| Route Name | Photo | Distance | Description |
| Pontsticill Reservoir |  | 7 miles (10.5 km) | This circular walk takes you around the beautiful Pontsticill Reservoir in the Brecon Beacons National Park. The reservoir is located a few miles north of Merthyr Tydfil on the Taff Trail. You can catch the splendid Brecon Mountain Railway to Pontsticill station next to the reservoir. The railway runs from Pant near Merthyr Tydfil along the full length of the Pontsticill Reservoir to Torpantau high in the Brecon Beacons.
The walk starts near the Dam and Pontsticill station and heads along the Taff Trail through a woodland area on the western side of the reservoir. You return on the eastern side, climbing towards Cwm Criban for splendid views of Pontsticill and the surrounding countryside. You then descend towards the dam and the finish point. View Full Details>> |
| Coed Morgannwg Way |  | 36 miles (58 km) | This walk runs from Merthyr Tydfil to Margam, through the four forests of Coed Morgannwg, the Cynon Valley and the Dare Valley. The walk starts at the Gethin Woodland Park in Merthyr Tydfil and heads west to Aberdare and the lovely Dare Valley Country Park with 500 acres of woodlands, pasture and moorland mountainside. You continue west passing Lluest Wen Reservoir before ascending Craig y Llyn mountain - the highest point in Glamorgan and in the South Wales Valleys. The views are wonderful with the lakes Llyn Fawr and Llyn Fawr at the base of the mountain. The route the descends through more woodland to Abercregan and then across the River Avan to the Afan Argoed Country Park. The final section takes you past Bryn and Mynydd Margam to the finish point at the splendid Margam Country Park. The attraction includes the magnificent Margam Castle, an 18th Century Orangery with ornamental gardens and the Deer Park, all set within 1000 acres of beautiful countryside.
The walk is waymarked with a white footprint logo. View Full Details>> |
| Craig-y-Nos Country Park |  | 2 miles (3.6 km) | This delightful 40-acre Victorian garden is perfect for a peaceful stroll. There are well laid out walking paths taking you through woodlands, meadows, wide lawns and along the River Tawe which runs through the park.
Craig-y-Nos Country Park is located in the Brecon Beacons National Park so the surrounding scenery is spectacular. Within the park you will find the historic Craig-y-nos Castle surrounded by beautiful landscaped gardens and two pretty lakes which attract a wide variety of wildlife. There is also a visitor centre and tea room with benches and picnic areas.
The park is located near Aberdare, Merthyr Tydfil and Swansea. View Full Details>> |
| Pen Y Fan |  | 5 miles (8 km) | Climb the highest peak in South Wales and southern Britain on this stunning walk in the Brecon Beacons National Park.
This is a challenging climb to the 2906 feet (886m) summit but the footpaths are generally very good for most of the walk.
You start at the car park at Pont ar Daf about 10 miles north of Merthyr Tydfil. The first stage passes through woodland and crosses Blaen Taf Fawr before ascending toward Bwlch Duwynt. You continue to Corn Du where there are fabulous views of the Neuadd Valley, Cantref Reservoir, Beacons Reservoir and Llwyn-on Reservoir. Shortly after you reach the summit of Pen Y Fan where you will find a former Bronze Age burial chamber. The views are fantastic with Sugar Loaf, the Bristol Channel , Carmarthen Bay, Swansea Bay, the Gower Peninsula, the Black Mountains, the Cambrian Mountains and Exmoor all visible on a clear day.
From the summit you descend to Corn Du and then on to the heather covered Y Gyrn. You soon come to a woodland area and the finish point at the car park.
The Brecon Beacons Way runs past the mountain so you could pick this up to continue your walk. Beacons Reservoir is also very near the start point to the walk so you could enjoy an easy waterside stroll here too. View Full Details>> |
| Taff Trail |  | 55 miles (88 km) | Follow the River Taff, from Cardiff to Brecon, on this fantastic waterside cycling and walking route.
You start on the River Taff in Cardiff and head along the river northwards passing the Millennium Stadium and Cardiff Castle. There are also views of the attractive riverside Bute park and the Weir on the Taff near Maindy as you leave the centre of Cardiff. You soon come to Radyr where you will pass the splendid Forest Farm Country Park and Castle Coch (the red castle) before passing through the village of Nantgarw. The route continues along the river through Glyntaff and on to Pontypridd where you join the trackbed of a disused railway to Merthyr Tydfil. The final section runs from Merthyr to Brecon passing the beautiful Pontsticill, Pentwyn and Talybont Reservoirs. You'll also pass the beautiful Blaen y Glyn Waterfalls before joining the Monmouthshire and Brecon Canal taking you into Brecon. There are splendid views of the Brecon Beacon mountains as you approach Brecon.
The trail is waymarked with a black and yellow disc. View Full Details>> |