Walks from Maesteg

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.

Woodland: a third under tree cover.

Time: 3h30–6h30

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.

Stunning, through countryside woodlands with beautiful views. Starts uphill out of Maesteg town, then a narrow, overgrown lane leads to an unwalkable nettly marsh that has to be bypassed via roads through a housing estate. The middle through countryside woodlands is stunning with beautiful views and before housing estates and a fairly busy road into Pyle. A mix of climbs and varied surfaces.

Woodland: two fifths under tree cover.

Time: 4h–7h30

Lunch: There are a few shops at the start and end but no visible toilet stops.

Warnings: An overgrown, nettly marsh section is unwalkable and must be bypassed by road through a housing estate. Best walked in daylight, as the busy-road section may be hazardous at night.

Walk details: Slow Ways.