Walks you can reach from Abercynon by train
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Alternatively, view walks directly from Abercynon.
Aberdare Circular via Aberdare Park (Glamorgan)
30 minutes direct from Abercynon.
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).
Cardiff Circular via Cardiff Bay Barrage (Glamorgan)
45 minutes direct from Abercynon.
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).
Trehafod to Pontypridd (Glamorgan)
7 minutes direct from Abercynon.
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).
Cardiff to Barry (Glamorgan)
45 minutes direct from Abercynon.
Pontypridd to Mountain Ash (Glamorgan)
7 minutes direct from Abercynon.
Great views. Hill and moorland paths with woodland and with substantial climbs.
Woodland: a quarter under tree cover.
Time: 5h30 (4h walking, 1h30 lunch)
Walk details: Railwalks.
Trefforest to Ystrad Mynach (Glamorgan)
9 minutes direct from Abercynon.
Great views. Mountain paths and with strenuous climbs and descents.
Hilly: two fifths on high ground, rising above the surrounding land.
Time: 5h (3h30 walking, 1h30 lunch)
Walk details: Railwalks.
Trefforest to Porth (Glamorgan)
9 minutes direct from Abercynon.
Long views. Hill and moorland paths with woodland and with substantial climbs.
Woodland: a third under tree cover.
Time: 5h30 (4h walking, 1h30 lunch)
Walk details: Railwalks.
Merthyr Vale to Mountain Ash (Glamorgan)
9 minutes direct from Abercynon.
Hill and moorland paths and with substantial climbs; stony in places.
Hilly: two fifths on high ground, rising above the surrounding land.
Woodland: two fifths under tree cover.
Time: 4h (2h30 walking, 1h30 lunch)
Warnings: Sections can be overgrown.
Walk details: Railwalks.
Cardiff to Newport (Glamorgan)
45 minutes direct from Abercynon.
Awesome views across the Severn estuary and Gwent Levels. A long, mostly off-road coastal walk along the Wales Coast Path, with sweeping views across the Severn Estuary and Gwent Levels and plus a few stretches along busy roads going in and out of the two cities. Very exposed to the elements throughout. Mostly follows the Wales Coast Path. Wildlife includes kestrels, curlews and grass snakes; 7,000-year-old footprints have been found on the estuary shore. The Lighthouse Inn at St Brides Wentlooge is currently closed.
Coastal: two thirds along the coast.
Time: 8h (6h30 walking, 1h30 lunch)
Lunch: There are no places to get food or water on the route, so bring everything you need.
Warnings: A fifth urban. The route is very exposed, so wind, rain or heat will be strongly felt. There are no refreshment or water stops the whole way, so carry everything you need. A few stretches along busy roads at the city ends.
Walk details: Slow Ways.
Reverse direction: Railwalks.
Tir-Phil to Quakers Yard (Glamorgan)
4 minutes direct from Abercynon.
Hill and moorland paths with woodland and with substantial climbs; boggy in places.
Hilly: two fifths on high ground, rising above the surrounding land.
Woodland: a quarter under tree cover.
Time: 7h30 (5h30 walking, 1h30 lunch, 30m break)
Warnings: Can be very muddy or boggy.
Walk details: Railwalks.
Pontyclun to Pontypridd (Glamorgan)
7 minutes direct from Abercynon.
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.
Porth to Mountain Ash (Glamorgan)
9 minutes direct from Abercynon.
Wonderful; spectacular views. Mountain paths with woodland, open moorland and with strenuous climbs and descents; surfaced.
Hilly: two fifths on high ground, rising above the surrounding land.
Woodland: a quarter under tree cover.
Time: 6h (4h30 walking, 1h30 lunch)
Warnings: Can be very muddy or boggy.
Walk details: Railwalks.