Gelligaer Ramblers

Mynyddislwyn and Sirhowy Trail
2025-01-12 09:30 - 14:30 (Europe/Paris)
Meet at Cross Keys near the entrance to the park overlooking the Ebbw River
https://what3words.com///sugars.pavilions.form
The walk is 8 miles moderate and takes us up the valley from Cross Keys past the rugby club. We follow forest tracks north until we cross over the mountain to Mynyddyslwyn Church. We then follow the ridgeway south eventually dropping down into the Sirhowy valley at Cwmfelinfach where we follow the Sirhowy Valley trail back to Cross Keys.

Cup stone walk
2025-01-18 10:00 - 14:00 (Europe/Paris)
Meet at along Gwaun Fro Road, Duffryn Park, Penpedairheol 10 am
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Smilog Woods Llantrisant
2025-02-01 10:00 - 13:30 (Europe/Paris)
Meet at Smilog Woods Car park 10 am
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Caerphilly
2025-02-09 09:30 - 14:30 (Europe/Paris)
Meet at Van Road Car Park, Caerphilly (on the left after the industrial estate – just before the road climbs up to Rudry Common)
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The route takes us through the woods to Rudry Common. We cross the road near the church and reach the Caerphilly Ridgeway route. This takes us through the woodlands and across Mountain Road near the Travelers’ Rest Pub. We continue through the golf course reaching the road above the Watford Chapel (at the junction for the Black Cock). We go over Caerphilly Mountain and descend through the forest trail from the burger bar back to our start.
Directions: if you are coming down the valley take the by-pass at the Cedar tree roundabout towards Bedwas . Continue straight on at the Bedwas Bridge roundabout and pass behind Lansbury park Estate. Turn left when you reach Van road. The car park is on the left just before the hill up to Rudry Common. (This avoids the 4-way traffic lights at Asda)

Senghenydd Dyke
2025-02-16 09:30 - 15:00 (Europe/Paris)
8 m mod
Meet at Heol Cwarrel Clark (above Penyrheol, Caerphilly) CF83 2NE at 9.30 am
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Fforest Farm
2025-02-22 10:00 - 13:30 UTC
5m walk around Fforest Farm passing alongside the River Taff and the old Glamorgan Canal.
Meet on Longwood Drive Fforest Farm, Cardiff 10 am
http://What3words.com///moral.tidy.rush

Aberbargoed Tip/Cwmsyfiog
2025-02-23 09:30 - 14:30 (Europe/Paris)
Meet at Pengam Car Park 9.30 am
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Morlais Castle
2025-03-01 10:00 - 14:00 (Europe/Paris)
Meet at Brecon Mountain Railway car park 10 am
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Lady Windsor
2025-03-02 09:30 - 14:30 UTC
Meet at St Donat’s Church, Abercynon 9.30 am. 7.5 miles moderate
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Llanover Hillside (10 am start)
2025-03-09 10:00 - 15:00 UTC
Start location http://what3words.com///dude.crumb.rehearsal
Direction : from Ystrad Mynach take the route Crumlin > Hafodyryns > Pontypool > follow signs for Abergavenny.. After passing through Llanover (watch speed limits) parking is in a lay -by on the right. If you reach the turning for Beili Glas you have gone to far. Estimated 35 mins from Ystrad Mynach (AA).

Llanbradach circular
2025-03-15 10:00 - 14:00 (Europe/Paris)
Meet at on road leading to Llanbradach Community Centre 10 am
http://What3words.com///securing.driftwood.quiet

Dolygaer
2025-03-16 10:00 - 15:30 (Europe/Paris)
9 miles moderate
Starts in lay-by before the bridge across the Pontsticill Reservoir (leading to Dolygaer)
https://what3words.com///test.ranches.ballparks
The walk follows the path down the eastern side of the reservoir following the route of the mountain railway. After passing the dam we make the climb onto the higher ground. From that point we stay on the higher ground past some old quarry workings until we stop for lunch on the top of the escarpment overlooking Dyffryn Crawnon. (A good place for flying kites!). We return along the high ground descending to pass the Dolygaer outdoor pursuits centre.
.After the initial climb the walk is along open moorland.

Twmbarlwm
2025-03-23 10:00 - 15:00 (Europe/Paris)
Meet at Cwmcarn visitors centre 10 am mod
Parking charges £3 all day
http://What3words.com///flopping.switched.overgrown

Brynmawr Circular
2025-03-29 10:00 - 13:30 (Europe/Paris)
Meet at Clydach Dingle, rear of Brynmawr Foundation School 10 am

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Melincourt Waterfall - Resolven, Neath
2025-03-30 10:00 - 15:00 (Europe/Paris)
Car park at Resolven. Walk starts 10 am
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Green meadow/Gelligaer Common Loop
2025-04-06 10:00 - 14:30 (Europe/Paris)
Meet at Pengam Riverside car park 10 am
7.5 m mod
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Abercynon
2025-04-12 10:00 - 13:30 UTC
Taff trail towards the Gap
Meet at car park on the right after Navigation pub
http://What3words.com///burden.crisper.venturing

Brecon Mountain Centre
2025-04-13 10:00 - 15:30 (Europe/Paris)
An 8 mile moderate walk starting from the Brecon Beacons visitors centre at 10 am..The walk passies through Cwm Camlais and Cefn Llechid and offers views of the mountains without climbing them!
Parking at the Mountain Centre is £3 for over 4 hrs (pay by card or cash) . Take the A470 , pass the Storey Arms and take a sharp left turn just as you reach the 50 mph limit for Libanus. There is a large brown ‘visitors attraction sign..
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Machen Walk
2025-04-20 10:00 - 15:30 UTC
Distance :- 8 miles moderate.
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Directions to start :- Take A 468 through Bedwas and Trethomas into Machen. After passing the school turn sharp right at the pharmacy. Turn right again just before the river bridge
Route of walk :- Machen > Draethen > Ruperra Fort > Maenllwyd > Waterloo
Click for map of walk (use back arrow to return to website): Machen 8

Llandegfedd Reservoir
2025-04-26 10:00 - 14:30 (Europe/Paris)
Meet in visitor’s car park 10 am. Car parking charges £3 all day.
NP4 0SY
http://What3words.com///went.young.hoped

Dinas Powys Circular
2025-04-27 10:00 - 15:00 (Europe/Paris)
A 7 mile moderate circular walk through to the west of Dinas Powys. some undulations but no noticeable climbs. It passes through fields and countryside with woodland and lakes. Instead of a ‘sting in the tail’, this walk has a ‘sugar coated ending’ with a section through woodland where wild garlic grows in abundance. The cherry on the top is that there is a pub at the end. (In fact there are three!).
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Directions:

Take M4 towards Bridgend
Leave at first junction [J.33] and follow the A4232 – Ely link road
Take the junction AFTER Culverhouse Cross (signed for Cardiff City Football Ground)
Take the 4th exit for the B4267 going under the dual carriageway and up Leckwith Hill
After passing a section with a central bollard take the central slip lane for the right turn up the hill to Dinas Powys
At the junction in the main square of the village, continue straight on (passing the village green on your right)
Turn right at the PINK HOUSE and park on the road alongside the common

For those who have completed the ‘Salmon’s Leap’ Saturday walk the start point is the same but it is a different walk although the final couple of miles follows part of the Salmon’s leap walk in reverse.

Mynydd Dimlaeth and Mynydd Y Grug
2025-05-04 10:00 - 15:30 (Europe/Paris)
An 8 mile moderate walk starting near the Community centre in Llanbradch. We cross the valley and climb above St Margaret’s Woods where there should be bluebells. We continue along the side of the mountain northwards until we reach the TV transmitter mast above Maesycwmmer. The route swings back southwards folowing the ridge way and descends a zig-zag path leading onto to Mynydd Dimlaeth. Here we will take our lunch break overlooking the Caerphilly Basin..We then descend to the outskirts of Trethomas and follow the old railway line and cross the River Rhymney near Pwllypant from where we follow the river back to Llanbradach.
We will be parking in side streets (community centre parking closed ) so car sharing advised.
https://what3words.com///lightly.increases.double

Castell Coch
2025-05-17 10:00 - 12:30 UTC
Just over 3 miles through the woods around Castell Coch.
Meet in the top car park on the road after the Black cock Pub and the Golf Coure just after the turning on the right towards Tongwynlais (Not the car park by the castle)
https://what3words.com///than.brush.hils

Craig-yr-Allt and Caerphilly Common
2025-05-18 10:00 - 15:00 (Europe/Paris)
A 7 mile walk through Penrhos cutting and then along Craig-yr Allt and Caerphilly Common. Views over Caerphilly on one side and Cardiff and the Bristol Chanel on the other.
The walk starts in the turning circle below the the Watford Chapel just off the Caerphilly by- pass.
Directions – coming down the valley,

leave the by-pass at the Trecenydd roundabout,
continue straight on at the traffic lights (Martin’s Farm)
climb past the site of the old Miner’s Hospital.
The turning circle is straight ahead before the road curves right to meet the by-pass below the Watford Chapel

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Cwm Darran
2025-05-25 10:00 - 15:00 (Europe/Paris)
An 8 miles walk starting from Parc Cwm Darren . The walk takes us down the valley towards Deri and then a gentle ascent to the hilltop above Groesfaen. we then return along the ridge way towards Fochriw. We finally come back to the cafe at Parc Cwm Darren.
https://what3words.com///duties.glider.scribbled

Merthyr
2025-05-31 10:00 - 14:00 (Europe/Paris)
Meet at car park above Asda, next to new Dunelms in Merthyr at 10 am.
http://What3words.com///long.engage.gallons

Southerndown 8.5 miles
2025-06-01 10:00 - 15:00 UTC
Through the fields, dunes and around the coast. We go through the fields to the village of St. Brides and then along the lanes to Castle-upon-Alun. We then loop back through the village of St. Brides and go through the dunes to the Ogmore River. Our route then follows the river to Ogmore-by -Sea and back along the coast path to Southerndown . In the event of very hot weather it will be possible to curtail the walk to 7 miles by cutting out the loop through Castle-upon-Alun and still enjoy the coastal path section.
The walk starts at 10:00 from the lower car park at Southerndown Beach. (Car parking charges apply and so car sharing is encouraged)
https://What3words.com///bakers.triathlon.froze
Leave Ystrad Mynach at 9:00 for car sharing
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Llangorse Lake
2025-06-08 10:00 - 15:30 UTC
https://what3words.com///companies.dubbing.handsets
Start from the main car park at Llangorse Lake at 10:00am
The walk is 8 miles moderate. It goes around the lake and then skirts low down on the adjoining hillside giving views of the Beacons and surrounding mountains. Toilets and cafe at start/finish point.

Sirhowy Valley
2025-06-14 10:00 - 13:30 (Europe/Paris)
Meet at Home Bargains/Aldi Blackwood Car Park 10 am

Porthcawl - Sker house
2025-06-15 10:00 - 15:00 UTC
Meet at Kenfig Nature Reserve Car Park 10 am (car park is pay on exit ) or Ystrad Mynach Car Park 9 am for car sharing. 8 m Mod.
This is a flat walk through the village of Nottage (where we take our coffee break in the town square). We then proceed through the park entering Porthcawl near the bowling green, along the see front with a lunch stop near Rest Bay. We follow the Wales coast path past the golf course to Sker Point and then cut inland through the sand dunes back to the car park.
http://What3words.com///social.intruding.sizes
