Walks from Ystrad Mynach

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.

Stunning landscape and views; great walk. A walk with steep climbs at either end and an easy ridgeway in the middle with stunning landscape and views, even reaching a sea view to Somerset. The first footpath out of Ystrad Mynach is very overgrown with bracken, brambles and nettles and badly maintained and with several stiles in poor repair; the ridge path is much of it gravel but very exposed in wet weather. Marred by extensive fly-tipping on the ridgeway. Passes the large coal tips of the area's mining past and the 13th-century Senghenydd Dyke. A plaque marks Tommy Cooper's birthplace in Llwyn-Onn Street near Energlyn & Churchill Park station.

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

Time: 3h–6h30

1 end-of-walk reward: the Courthouse

Warnings: The section out of Ystrad Mynach is badly overgrown and poorly maintained, with brambles, nettles and stiles in serious disrepair; one part may require climbing over barbed-wire fences. The route passes a shooting range (which fires away from the path), and the footbridge over the A468 has gone, requiring a residential-streets detour. The ridge is very exposed in bad weather.

Walk details: Slow Ways.

Lovely views from the top, all the way up the Cynon and Merthyr valleys to the Beacons. Begins on a paved off-road cycle path between Ystrad Mynach and Nelson, then climbs to Whitehall Farm and over open hilltop common with lovely valley views. Navigation is tricky in places due to a shortage of waymarkers and farm gates and overgrown paths. The path out of Nelson is a mudbath through horse fields with a stream crossing that can be a raging torrent after rain. There is a quiet freight-only railway crossing with only one or two trains a day.

Woodland: a quarter under tree cover.

Time: 2h–4h30

Warnings: There is no bridge over the Nant Mafon stream near Nelson, which can be a raging torrent after rain; the fields here are very muddy and following the road may be easier. A gate near Whitehall Farm needs climbing, and some marked footpaths are overgrown.

Walk details: Slow Ways.