A ‘shortish stride’ from a Barry church to an ancient burial chamber
Penarth and District Ramblers
JOY from Penarth and District Ramblers played host to a group of 15 walkers, plus Bruno the dog, when they met at the Colcot Sports Centre at the start of their 6.5-mile ‘Shortish Strides’ walk.
They set off on pavements passing the northern end of the Buttrills playing field to descend to the Church of St Dyfan and St Teilo at Merthyr Dyfan, where they paused to hear its history before moving on through a green area near the Coldbrook River to make their way to Port Road East. Then it was into a field and downhill through mud to cross the Nant Brynhill for the trek to Goldsland Farm, where some of the group gathered gorgeous apples from the farm’s community orchard.
Grassy meadows led them past Goldsland Wood to the St Lythans Burial Chamber where they stopped in glorious warm sunshine for a refreshment break. As clouds temporarily rolled over, they continued by road to Dyffryn Village, deviating through a gate at Dyffryn Mill to pass their collection of Alpacas, sheep and feathered friends before moving on past one of the pretty fishing lakes at Dyffryn Springs.
Then, they passed the farmyard at Old Wallace and through a couple of waterlogged gateways to cross the Waycock River and a stile dedicated to Arthur Fairfax. Here they heard the story of his wife Mina, that the group knew as ‘Auntie’, who began her walking career at the age of 78 and learned they did their courting on this bridge! Following a narrow path uphill through woodland they deviated to view the remains of Highlight Church before returning via Highlight Lane and the playing fields.
Climbing the Garth
Geraint took his group of 11 walkers, who met him at Pentyrch, through kissing gates leading into grassy meadows, where a short shower of rain hit them before the sun came out. By road they reached Creigiau following the route of the old Barry Railway line, that no doubt carried cargo and many travellers to Barry Island, past what had been the station and is now part of the National Cycle Trail.
Arriving at the delightful Tyn y Coed, they paused under tall fir trees for morning break, using fallen trees as seating, before following a muddy trail to an old quarry, then steeply uphill to exit onto an open ridgeway. With misty views towards the Bristol Channel they followed a farm track with views over Pentyrch before the gradual climb to the Trig Point on a very windy Garth Hill.
Following the ridge past grazing sheep and cattle they enjoyed brilliant views up the Taff Valley before the slippery steep descent through woodland to eventually reach Gwaelod y Garth. They went past houses perched on the hillside to pass over boardwalks in woodland at Craig Rhiw’r Ceiliog for a stop in a clearing for lunch.
Then, it was steeply uphill by track and field to join Mountain Road, which they followed before returning into fields for the gradual descent by road back to Pentyrch and just as they arrived back at their start point, the heavens opened, and heavy rain fell.
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Joy Strangward
Other items to read:
- Penarth ramblers enjoy their weekend in Sussex
- Ramblers explore Sully Island
- Ramblers celebrate with a picnic in the park
- Penarth ramblers take a liking to Lydney
- Ramblers explore two sections of the Heritage Coast
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