Bridgend (Wales) — Pencoed
Bripen one
Slow Way not verified yet. Verify Bripen here.

Slow Way not verified yet. Verify Bripen here.
By a Slow Ways Volunteer on 07 Apr 2021
Description
This is a Slow Ways route connecting Bridgend (Wales) and Pencoed.
Know of a better route? Share it here.
This is a Slow Ways route connecting Bridgend (Wales) and Pencoed.
Know of a better route? Share it here.
Status
This route has been reviewed by 2 people.
This route has been flagged (1 times) for reasons relating to safety.
Photos for Bripen one
Photos of this route will appear when they are added to a review. You can review this route here.
Information
Route status - Live
Reviews - 2
Average rating -
Is this route good enough? - Yes (1) Maybe (1)
Problems reported - Safety (1)
Downloads - 4
Surveys
What is this route like?
Surveys are submitted by fellow users of this website and show what you might expect from this Slow Ways route. Scroll down the page to read more detailed surveys.
Grade 3X based on 1 surveys | Sign up or log in to survey this route. | ||
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Description | Note | ||
Grade 3: Route includes rough surfaces that may include small boulders, potholes, shallow ruts, loose gravel, short muddy sections. Access grade X: At least one stile, flight of steps or other obstacle that is highly likely to block access for wheelchair and scooter users. |
Grading is based on average scores by surveyors. This slow way has 1 surveys. | ||
Full grading description |
Only people who have completed our training can become Slow Ways surveyors and submit a survey. We do not vet contributors, so we cannot guarantee the quality or completeness of the surveys they complete. If you are dependent on the information being correct we recommend reading and comparing surveys before setting off.
Survey Photos
Facilities
Facilities in the middle third of this route.
Challenges
Potential challenges reported on this route. Some challenges are seasonal.
Obstacles
Obstacles on this route.
Accessibility
Is this route step and stile free?
Measurements
Surveyors were asked to measure the narrowest and steepest parts of paths.
The narrowest part of the path is 100.0cm (1)
The steepest uphill gradient walking East 20.0% (1)
The steepest uphill gradient walking West 40.0% (1)
The steepest camber gradient across the path 10.0% (1)
How clear is the waymarking on the route: Unsigned (1)
Successfully completed
We asked route surveyors "Have you successfully completed this route with any of the following? If so, would you recommend it to someone with the same requirements?". Here is how they replied.
Recommended by an expert
We asked route surveyors "Are you a trained access professional, officer or expert? If so, is this route suitable for someone travelling with any of the following?" Here is how they replied.
Terrain
We asked route surveyors to estimate how much of the route goes through different kinds of terrain.
30.0% of the route is on roads (1)
60.0% of the route is lit at night (1)
70.0% of the route is paved (1)
15.0% of the route is muddy (1)
30.0% of the route is over rough ground (1)
There is no data on long grass
Report a problem with this data
1 surveys
Information from verified surveys.
Geography information system (GIS) data
Total length
Maximum elevation
Minimum elevation
Start and end points
Bridgend (Wales)
Grid Ref
SS9075879851
Lat / Lon
51.50700° / -3.57545°
Easting / Northing
290,758E / 179,851N
What3Words
follow.junior.exile
Pencoed
Grid Ref
SS9594881629
Lat / Lon
51.52396° / -3.50122°
Easting / Northing
295,948E / 181,629N
What3Words
hazelnuts.lush.nature
Bripen One's land is
Bridgend (Wales) | |
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Grid Ref | SS9075879851 |
Lat / Lon | 51.50700° / -3.57545° |
Easting / Northing | 290,758E / 179,851N |
What3Words | follow.junior.exile |
Pencoed | |
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Grid Ref | SS9594881629 |
Lat / Lon | 51.52396° / -3.50122° |
Easting / Northing | 295,948E / 181,629N |
What3Words | hazelnuts.lush.nature |
Pasture | 37.8% |
Urban | 62.2% |
Data: Corine Land Cover (CLC) 2018
reviews
Stuart Bain
08 Jan 2023Walked from Pencoed to Bridgend. The first section of the slow way is an enjoyable walk off road, up the hill and through the woods. Be prepared to get a little muddy even during dry weather. Once you come through the woods, you descend gently through Coed-Y-Mwstwr and quiet country lanes into Simonston.
The previous reviewed is correct with the busy road to cross into Brackla. However coming from this direction, you have a good line of sight to safely cross the road.
Once you enter Brackla, you follow a myriad of ginnels, walkways (all off road) and cut throughs. At times I felt it would be easier to go on the road to avoid all the detours. However it didn't detract from the walk. In the middle third of the walk you arrive at Brackla triangle, where there is a pub and range of shops to buy refreshments.
The final third eanders it's way into the Town centre and up the sharp hill to the train station.
Overall, I would recommend anyone using this route from Pencoed to Bridgend.
Black Squirrel
23 Jul 2021This is a walk of two parts. Firstly, walking through Bridgend to Brackla is easy on well defined paths sometimes shared with cyclists. Path can be quite steep in places. From Brackla onwards the route becomes more problematic for a variety of reasons.
At Princess Way, a simpler route can taken through an underpass. The track alongside Brackla Primary School has been remade and simplified. Keep straight on to Brackla Way and turn right . Avoid the temptation to use another underpass at this point. There is a small shopping centre with supermarket, newsagents and other shops adjacent to the roundabout.
After crossing Channel View for the first time the path narrows and steepens, eventually entering an open grass area. Keeping to the left hand side, approach Channel View for the second time where there is a flight of steps down to the road. To avoid the steps walk around Channel View.
Problems arise at Heol Simonston. Approaching the roundabout, the path bears right through trees and emerges on a wide verge at Heol Simonston, which can often be very busy with fast moving traffic. The lane opposite which crosses to Bryn Road has two entrances both of which can be accessed only by walking a short distance along Heol Simonston and then crossing the road. Both crossings have poor sight lines and are in my opinion dangerous.
The route then leads along high banked lanes with no footpath or verge, until reaching the entrance to Coed y Mwstwr. Some traffic can be met and caution should be observed. The route then takes the driveway to Coed y Mwstwr then on to a farm track, field and into woods. There are stiles at the entrance and exit to the woods. After exiting the wood, descend field to another stile in tree line at bottom. Continue descending an unpromising line through next field towards the M4 to find another stile hidden at the bottom to the right. Turn right and follow the roar of the traffic across steeply sloping ground, to find another hidden stile, then steeply down on difficult ground and steps to find subway under M4. Footpath under subway is good, then cross playing fields into Pencoed village. Walk on pavements to station.
In these latter stages, there are 5 stiles in all, steep ground through farmland in some places difficult for wheelers, and steps to negotiate. Path in woodland was boggy even on the hot day when I walked it. Some sheep in fields and evidence of cattle in one field. Competent map-reading necessary in places. In countryside, paths look to be infrequently used.
Pencoed is a small village with a pub, a couple of cafes and supermarkets. The railway station has services to Bridgend and Swansea to the west and Cardiff to the east.
Alternatively from Brackla, narrow path through trees parallel to Heol Simonston, crossing Tremains Road. Under railway bridge on narrow footpath, then left into Coychurch village. Continue through village to join footpath along the A473. Follow this until old Coychurch road branches off left. Follow this into Pencoed village and station. Likely to be busy but good pavements from Coychurch and flat.
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