A GROUP of 10 walkers joined Naomi and Meryl for their latest walk for Penarth and District Ramblers meeting at Coed-y-Van car park where they were greeted by a variety of wild birds taking advantage of the well-stocked feeders.
In fine weather, a forestry track led them up towards Mynydd Rudry and they crossed the common, which was bedecked with primroses and native bluebells, followed by a road walk to pass Cefn Onn Farm with its spring lambs and attentive mothers. From the Rhymney Valley ridgeway they enjoyed brilliant views over Cardiff Bay and the coastline of Somerset, as well as the central peaks in Bannau Brycheiniog to the north.
They continued past an old quarry and Blaen Nofydd Farm to head through a small wooded valley and across a stream, where fields led them to Caerphilly mountain for lunch before paying a visit to the trig point, and after drinking in the views they passed through the Warren and beautiful woodland at Coed y Werin, known locally as ‘the clay pits’. A 19th Century clay pit supplied its clay to the Caerphilly Brick Company and the area, which is designated as an SSSI, is cared for by volunteers from the Caerphilly Woodland Trust. They deviated slightly and viewed the Rhondda Number 2 coal seam before following the road to a railway bridge from where they journeyed back to their start.
Parc Cefn Onn
Geraint was joined by four walkers at Parc Cefn Onn at the start of his 11-mile walk in misty rain.
Suitably dressed, they set off through the park which was initially laid out by Ernest Albert Prosser, the general manager of the Rhymney Valley Railway. Following his death, Cardiff Council managed to purchase the estate and it was subsequently turned into a country park, where many visitors and walkers enjoy the wonderful displays of colourful magnolias, azaleas and rhododendrons, whilst the maintenance is also shared with the enthusiastic volunteers of the Friends of Parc Cefn Onn.
In the chilly weather, their first climb warmed them up as they followed a stony path out of the park to catch their breath before crossing a golf course. Their next climb led to the acclaimed Caerphilly Mountain Snack Bar and onward to descend into Coed y Werin before the next climb onto the ridgeway where unfortunately views were obscured by low cloud. All the climbing had whetted their appetites and descending out of the wind, they stopped for lunch in a lush valley beside a stream.
Refreshed it was time to tackle their last major climb that would bring them up onto the Lisvane ridgeway and as luck would have it, the clouds lifted and at last there were views out over the Bristol Channel, before their steep descent back to their start.
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Joy Strangward
- Penarth ramblers enjoy their weekend in Sussex
- Ramblers explore Sully Island
- Ramblers celebrate with a picnic in the park
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