Ramblers impressed by nature reserve reclaimed from mining land
Penarth and District Ramblers
PARC SLIP near Tondu was the meeting point for Jan and John from Penarth and District Ramblers and on an overcast morning they played host to a group of 11, before they moved off on a circular tour of part of this lovely nature reserve, sited on a reclaimed opencast mine.
Summer flowers in the shape of orchids, ragged robin and oxeye daisies lit up the pathways as they tramped on past delightful wooden sculptures, indicating the area’s past history, to arrive at the stone memorial to a terrible disaster. On 26th August 1892, a total of 146 men and boys – along with 16 working pit ponies – were killed in an explosion at the mine and each stone featured in the memorial signifies a life that was lost, the youngest being only 13.
Exiting from the park, a road led them into fields and they stopped for morning break whilst a friendly chicken entertained them by visiting everyone in turn looking for titbits. They passed Tondu House Farm and descended through woodland before the banks of the River Llynfi led to a bridge and back into lovely green pastures and narrow fern lined paths, to reach Bryngarw House for their lunch break in warm sunshine.
Built around 1830 for the Treherne family, during the Great War it became a Red Cross hospital caring for wounded soldiers and is now in the care of Bridgend County Borough Council with the estate land open to the public as a country park. Then, making their way by means of woodland and pavements to Tondu, they deviated to view the old ironworkers houses at Park Terrace, before returning to their start.
The Golden Valley
William and his seven companions journeyed up to Dorstone in the Golden Valley in Herefordshire for their 12-mile trek in very humid and hot conditions and they made their way to the ridge that contains Arthur’s Stone. This Neolithic burial chamber has finally been excavated when pottery, tools and human bones were found. They gazed at the wonderful views before descending to Bredwardine and the Church of St Andrew for mid-morning break and to hear of its connection to the famous diarist Francis Kilvert, who recorded his country life as he was Rector there for a few years. He is buried in the churchyard.
They climbed to reach The Knapp with its earthworks on its 213m summit before an overgrown path and a steep climb led them to Merbach Hill and a well-earned lunch break.
Then it was onward for another stiff climb in the heat through woodland to the trig point and a rest before a descent past farms and across the dismantled railway line to a footbridge over the River Dore, which passes through on its journey to meet the River Monnow.
On their way back, some freshly laid eggs were purchased by the leader to take home as they made their way to what is claimed to be the oldest public house in Herefordshire, the Pandy Inn, for refreshments before their homeward journey.
You can follow the group on www.penarthramblers.wordpress.com or on Facebook.
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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