Walks in Glamorgan by train
MapA day hike in the countryside is just a simple train journey away — explore the most charmingly located railway stations in Glamorgan and plan your next day of green.
Cardiff Circular via Cardiff Bay Barrage
Flat Wales Coast Path circuit around Cardiff Bay out to the barrage, with views back to Cardiff, Flatholm Island and across to Devon on a clear day.
Waterway: four fifths beside rivers and canals.
Wales Millennium Centre: Landmark bronze-clad arts centre on the Cardiff Bay waterfront.
Pierhead Building: Grade I listed red-brick Victorian dock office on the bay.
Senedd: Welsh Government parliament building on the Cardiff Bay waterfront.
Norwegian Church: White-painted timber church built for Norwegian sailors, now an arts centre.
Captain Scott Monument: Memorial to Captain Scott's 1910 Antarctic expedition, which set sail from Cardiff.
Cardiff Bay Barrage: Tidal barrage closing off Cardiff Bay, with a wide promenade across it.
Time: 3h (1h30 walking, 1h30 lunch)
1 lunch spot: Mermaid Quay
Warnings: Lower waterside path is not fully accessible due to its surface.
Walk details: Transport for Wales (tips, photos and turn-by-turn directions).
Barry Island Circular via Whitmore Bay
30 minutes direct from Cardiff Central.
Wales Coast Path circuit around Nells Point, Whitmore Bay and Friars Point, mostly flat apart from a steady climb at the start.
Coastal: almost all along the coast.
Nells Point: Coastal headland east of Whitmore Bay with the old National Coastal Institution building on top.
Breakwater Lighthouse: Lighthouse marking the entrance to Barry Harbour, visible from the coast path.
Whitmore Bay: Main Barry Island bay with sandy beach and seafront promenade.
Friars Point: Headland on the west side of Whitmore Bay with views across the Severn Estuary.
Time: 2h30 (1h walking, 1h30 lunch)
Warnings: Steady climb at the start.
Walk details: Transport for Wales (tips, photos and turn-by-turn directions).
Aberdare Circular via Aberdare Park
1 hour from Cardiff Queen Street, with one change.
Easy walk through Aberdare town centre to Aberdare Park, with an optional extension to Dare Valley Country Park.
Aberdare Park: Historic Victorian public park with play areas, wildlife and an ornamental pond.
Dare Valley Country Park: Country park in a reclaimed mining valley to the west of Aberdare; an optional walk extension.
Time: 2h30 (1h walking, 1h30 lunch)
1 lunch spot: Aberdare Park Café
Warnings: Follows a busy road for a fifth of the walk.
Walk details: Transport for Wales (tips, photos and turn-by-turn directions).
Barry to Llantwit Major
30 minutes direct from Cardiff Central.
Coastal headlands, pebble and sandy beaches, flat rock-shelf beaches, low cliffs, striated limestone cliffs, parkland, quiet cliff paths, wetland and historic town centre.
Coastal: nine tenths along the coast.
Time: 7h (5h30 walking, 1h30 lunch)
Warnings: Check tide timings.
Walk details: the Saturday Walkers Club (tips, local insights and turn-by-turn directions).
Trehafod to Pontypridd
30 minutes direct from Cardiff Queen Street.
Flat tarmac route between Trehafod and Pontypridd stations through Rhondda Heritage Park, Barry Sidings Country Park and Pontypridd town centre.
Waterway: three fifths along the Afon Rhondda.
Woodland: half under tree cover.
Rhondda Heritage Park: A former colliery turned mining museum at Trehafod, telling the story of the Rhondda coalfield.
Barry Sidings Country Park: A reclaimed colliery site in the Rhondda valley, now a country park on the flat path to Pontypridd.
Ynysangharad Park: Pontypridd's main park, home to the National Lido of Wales.
Time: 2h30 (1h walking, 1h30 lunch)
1 lunch spot: Barry Sidings Country Park Café
Walk details: Transport for Wales (tips, photos and turn-by-turn directions).
Port Talbot Parkway to Briton Ferry
30 minutes direct from Cardiff Central.
Rhoose Cardiff International Airport to Llantwit Major
30 minutes direct from Cardiff Central.
Recommended: A flat and fairly easy walk.
Coastal: three quarters along the coast.
Time: 4h30 (3h walking, 1h30 lunch)
Walk details: Railwalks.
Briton Ferry to Swansea
45 minutes from Cardiff Central, with one change.
Maesteg to Sarn
30 minutes from Cardiff Central, with one change.
Recommended: Far reaching views on Maesteg and the Llynfi valley. A walk primarily following the eastern bank of the River Lynfi, on an old tram road around the Garth and through fields with limited gradient and with a short climb up to Betws and a final off-road cycle lane into Sarn. A 100m section of narrow road walking at Betws. Runs through Bryngarw House and Country Park, over 100 acres of meadows, gardens and mature woodland. Both Sarn and Maesteg have train stations for a rail-and-trail option.
Time: 4h30 (3h walking, 1h30 lunch)
Lunch: Pubs and a shop in Betws to break up the journey; a café at Bryngarw House.
Walk details: Slow Ways.
Lisvane and Thornhill to Risca and Pontymister
15 minutes direct from Cardiff Queen Street.
Pontyclun to Pontypridd
15 minutes direct from Cardiff Central.
Great views. Disused railway path with woodland and open moorland.
Woodland: a quarter under tree cover.
Time: 4h30 (3h walking, 1h30 lunch)
Walk details: Railwalks.
Llanharan to Trehafod
15 minutes direct from Cardiff Central.
Impressive; panoramic views. Mountain paths and with strenuous climbs and descents; surfaced.
Time: 5h30 (4h walking, 1h30 lunch)
Warnings: Can be very muddy or boggy.
Walk details: Railwalks.