Walks you can reach from Garth (Bridgend) by train

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: 3h–6h30

Lunch: Pubs and a shop in Betws to break up the journey; a café at Bryngarw House.

Walk details: Slow Ways.

Hilly: a quarter on high ground, rising above the surrounding land.

Woodland: a fifth under tree cover.

Time: 5h–9h30

Walk details: Slow Ways.

Mountain paths with woodland, open moorland and with strenuous climbs and descents.

Time: 5h30–10h30

Warnings: Some footpaths shown on the OS map don't exist on the ground — follow the GPX.

Walk details: Railwalks.

Delightful walk; wide views. Disused railway path with woodland and with substantial climbs; surfaced.

Woodland: two fifths under tree cover.

Time: 5h30–11h30

Walk details: Railwalks.

A walk of two parts: well-defined paths and ginnels through the Brackla housing estate, then off-road field, woodland and quiet country-lane walking. Some sections are steep, with stiles and steps and ground that can be boggy in the woods even in dry weather. Part of the route follows the Bridgend Circular Walk. Pencoed has trains to Bridgend, Swansea and Cardiff, so the walk can be done in either direction.

Time: 2h–4h30

Lunch: Pubs, cafes, shops and supermarkets at Brackla triangle and in Pencoed.

Warnings: Heol Simonston is busy with fast traffic and the crossing points have poor sight lines; cross with great care. The high-banked lanes near Coed y Mwstwr have no verge. There are several stiles and steep, difficult ground approaching the M4 tunnel; using the underpass at Princess Way is simpler and safer than the road crossing. Can be muddy.

Walk details: Slow Ways.

Long walk. Coastal path.

Coastal: three quarters along the coast.

Time: 8h–15h30

Walk details: Railwalks.

Walk details: Railwalks.

Impressive; panoramic views. Mountain paths and with strenuous climbs and descents; surfaced.

Time: 4h–8h

Warnings: Can be very muddy or boggy.

Walk details: Railwalks.

Great views. Disused railway path with woodland and open moorland.

Woodland: a quarter under tree cover.

Time: 3h–6h30

Walk details: Railwalks.

Woodland: a third under tree cover.

Time: 3h30–6h30

Walk details: Slow Ways.

Mainly flat and on tarmac, following a former railway/tram route (National Cycle Network Route 4) through woodland for about six miles and with a couple of short stony sections that are well bedded in. Good for wheels; some parallel off-tarmac paths offer variety on foot. Follows National Cycle Network Route 4. The route runs alongside Parc Slip nature reserve and is buzzing with wildlife; Aberkenfig near the end has shops, pubs, cafes and a bakery.

Woodland: a quarter under tree cover.

Time: 2h30–5h

1 lunch spot: Parc Slip Visitor Centre café

End-of-walk reward: Aberkenfig, near the end, has shops, pubs, cafes and a bakery.

Warnings: One alternative track in the Fountain Parkland section is narrow, boggy and rough underfoot; the surfaced cycle track is the better option.

Walk details: Slow Ways.

A valley route whose second half from Pontrhydyfen to Maesteg is good, but whose first half is problematic: proposed detours to avoid the B4287 cross ground that is not a right of way and is in places impassable and the descent into Maesteg is across pathless scrubland.

Woodland: a quarter under tree cover.

Time: 5h–10h

Warnings: The first half is hard to follow and partly impassable; some detours cross land with no right of way. The descent into Maesteg has no obvious path. The B4287 has no pavement.

Walk details: Slow Ways.