SUMMARY A walk through the woods and fields around Rudry and Draethen, and which takes in Ruperra Castle. Coedcae is especially beautiful in the late spring when it is carpeted with bluebells. At Mynydd Ruperra, the Ruperra Conser- vation Trust (www.ruperra.org.uk) have cleared and reo- pened paths within the extensive grounds that formerly A series of walks in and around Cardiff belonged to Ruperra Castle as well as renovating the created by Ramblers Cymru Cardiff Group structures visited on this walk, such as the Summer House. Glimpses of Ruperra Castle itself may also be seen. It was built as the home of Sir Thomas Morgan around 1620, Draethen & rebuilt 150 years later after having been burnt down and is now nothing but a ruined shell. Rudry Circuit Draethen with Mynydd Machen in the distance Maps: OS Explorer 152 Newport & Pontypool (with a small amount towards end of walk on OS Explorerer 151) Start Point: Grid ref ST202854 - Llwyn Celyn car park. Distance: 10 km / 6m. Time: 3 hr (without stops). Facilities: Refreshments are available at the Hollybush, Draethen and the Maen Llwyd, Rudry. Ruperra Castle Difficulty: It includes one lengthy climb with a number of other ups and downs. Stout shoes, or preferably boots, Getting there from Cardiff Central: will be needed as paths and tracks could be muddy and By bus and train Train to Caerphilly or Newport, bus even waterlogged after prolonged wet weather. from.either town to Lower Machen and then an 800m (0.5 mile) walk along a minor road to Draethen (Point F). All information correct at time of publication November 2011 By car: To Llwyn Celyn car park (start of walk). Please ensure you are fit enough and suitably Looking towards the Wentloog levels and the Severn Estuary equipped for the walk you undertake. from the Summerhouse Cardiff Ramblers are the local group of Ramblers Cymru The Cardiff Group organises walks in the south Wales area and beyond, mainly on Wednesdays (3 different distances), weekends and Thursday evenings (in summer). We also organise coach trips, weekends away, footpath maintenance and campaigns and the occasional social event. There is no charge for non-members to join our walks - but we would like you to join if you take part regularly. The Ramblers Association is a registered charity (England and Wales no. 1093577; Scotland no. SC039799) and a company limited by guarantee, You can learn more about us at: www.cardifframblers.org.uk registered in England & Wales (no. 4458492). Registered office: 2nd floor, Camelford House, 87-90 Albert Embankment, London SE1 7TW. Rudry & Draethen Circuit with a low wall around the top which are the remains of the F. Turn sharp left and follow this road past the outlying Summer house. The path forks. The right-hand path rises Moderate 10km/6m houses of the village. Turn right and follow a concrete up the side of the mound and gives access to the interior of road towards a house (it is marked by a green bridleway o A. From the car park, follow the wide track up the hill for the wall and gives a 360 panorama. marker on the left had side of the road). Just before the about 400 metres as it bends to the right and then left. At house, turn left along a marked path bounded by a fence on a large rectangular marker stone on your left, take a narrow E. Retrace your steps and the take the left hand fork (now both sides. The path bends right and climbs steeply path on the right (not signposted). After 50 metres you a very sharp right turn). Follow this path through a kissing through Coed Cefn-Pwll Du. As it levels off it makes two reach a gate. Go through and turn left, follow the field gate with open views to the right. Continue on this path as S-bends (where fainter paths cross it) before it reaches an boundary fence on the left hand side down to the start of it turns sharply to the left. The path, now muddy, rises unmade road. Turn left onto this road and follow it for Coedcae wood. Go over the the stile and continue down- briefly and then falls steadily to meet a path coming in about 400 metres until it reaches a clearing. Pass through hill almost to the valley floor where the path meets another from the right (by a way-marking post with multiple indi- a motorcycle trap between large boulders on your right to path crossing at right angles. cator discs). Turn right onto this path which descends reach a dilapidated metalled road. Turn left and follow the more and more steeply through Coed Craig Ruperra. Keep road for another 800 metres until it reaches the Maen B. Turn right onto this path and follow it as it makes its a decayed fence line on your left, ignoring a wide track on LIwyd Inn at Rudry. way gently upwards through the wood until it reaches a your right, to reach a kissing gate giving access to an open gate at the boundary of the wood and open fields. Go field. Go right for a few metres and then descend the the G. Cross the road to a set of steps leading up to the Maen through gate and bear diagonally left aiming at the end of right hand far corner where there is a stile at the back of the Llwyd overflow car park, which you pass on your right. a line of trees and then at the left-hand white house. As pub, The Hollybush, which allows access via the pub Follow the path to a kissing gate, over a tarmac road and you approach the field boundary you will see a kissing gate forecourt to the Rudry-Draethen road. then up some wooden steps. You almost immediately which allows you access to the road. meet a wide track coming in from the left, turn right onto it and follow this C. Turn left onto the road to reach a track as it gently ascends the ridge. Just cross roads. Cross the junction and after a metal barrier with kissing gate continue down a road marked “Private” F there is a path on the left. Take this path with a footpath sign for the Rhymney which soon begins to descend very Valley Ridgeway Footpath. Just passed steeply to Nant y Cwm. At the bottom it a house on the left hand side the track meets a wide track which runs along the (by now unmade) swings to the right valley floor. Turn right onto this. After passed stables and then to the left reach 200m a further wide track comes in from the back of Ruperra Castle and its the left. grounds which are on your right. G E H. Take this track which crosses the D D. About 20 metres after the start of a H stream before reaching a T-junction with substantial wall on your right you will another wide track. Turn right and fol- see on the left a wooden post with a B C low this track as it begins to swing slowly yellow direction arrow marking access to the left and gently ascend. Go passed to a path rising-up a set of steps. Where a track coming in from the right and, it levels off it reaches a cross-road. after the track levels off, you eventually Take the path going right (there is a reach the narrow path on the by a stone marker post but it only shows directions pillar where you turned off at the begin- for those using the path in the opposite A ning of the walk. Continue on the track direction). The path rises and passes as it descends and swings right and left to The Arbour before reaching a mound reach the car park..