Walks you can reach from Ystrad Mynach by train

Coastal headlands, pebble and sandy beaches, flat rock-shelf beaches, low cliffs, striated limestone cliffs, parkland, quiet cliff paths, wetland and historic town centre.

Coastal: nine tenths along the coast.

Time: 5h30–10h30

Warnings: Check tide timings.

Walk details: the Saturday Walkers Club (tips, local insights and turn-by-turn directions).

Similar walk: Railwalks (inc. GPX).

Reverse direction: Slow Ways (inc. GPX).

Recommended

Walk details: Railwalks.

Recommended: A flat walk through former industrial land where nature is starting to reclaim the coast.

Coastal: almost all along the coast.

Time: 2h–4h

Walk details: Railwalks.

Fantastic views. Hill and moorland paths with woodland, fields and with substantial climbs.

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

Time: 3h30–7h

Walk details: Railwalks.

Amazing views from the Machen; stunning views up the Rhymney Valley. A mostly off-road hill route with easy paths, open mountain and common land, little tarmac or traffic. There is a sustained climb from Risca up the slopes of Mynydd Machen and then a gentle descent; some field and forest sections can be hard to navigate. Follows part of the Machen Forge Trail, which adds some historical interest.

Time: 4h–7h30

Lunch: A couple of small supermarkets where the route passes through Machen.

Warnings: Some footpaths leaving Risca and through the forest near Machen are unclear and easily missed; not ideal for navigating by paper map alone.

Walk details: Slow Ways.

Woodland: a third under tree cover.

Time: 3h30–7h30

Walk details: Railwalks.

Hill and moorland paths with woodland and with substantial climbs; boggy in places.

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

Woodland: a quarter under tree cover.

Time: 5h30–11h30

Warnings: Can be very muddy or boggy.

Walk details: Railwalks.

An excellent walk overall. A scenic valleys walk, mostly along a fully paved Sustrans cycle path, with a steady uphill from Bargoed through Cwm Darran Park and around Ogilvie Lake. A steep road climb with no pavement above Pontlottyn and a short boggy quagmire of clumpy marsh grass near Fochriw. Mostly a fully paved Sustrans route. Worth the extra walk around Ogilvie Lake.

Woodland: half under tree cover.

Time: 3h–6h

Lunch: The visitor centre at Parc Cwm Darran is a good place to break for cake and coffee.

Warnings: A short, steep road climb above Pontlottyn has no pavement; the field path into Fochriw can be a boggy mudbath (easy to give up and walk down the streets instead).

Walk details: Slow Ways.

Great views. Open moorland with woodland; boggy in places.

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

Time: 3h–5h30

Warnings: Can be very muddy or boggy.

Walk details: Railwalks.

Awesome views across the Severn estuary and Gwent Levels. A long, mostly off-road coastal walk along the Wales Coast Path, with sweeping views across the Severn Estuary and Gwent Levels and plus a few stretches along busy roads going in and out of the two cities. Very exposed to the elements throughout. Mostly follows the Wales Coast Path. Wildlife includes kestrels, curlews and grass snakes; 7,000-year-old footprints have been found on the estuary shore. The Lighthouse Inn at St Brides Wentlooge is currently closed.

Coastal: two thirds along the coast.

Time: 6h30–12h30

Lunch: There are no places to get food or water on the route, so bring everything you need.

Warnings: A fifth urban. The route is very exposed, so wind, rain or heat will be strongly felt. There are no refreshment or water stops the whole way, so carry everything you need. A few stretches along busy roads at the city ends.

Walk details: Slow Ways.

Reverse direction: Railwalks.

Impressive stretch; impressive.

Coastal: two thirds along the coast.

Time: 5h–10h

Walk details: Railwalks.

A more rural route through fields, involving stiles and best done when the ground is dry or frozen.

Time: 3h30–6h30

Warnings: Involves stiles, and the field sections are best avoided when the ground is wet. Can be muddy.

Walk details: Slow Ways.