Walks you can reach from Pontypridd by train

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: 1h30–3h

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).

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: 1h–2h30

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).

Recommended

Walk details: Railwalks.

Great views. Mountain paths and with strenuous climbs and descents.

Hilly: two fifths on high ground, rising above the surrounding land.

Time: 3h30–7h30

Walk details: Railwalks.

Long views. Hill and moorland paths with woodland and with substantial climbs.

Woodland: a third under tree cover.

Time: 4h–8h30

Walk details: Railwalks.

Great views. Disused railway path with woodland and with substantial climbs; surfaced.

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

Woodland: two fifths under tree cover.

Time: 4h–8h

Walk details: Railwalks.

Stunning views across the valleys and down to Penarth, Steepholm and the Bristol Channel. A varied valley route following the Taff Trail along the flat, then a long, lung-testing climb through Cilfynydd and up the mountain via fields and the Eglwysilan mountain road and with a moorland crossing over Mynydd Meio. The moorland section is boggy and not clearly marked; the rest is mostly good going on quiet lanes and tracks. Follows the Taff Trail between Abercynon and Cilfynydd.

Time: 4h30–8h30

Lunch: Refreshment options are scarce along the route; the Rose & Crown at Eglwysilan appears permanently closed.

1 end-of-walk reward: the Angel

Warnings: The footpath across Mynydd Meio is unclear, boggy and not well marked, with a stream and bracken that may force detours; not recommended in poor visibility. Can be muddy.

Walk details: Slow Ways.

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: 4h30–8h30

Warnings: Can be very muddy or boggy.

Walk details: Railwalks.

Woodland paths; surfaced.

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

Woodland: two fifths under tree cover.

Time: 3h30–7h

Walk details: Railwalks.

Great views, Scenic. A very good but hilly mountain route, mostly on well-established forestry and farm tracks and with two climbs rewarded by great views over the Rhondda and Cynon valleys. Mostly open country with some forestry; the descent is steep at times and varies from stony forestry tracks to narrow rocky tracks. A couple of overgrown stiles and one overgrown 80m path section. Part of this Slow Way links in with the Great Glamorgan Way.

Hilly: two fifths on high ground, rising above the surrounding land.

Woodland: two fifths under tree cover.

Time: 3h30–7h

Warnings: A footpath near the top of Penrhiwgwynt Road into Porth is well overgrown at both ends and not accessible without clearing; the water-tanks access road is a good alternative. The path through Carreg Barn goes right through a property's yard.

Walk details: Slow Ways.

Woodland: a fifth under tree cover.

Time: 5h30–11h30

Walk details: Slow Ways.

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: 2h30–5h

Warnings: Sections can be overgrown.

Walk details: Railwalks.