnam Talygarn Lake START Route Guide below starts at the White Lion Inn (GR 012777)

SCALE (APPROX): PLACES OF INTEREST 1 Kilometre ST.OWAIN'S CHURCH 1 Mile Was built in 1867 to replace a church that had existed on the site since the 13th century. Owain is thought to have been the son of a 12th century Morgannwg king.The church has a 17th century bell and possesses a sensitively built recent extension. THE MOTTE This feature is over 800 years old. It is a 5 metre high mound of earth which may once have had ditches, or may never have been completed. It is thought to have been built by St Quentin to defend the territory of Talyfan. It was soon superseded by signs in this lakeside area indicating Talyfan castle. Daniel Owen of Ash Hall where the owner allows walkers access planted trees on the motte to beautify to vantage points. If you wish to view it and to highlight the legend that it had Talygarn House ensure that you stick been a centre of druidic activity. to the public rights of way). Continue ASH HALL along the well defined track for another Built in the early 18th century its best 1/2 mile to reach Keeper's Lodge farm. known owner was Daniel Owen. Walk on in the same direction, through Owen was born in Llanharan, gates, with the field hedge to your left, emigrated to Australia where he made to a stile. (There may be a notice here his fortune, returned to Wales and requesting you to use the farm drive bought this property in 1866. He upgraded it and for 30 years acted as rather than the fields). Cross another the virtual squire of Ystradowen. He short stretch of field to a gap and proceed, became co-owner of the Western Mail bearing slightly left, across the next and helped finance the Cowbridge- field to reach a stile leading to a road. Aberthaw railway. He died in 1896 and Turn right and after about 80 yards is buried in the local churchyard.The turn back right again via a stile into a nearby Ash Cottage, the core of which is very old, is rumoured to be haunted, field which can often be boggy in wet but by kindly spirits! weather. Cross it to a stile leading into a wood.The woodland path is quite well ST.ANNE’S CHURCH This was a chapel of ease which was S marked but there is a muddy stream restored in 1687 by Sir Leoline Jenkins area to cross.As you emerge from the of Cowbridge School and Jesus College wood there are two alternative routes fame. It was rebuilt in 1887 by indicated, official and permissive. Either George (G.T.) Clark (Talygarn) in will bring you out to a broad track where memory of his wife Ann. you bear left. Continue over a stile into TALYGARN HOUSE & a field where you keep to the right hand GROUNDS THE ROUTE Turn left and soon right to enter a farm waste ground. Subsequently, it passes side to a stile in the far corner. Cross As it existed until recently, this house All three walks start here at S . drive. A little way along this drive turn between new housing and on to what the top corner of the next field, using and its grounds and lake were largely To begin take the minor road away left over a stile and then cross the was the narrow former Brynsadler- the stiles to enter another long field the creation of George Clark. He was a from the White Lion to pass in front subsequent field diagonally right to a Llanharry main road. (N.B. this area is where once again you keep to the right multi talented Londoner with justifiable claims to fame in the fields of medicine, of St Owain’s Church and reach a stile at which you turn sharply right. a housing development area so the hand edge. Having passed under a line railway engineering, the iron and coal kissing gate on the right. Go through, Walk along with the hedge to your route of the path may change a little of pylons you reach a stile in the far right until you reach a gate just short in the near future).Turn right here to industries, as a traveller and in later life past a stile that is between the church corner. Cross it and skirt round the as a noted historian. Many elements of a house,Ty’n y Tranch. (Those doing reach the current main road.Again on the right and a wooded mound hedge/treeline on your left. Go forward from the continent were incorporated (motte) to the left and continue the shorter walks A or B should turn turn right and at The Elms turn right to negotiate another stile that leads into the fabric and pictures within the with, at first, a railed fence on your right right here and go on to the red and once more and proceed along a well you on to a well-defined track.Turn house.The grounds, also, benefited 1 to a stile in the far corner of the field. then orange text overleaf.) marked track for some /2 mile, (re right and then very quickly leave the from numerous exotic imports. Many Now head uphill towards Ash Hall On the main walk carry straight on crossing the M4), to reach the A4222 track to go left, through vegetation to of the exotic trees still exist.The house later became a miners’ convalescent which you will see on the skyline above to cross three stiles in quick at Talygarn.You pass St Anne's Church a sleeper bridge and stile. Cross both home and later passed into the hands succession behind the house. Now en route. and turn right.With the fence now on you. Go round this property, now on of NHS. It has recently been sold to a your right walk on to pass a redundant your left, and continuing uphill cross proceed gently downhill, with the field At this Pontyclun-Cowbridge road property developer who has embarked two stiles to reach a gate at a minor hedge on your left, to another stile in turn right.Walk on to the last house stile to another sleeper bridge and stile. on a restricted but distinctive building road.Ash Cottage is immediately to your the field corner. Cross this, turn left for on the right before crossing to a drive These lead you into the final field of this programme. right. Cross the road to a gate and a short distance, then right to follow which is marked Private Road.There is walk. Keeping to the right hand perimeter, The lake area is being looked after and stile. In the next field bear slightly left the remnants of an old field boundary a Public Footpath over this drive. walk two sides of this field. (You will restored by a different local owner. uphill to arrive at another stile. Once to a gate at a country road. Proceed along this drive for about a pass the footbridge that connects this PONTYCLUN - over this you enter open limestone Turn left and follow this road until, third of a mile to a point where it splits. walk with alternative short walk B). COWBRIDGE RAILWAY country. Maintaining the same general reaching the edge of Llanharry, you pass (Cot Farm is on the right).Take the You then reach the final stile which Opened in 1865; at last, linking direction you head for a copse of over the M4.Almost immediately, turn right hand track to proceed through brings you on to a minor road.Turn Cowbridge to the rapidly growing railway network. It just failed to reach conifers crossing one stile en route. right and follow a path sandwiched the woodland and eventually along the right and follow this road to a T-junction its centenary for the last passenger Enter and leave this patch of woodland between the M4 and a new housing edge of Talygarn Lake for another third on the Badgers Brook estate. Here turn of a mile to reach a stile.Turn right to right to the main road.At this road train ran in 1964, another victim of via the stiles and cross a narrow field estate. Currently the path then runs Beeching. to a stile leading you on to a minor road. downhill and takes a clear route over cross the lake’s dam. (There are various turn left to arrive back at the start.

Leaflet revised January 2012 January revised Leaflet

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SHORTER WALK ALTERNATIVE A - 3 miles .SHORTER WALK ALTERNATIVE B - 31/2 miles WALK LOCATION IN RELATION TO Leave the main walk at A*. Go through the gate and VALEWAYS’ MILLENNIUM HERITAGE TRAIL Where you leave alternative Walk A turn left along the across the drive to a stile.Walk on in the same direction road to reach a T-junction. Cross the stile in the hedge (south) through two fields and the two double stiles. ahead of you and proceed downhill, in the same direction, Having crossed the second of these bear right. Proceed, through the field to cross the drive of Crofta farm.The downhill, along this diverted path to a stile in the field’s house is on your left. (Ensure that you keep to the Right bottom right hand corner Cross it and soon another that of Way). Go over the stone stile and continue downhill gives onto a country lane. (Short alternative B starts through two fields and two more stiles to reach the main here. See B below). Turn right and soon left at a road. Cross the road to the entrance to Seven Oaks waymarked gate. Cross the field to a stile you crossed on fishery. Here cross the stile and head downhill to the left the outward journey.Then bear left, to avoid the marshy of a feeder pond to a double stile and sleeper bridge. ground, before swinging right. Continue, bearing gently Once over these turn sharp left along the field perimeter right, to a point where the land begins to slope downhill. to cross the embankment of the long since closed Now head for the stile that has come into view. Cross Pontyclun/Cowbridge Railway (6). Now bear diagonally the next field aiming for a stile just to the right of a red right, along a permissive footpath, to reach a new roofed house.This brings you on to a road which you footbridge. Cross it, and turn right along two side of the cross via another stile into the field opposite. field. Now follow the instructions at the end of the main Keep on in the same direction, with Lawn Cottage to walk. your left, to reach a line of trees. Here turn right, keeping the trees on your left. Proceed over a stile, through a patch of scrubby growth, to a well defined track. Valeways’ Millennium Heritage Trail covers a distance of over Continue along it, downhill, to reach a bigger track, 100km, spanning over 6,000 years of history. It wends its way (sometimes muddy).After about 1/4 mile of descent you through a variety of beautiful landscapes. At its northern edge will reach a stepped stile on the left. Climb over and walk there are panoramic vistas of the Blaenau Morgannwg, while on to the bottom opposite corner of the field where you in the south it skirts a spectacular cliffed coastline. are close to a country road. Go through stiles and a final field to reach the wooded motte, St Owain's Church and The Trail is split into 16 easy to follow sections, each of your starting point which can be walked within a few hours.The surroundings are diverse, often spectacular and steeped in history.

Those who have never visited this part of Wales will enjoy walking through fertile, lowland countryside adjoining the spectacular Heritage Coast with its beautiful beaches.The route includes many fascinating historic features, from prehistoric burial chambers to magnificent castles, churches and mansions.

Valeways has published a guide to the Millennium Heritage Trail. This colourful book describes the 16 sections which make up the Trail and comes in a package with 16 separate St Owain’s Church and Motte A3 maps.The guide can be obtained from Valeways for £8.49 Ash Hall Photograph © G.Woosnam including post and packing. Photograph © Vale of Glamorgan Council