Trek through industrial history for ramblers

Penarth and District Ramblers

Glamorgan Star news 12/06/2022

3 minutes read

By Joy Strangward

Sheila from Penarth and District Ramblers was joined by a group of twelve walkers for a trip along the Trevithick Trail beginning from Merthyr Tydfil Railway Station and setting off through the town they passed the Fountain, which commemorates pioneers of history in this area.

Arriving at St Tydfil’s old Parish Church they viewed cut stones laid in semi circles representing all the armed forces before continuing past the statue of Howard Winstone MBE and a plaque to Keir Hardie the founder of the Labour party. Richard Trevithick 1771-1833, a Cornish engineer constructed the world’s first high pressure steam railway locomotive in 1803 and on 21 February 1804 it won him a wager when it hauled 10 tons of iron in five wagons with 70 men riding along with it from the Penydarren Ironworks to Abercynon.

Making their way along the trail which is punctuated with interesting and colourful information boards they passed Trevithick’s famous oldest railway tunnel before some road walking led them to their lunch stop, almost opposite the Garden of Remembrance for the 116 children and 28 adults who sadly died in the Aberfan disaster in 1966.

Passing through the Pontygwaith Nature Reserve brought them to cross the spectacular steeply arched river bridge, built to take workers to an early 1583 ironworks and returning to the tramroad they passed through massive beech trees before moving down to the very clear river. Then onward to Quakers Yard Station, passing the remains of two viaducts and below the last remaining viaduct at Goetre Coed, built by Brunel which stands at 106 feet and took its first traffic in 1841 which still continues to this day.

Crossing a bridge over the river to visit the Quaker burial ground gave them an opportunity for an afternoon break before returning to the trail and crossing two bridges. Then underneath two massive flyovers before entering Abercynon which was the terminus of the 25-mile long Glamorganshire Canal that opened in 1794, before a bridge led them to the railway station for the journey home after their interesting trek through industrial history.

— ⁘ —

Nine walkers plus Jake the dog joined Joy at the Gorsedd Stones opposite Romilly Park that mark the site of the 1924 Eisteddfod at the start of a 4-mile evening ramble in lovely sunshine. Descending through Romilly Park and making their way to the Knap Gardens the feeder led them to the lake built in the shape of a Welsh harp and across the green where the Knap Lido once stood. With a grand view over the Old Harbour a descent down the pebble beach led them past the Watchtower built in 1850 as a Coastguard look-out and across the stream to move towards the impressive stone built York breakwater.

Following the path onto Friars Point a circumnavigation of the headland with its mist covered views to the Somerset coastline, Steep and Flat Holm and Weston-Super-Mare brought them to the slope leading down into Whitmore Bay. Because dogs are not allowed on the beach between May and September, a couple of the group accompanied Jake along the promenade, whilst the others crossed the sandy bay which was alive with people enjoying various pursuits. Steps led them to the eastern promenade and along the Clement Colley Walk passing drifts of pretty pink thrift adorning the rocks.

Crossing the sheltered Jackson’s Bay named after Sir John Jackson who built part of Barry Docks and the harbour, a climb up the cliff path led to the remains of St Baruc’s Chapel. This Celtic saint said to have been drowned in the Bristol Channel around 700 AD was buried there and pilgrims flocked to view the place with the later name of Barry Island deriving from Baruc’s Island. Then tramping along the causeway and through the Parade Gardens led them back to Romilly Park for the return to their start.