GPS Cycle and Walking Routes

Maerdy Lluest Wen Reservoir Walk

6 miles (9.3 km)

This walk visits two pretty reservoirs from the village of Maerdy in Rhondda Cynon Taf.
The walk starts in the village and heads north along the River Rhondda Fach to the Lower Reservoir. You continue north passing some lovely waterfalls before coming to the Lleust-wen reservoir. It's a beautiful spot with the pretty lake surrounded by attractive woodland and grassland.
The last part of the walk runs along a section of the Coed Morgannwg Way, a waymarked long distance trail running through the area. You could follow the trail east to Dare Valley Country Park if you felt like extending the walk. If you were head north west you would soon come to the splendid viewpoint at Rhigos Mountain.

Maerdy Reservoir OS Map - Mobile GPS OS Map with Location tracking

Maerdy Reservoir Open Street Map - Mobile GPS Map with Location tracking

Photos

Maerdy (geograph 6142699)

View of Maerdy village from a path leading down from Mynydd y Ffaldau.

Lower reservoir in Cwm Rhondda Fach - geograph.org.uk - 1288762

Lower reservoir in Cwm Rhondda Fach. The Rhondda Fach river flows through two reservoirs before passing by Maerdy. This is the second.

Weir of lower reservoir in Cwm Rhondda Fach - geograph.org.uk - 1288753

Weir of lower reservoir in Cwm Rhondda Fach

Afon Rhondda Fach - geograph.org.uk - 1018014

Afon Rhondda Fach. The river has come down from the Lluest-wen Reservoir, the dam of which can be seen just below the skyline. A road from the reservoir follows the north bank. In the foreground is Pont Lluest-wen, carrying footpaths but not vehicles across the river.

Pont Lluest-Wen Bridge - geograph.org.uk - 1501133

Pont Lluest-Wen Bridge.  Footbridge over Afon Rhondda Fach on the Coed Morgannwg Way Footpath

Waterfall on Rhondda Fach - geograph.org.uk - 693598

Waterfall on Rhondda Fach. This is downstream of Pont Lluest Wen

Lluest-wen Reservoir - geograph.org.uk - 1288742

 Lluest-wen Reservoir. The dam wall has a road crossing it. The water level does not reach the height of the wall pictured because it is only a thin concrete skin bounding the road. It is possible to walk from the pictured car park around the painted gantry above the top of the spillway.

Lleust-wen Reservoir - geograph.org.uk - 2293293

Lleust-wen Reservoir

Video

GPS Files

GPX File

Maerdy Reservoir.gpx (On Desktop:Right Click>Save As. On Ipad/Iphone:Click and hold>Download Linked File)

Memory Map Route

Maerdy Reservoir.mmo (On Desktop:Right Click>Save As. On Ipad/Iphone:Click and hold >Download Linked File)