Llynfi ValleyWalk116ppDL:LlynfiDL.qxd27/5/0911:11Page Up to 8 km (5 miles) 3 miles) (5 km 8 to Up hours / 2 1 [email protected] or by e-mail at at e-mail by or 0871 200 22 33 www.traveline.info 33 22 200 0871 on on 01656 642593 01656 642553 01656 ) or (Telephone 01656 642559 01656 or the Traveline Traveline the or on Bridgend Industrial Estate, Bridgend, CF31 3SH 3SH CF31 Bridgend, Estate, Industrial Bridgend Borough Council’s, Public Transport Section Section Transport Public Council’s, Borough Directorate, Morien House Bennett Street, Street, Bennett House Morien Directorate, service numbers telephone Bridgend County Bridgend telephone numbers service contact the Rights of Way Section, Communities Section, Way of Rights the contact For further information on bus times and and times bus on information further For practical problems on any of the paths please please paths the of any on problems practical Public Transport Public your comments and suggestions or to report any report to or suggestions and comments your For further information about this walk, to pass on pass to walk, this about information further For Darren Valley Darren Tydfil. Roy Meredith Roy G the OS Explorer Map 166 Rhondda and Merthyr and Rhondda 166 Map Explorer OS the Barrie Evans Evans Barrie G public right of way. We also recommend you refer to refer you recommend also We way. of right public to which direction to walk in once you are on a a on are you once in walk to direction which to leaflet Directional way marks with arrows will assist you as you assist will arrows with marks way Directional prepare the walk and text or for sponsoring the sponsoring for or text and walk the prepare situated on stiles, gates and posts along the route. the along posts and gates stiles, on situated Thanks to the following for helping to either either to helping for following the to Thanks route try and look out for the Walk logo that will be will that logo Walk the for out look and try route Acknowledgements and instructions inside this leaflet. When walking the walking When leaflet. this inside instructions and It should be easy to follow the route using the map the using route the follow to easy be should It Moel Cynhordy Moel www.bridgend.gov.uk you can visit our website - which is at at is which - website our visit can you [email protected]. Alternatively, at Bridgend area you can contact us via e-mail e-mail via us contact can you area Bridgend For further general information about the the about information general further For 01656 786639 01656 ). (telephone Porthcawl 01656 654906 01656 ) and at John Street, John at and ) (telephone to maintain it now and for the future. the for and now it maintain to Designer Outlet off Junction 36 the M4 M4 the 36 Junction off Outlet Designer lp he and countryside the of out best the get will You Information Centres. These are at McArthur Glen McArthur at are These Centres. Information Follow the Countryside Code wherever you go. go. you wherever Code Countryside the Follow on accommodation contact one of the Tourist the of one contact accommodation on To make a reservation or to obtain information information obtain to or reservation a make To make use of verges whenever you can. you whenever verges of use make Consider other people other Consider W G ALK 1 ALK Accommodation are walking on minor roads keep to the right and right the to keep roads minor on walking are Keep dogs under close control close under dogs Keep G fit! Always follow the Countryside Code. When you When Code. Countryside the follow Always fit! Protect plants and animals, and take your litter home litter your take and animals, and plants Protect G take food and drink with you and be prepared to get to prepared be and you with drink and food take Leave gates and property as you find them find you as property and gates Leave G wear suitable clothes and good shoes/boots and shoes/boots good and clothes suitable wear Maesteg train station train Maesteg Be safe - plan ahead and follow any signs any follow and ahead plan - safe Be G G V L ALLEY ALLEY LYNFI in places with some stiles to climb. Remember to Remember climb. to stiles some with places in On-street parking in Garth in parking On-street G The going can be steep and may be wet and slippery and wet be may and steep be can going The RESPECT PROTECT ENJOY PROTECT RESPECT There is parking provision at the following: the at provision parking is There Advice and Information and Advice Countryside Code Countryside Car Parking Car VIEWPOINT! At the top of the hill you will have The path will meet a junction with another path. At 5 St John’s Colliery stood on the site of the Follow the track to a kissing gate which leads onto views of the top of the mountains in the Garw this junction turn left following the way mark until older Cwm du colliery which was open from 1850 the car park of Maesteg Cemetery. Cross the car Valley, the Ogwr Ridgeway and of the Gower. you reach a ‘T’ Junction where you turn right. until the seam was exhausted in 1908. In 1908 St park to exit onto the highway and turn left. John’s colliery opened with the sinking of two As you near the top of the mountain you will see a shafts to extract coal from deeper seams. St. John’s In the distance to your right you will be able to see stile on your left hand side. The main track turns closed in November 1985. It was the last deep 6 Maesteg Washery . Coal, extracted from a right at this point. Pass over the stile keeping the mine in the Llynfi Valley area. number of collieries in the Llynfi Valley was treated field boundary fence on your left. After at the Maesteg Central Washery before being approximately 200 metres turn left and pass After passing the old colliery site continue along supplied to the steel and domestic markets. The through a bridle gate set in the fence line, heading the tarmac road first passing over a cattle grid then former washery site is currently being redeveloped towards the forestry plantation. continuing straight ahead at the junction where for various uses including the new Maesteg another road branches off to the left. Just after the Comprehensive School, which was opened on junction you will see a sign posted footpath and a part of the site in 2008. metal stile on your left. Turn right at the next road junction following the Cross the stile and follow the well defined path road downhill to Crown Road passing the Crown diagonally across the field until you reach a Hotel public house on your left. On reaching the drainage channel bridged with wooden planks. next road junction turn right into Castle Street and View of site of St. John Colliery follow the road passing under a railway bridge. At the traffic lights turn right by Somerfield. Maesteg Follow this track bearing left ignoring three station is signposted in front of you and you can junctions with other tracks on your right hand side. catch a train to return to Garth station. After passing the third junction you will see a way Alternatively there are links to Llynfi Valley Walks mark post where the track will bear right. Continue 1, 3, 4 and 5 from this point. on the track for approximately 300 metres from the Moel Cynhordy bend where you will see a way mark post pointing down the hill on your left in between the trees. The boundary fence for the forestry will be on your At this point leave the forest track and follow the right hand side. Cross the field moving gradually to path through the trees until you reach a rough your left to reach a way marked field gate. Pass Views over to Llangynwyd from Garth Hill track. Cross the track to follow the path in between through the field gate heading towards the forestry the trees looking for a stile in the fence line in front Continue along the path where you will find plantation, keeping the fence and then a stone wall of you. Cross over the stile to leave the forestry another drainage channel and a metal stile in front on your left hand side. plantation. of you. Climb over the stile and enter into a small copse where you will see another metal stile 50 VIEWPOINT! At this point if you turn and face the Follow the well defined path through the fields metres in front of you. Climb over the stile and way you have just come you can see all the way to crossing two more stiles until you reach a rough head towards the cemetery keeping the boundary Minehead on a clear day. track. Turn right and follow the track passing wall of the cemetery on your right hand side. At through a way marked gateway then turn left as the corner of the boundary wall continue ahead At the edge of the forestry plantation you will pass the rough track changes to a tarmac road. On your following the well defined path heading towards through a way marked field gate to enter the left the remains of the St Johns Colliery can be the cemetery maintenance buildings and rough plantation.