| Taffs Well to Craig yr Allt |
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A short walk that starts and finishes on the "easy" Taff Trail, has a mid-section with a steep ascent to a mountain ridgeway, and offers excellent views of Cardiff and the mouth of the Severn.
Getting there from Cardiff:
by bus: Stagecoach bus 132 from Central Bus Station.
by car: out of Cardiff on A470 and follow signs for Taffs Well.
by train: from Cardiff Central or Queen Street to Taffs Well railway station.
Maps: Landranger 171, Explorer 151
Distance: 10km (6 miles)
Difficulty: Grade Moder
Start Point: grid ref ST124832 - Taffs Well Railway Station
On leaving the railway station main car park, turn left to reach sign-post. Cross the road and turn left taking path signed Pontypridd. Forward along Taff Trail (ignore paths to the left and right) to reach a T-junction and sign-post in approximately 20 mins.
At sign-post turn right and right again following Taff Trail signs to Cardiff. Walk uphill until reaching dismantled railway bridge. [To take a break and/or admire views, continue on path as it curves right to reach viewpoint with bench. After break, return to railway bridge to resume walk]
Immediately after the railway bridge cross the stile on your left and follow path as it twists and turns its way up towards and away from telephone mast. Several paths join the main path during the ascent, providing you go up they all lead to a waymark post, but they'll be steeper than the main path. [Note: in the Summer bracken may slightly obscure the path.]
From the waymark post continue up on the path, which widens to become a track. At junctions on the track choose "Up" and keep aiming for the ridge. Continue along track in easterly direction for the top.
After having taken in the views from the top, continue along the track and follow it as it goes down. At T-junction go left and down as track reverts to being a path. Ignore side paths to reach track with gate and stile nearby.
Turn right on to track and at fork go left and level. At next fork go right to stay on main path, that with minor undulations is going down, to reach cross-path junction with stile on left. Go straight across junction, following path down and as it curves left to a gate.
Go through gate and forward on path with fence close on your left. Pass stile on your left and, after minor descent, reach stile on your right. Through gap alongside stile and forward to the Taff Trail. To get on to the Taff Trail: either, climb gate ahead, cross bridge, curve left and right on to Taff Trail; or, go through gap in fence to the left of gate, down steep embankment, and left on to Taff Trail.
Forward on Taff Trail in south-east direction to reach path on left with waymark post. Take path on left and follow as it goes down and curves right under bridge. Forward and down along path to reach kissing gate. Through kissing gate, cross road, through another kissing gate and continue on path to reach cross junction.
Turn left heading towards houses and retrace your steps to Taffs Well railway station.