Summary

During 2019 a number of paths in this area were diverted: in addition a number of blocked paths have been cleared. This walk illustrates some of these paths. Hopefully this will enable you to create your own routes in this region. At the time of writing there are a number of maps on posts in the area showing the extent of the diversions. As a result many of the paths will not follow the routes shown on OS maps.

Map

Changes to PROWs

Start and End Point

Outside the Miskin Arms, Hensol Road, Miskin, Pontyclun, CF72 8JQ.
Grid Reference: ST 046808.

Getting to the start

By Bus: There is a frequent bus service between Cardiff, Talbot Green and Tonypandy. Alight at the Miskin Arms.

By Car: From junction 34 of the M4 take the A4119 towards Talbot Green. Go past the first set of traffic lights before using the filter lane on the left at the second set of lights. On reaching a roundabout take the first exit and follow the road to the Miskin Arms. To avoid walking along the road the instructions for leg 1 can be used to reach the start of leg 2 where the car can be parked under the motorway.

Miskin Arms

Finding Your Way

[1] With your back to the pub turn right and follow Hensol Road past an information board, over a railway bridge, past Miskin Mill Scout Village, over the Avon Ely to pass under the M4.

Take care on this road as it does not have a pavement.

[2]Turn right onto a track between the motorway and house number 117. Pass uphill to a gate/stile and continue on until the track turns left. Leave the track and continue through a gate/stile into another field. Continue in the same direction to reach a tree, post and a stile by a hedge. Turn left and walk up the field to the left of the wood (The downhill path through the woods leads to the kissing gate and stream towards the end of leg 4) to reach a couple of kissing gates at the brow of the hill. Continue into the next field and follow to the right of the hedge under power lines, through a gate and onto a stone stile in the left hand corner of the field. Go to the right, around a barn, before continuing downhill to the right of a metal fence to reach a wooden gate.

A two in one field gate

[3]This is followed by a second wooden gate after a small bridge. After a short distance, just before a gap, turn left through two kissing gates and cross the top of two fields with an attractive lake and Pantaquesta below. After two wooden gates and a kissing gate Hensol road is reached. Turn right and walk a short distance to another kissing gate on the right. Cross this field bearing to the left to reach a bridge and stile. Proceed across the next field towards a gap; there is a smaller gap on the left with a narrow bridge. Continue in the same direction, to the right of a barn to reach a “2-in-1” field gate (2-1FG) to the right of Bolgoed Farm. A short distance along a track leads to a second 2-1FG and a larger track. Turn right, downhill, to reach two 2-1FGs on either side of the track.

[4]Use the 2-1FG on the right to proceed downhill to three kissing gates in a small wood connected by a simple bridge over a stream to reach a large field. Continue in the same direction, ignoring the gate on the right. (This leads to start of leg 3.) Pass a gap on the right and a line of trees on the left to reach a kissing gate in the far right hand corner of the field. Then cross the next field heading to the right of some old trees to reach a gap near the left hand corner: the entrance to a wood. Turn left to cross a stream after a kissing gate. Follow the track uphill to reach a gate next to a stone stile.

[5]Follow the track on the left with gardens on the right past a joining track from the right to reach Talygarn Lake. Go across a stile, passing to the right of a small building to join the Millennium trail with the lake on the left. Look out for a permitted track on the left that leads over a bridge and then returns to the head of the lake via a kissing gate. Bear left onto a path into the woodlands to the right of a stream.

[6]This path leads to a 2-1FG followed by a boardwalk to another 2-1FG. Cross two fields through three more 2-1FGs to reach a track with a house below. Turn right past another 2-1FG, ignore the track on the left, to return to the two 2-1FGs at the end of leg 3. Take the right hand 2-1FG to reach a bridge and kissing gate and a larger field. Walk up the right side of this field towards a house to reach a kissing gate by a crossing fence. This leads into a short section of woodland; go ahead and then to the left to a stile and bridge. Turn left and follow the fence, past a house, to reach a stile next to a road.

[7]Turn left past the house’s drive and follow the road, pass a track on the left (this is a footpath that leads to the start of leg 4) to reach a road junction. Turn right along the road until a gate is reached on the left, next to an electricity pole.

[8]Go through this gate and follow to the left of the fence, passing a gate, until a gate at the corner of the field. Take this and turn right on to an access track in front of a barn; at the end of the barn turn left to pass through Caergwanaf Isaf’s farmyard exiting by a series of three gates. Continue to another gate before proceeding in the same direction across a field towards an electricity pole next to the motorway. When this is reached turn left, along the edge of the field, to reach a stile back onto Hensol road at the start of leg 2. Turn right under the bridge to return to the start.

Comments

At the time of writing the following problems exist, all of which I have been informed will be corrected.
a) One of the kissing gates in leg 4 has to be installed.
b) Two of the stiles in leg 6 are in need of step-ups.
c) There are no waymarks on leg 8.

Acknowledgements

The Vale of Glamorgan and Rhondda Cynon Taff County Councils were responsible for installing furniture and clearing paths following a number of diversions to the paths. These were agreed following consultations between the two councils, landowners, the Vale of Glamorgan Ramblers, Llantrisant Ramblers, and the Open Spaces Society.

Pantaquesta Farm