Walks you can reach from Ynyswen by train
MapA day hike is just a simple train journey away — plan your next day of green.
Cardiff Circular via Cardiff Bay Barrage (Glamorgan)
1 hour direct from Ynyswen.
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)
30 minutes direct from Ynyswen.
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)
1 hour direct from Ynyswen.
Treorchy to Aberdare (Glamorgan)
2 minutes direct from Ynyswen.
Mountain paths and with strenuous climbs and descents.
Hilly: a quarter on high ground, rising above the surrounding land.
Time: 6h (4h30 walking, 1h30 lunch)
Walk details: Railwalks.
Ystrad Rhondda to Mountain Ash (Glamorgan)
8 minutes direct from Ynyswen.
Impressive colours. Mountain paths with woodland and with strenuous climbs and descents; surfaced. Good for bird-watching.
Hilly: a third on high ground, rising above the surrounding land.
Woodland: half under tree cover.
Time: 6h30 (5h walking, 1h30 lunch)
Walk details: Railwalks.
Ystrad Rhondda to Treorchy (Glamorgan)
8 minutes direct from Ynyswen.
Coastal path with open moorland.
Hilly: half on high ground, rising above the surrounding land.
Time: 6h30 (5h walking, 1h30 lunch)
Warnings: Steep drops along the path; Cliff-edge paths — not suitable for those with vertigo.
Walk details: Railwalks.
Ystrad Rhondda to Cwmbach (Glamorgan)
8 minutes direct from Ynyswen.
Spectacular walk; panoramic views. Mountain paths with woodland, fields and with strenuous climbs and descents.
Woodland: two fifths under tree cover.
Time: 7h30 (6h walking, 1h30 lunch)
Warnings: Sections can be overgrown.
Walk details: Railwalks.
Llwynypia to Mountain Ash (Glamorgan)
15 minutes direct from Ynyswen.
Hill and moorland paths with woodland and with substantial climbs; rough in places.
Woodland: a third under tree cover.
Time: 7h30 (6h walking, 1h30 lunch)
Warnings: Steep drops along the path.
Walk details: Railwalks.
Tonypandy to Abercynon (Glamorgan)
15 minutes direct from Ynyswen.
Woodland: a fifth under tree cover.
Time: 7h30 (5h30 walking, 1h30 lunch, 30m break)
Walk details: Slow Ways.
Porth to Mountain Ash (Glamorgan)
30 minutes direct from Ynyswen.
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.
Porth to Fernhill (Glamorgan)
30 minutes direct from Ynyswen.
Woodland paths; surfaced.
Hilly: a third on high ground, rising above the surrounding land.
Woodland: two fifths under tree cover.
Time: 5h (3h30 walking, 1h30 lunch)
Walk details: Railwalks.
Porth to Abercynon (Glamorgan)
30 minutes direct from Ynyswen.
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: 5h (3h30 walking, 1h30 lunch)
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.