Walkers Offered Chance To Explore Merthyr Tydfil’s Marvellous Scenery

Aspects of both Merthyr Tydfil’s exciting history and its natural beauty are set to be explored as part of an annual festival celebrating the landscapes of the South Wales Valleys. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

The 12th Wales Valleys Walking Festival, running from September 3-18, comprises 18 guided tours across the five Valleys county boroughs – ranging from challenging all-day treks to easier strolls and special interest walks. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

The four Merthyr Tydfil walks take in Cyfarthfa Park, Cyfarthfa Ironworks, the Taff Trail, Morlais Hill, Parc Taf Bargoed and Bedlinog, each of them led by experienced leaders whose local knowledge is guaranteed to enhance the experience. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

“The festival presents the perfect opportunity to explore our unique rollercoaster landscape of hills and vales dotted with friendly towns and villages – as well as reminders of the area’s past,” said Councillor Chris Barry, Cabinet Member with portfolio for Regeneration, Planning and Countryside. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

“The Merthyr Tydfil walks are led by local guides with knowledge that is second-to-none, helping ensure participants don’t just get out in our wonderful countryside, but also explore our culture and history too.” ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

Events kick-off at 10am on Saturday September 3 with Castle to Castle, a route chosen by BBC Wales weatherman Derek Brockway to feature in his Weatherman Walking series. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

Following in the footsteps of ironworkers and their wealthy masters, the trek starts from Cyfarthfa Castle and heads to the site of the old Cyfarthfa Ironworks before continuing up the Taff Trail. After calling in at Vaynor Church, the party will then climb to the summit of Morlais Hill, site of a ruined Norman castle, before returning down along the banks of the cascading Taf Fechan river. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

A circular walk of eight miles/12.8km, it is likely to take around five to six hours. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

Also on September 3, at the slightly later time of 10.30am, is Follow the Red Paths, a moderate three-mile/5k walk around the grounds of Cyfarthfa Park, taking in the history of this once busy home of the Crawshay family. This is expected to take around 2.5 hours. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

The following Saturday, September 11, the Bedlinog Circular Walk starts at 10am and is a circular walk featuring talks on industrial remains, Bronze Age burial mounds and Arthurian legend. Covering eight miles/14k, it will take around six hours to complete. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

And the final Merthyr Tydfil event is on Sunday, September 11, taking place within the beautiful Parc Taf Bargoed, Trelewis. Nature Walk around the Lakes starts at 1pm and covers just one mile/0.6km on disabled-accessible lakeside pathways. It will take between one and three hours. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​