Walks from Merthyr Tydfil

An adventurous-feeling walk through Rhymney, then a stroll through farmland and across barren moor-like hillside before merging onto the roadside and passing opencast coal mining into Merthyr. On the hillside the path is very hard to follow directly.

Time: 3h–6h

Warnings: On the open hillside the path is very difficult to follow directly.

Walk details: Slow Ways.

Some great views. A demanding mountain route that follows the Taff Trail before a very big climb up and over towards Mountain Ash, passing through a mountain-bike centre and forestry and with great views from the top. The descent crosses vague ground through heather and can be slippery when wet. The route starts by following the Taff Trail.

Woodland: half under tree cover.

Time: 3h30–7h

Warnings: Beware fast-moving mountain bikes where the route shares ground with Bike Park Wales; keep your eyes and ears open. Fallen trees block the path in the forestry and detours are needed. The descent to Mountain Ash is vague through heather, and steep slopes are slippery when wet.

Walk details: Slow Ways.

Some great views across the top of the Cynon Valley. A route over reclaimed old industrial workings (spoil heaps and levels) with lots of criss-crossing paths that don't match the map, climbing through Blaencanaid Forest to great views across the Cynon Valley and then forest tracks descending steeply into Aberdare on stony and narrow rocky paths.

Woodland: half under tree cover.

Time: 3h–5h30

Warnings: The criss-crossing paths over the old industrial workings don't match the map, requiring doubling back and route-finding. The descent into Aberdare is steep at times with stony forestry and narrow rocky tracks.

Walk details: Slow Ways.