Description
This is a Slow Ways route connecting Ferndale and Aberdare.
Know of a better route? Share it here.
This is a Slow Ways route connecting Ferndale and Aberdare.
Know of a better route? Share it here.
Status
This route has been reviewed by 1 person.
There are no issues flagged.
Photos for Ferabe one
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Information
Route status - Live
Reviews - 1
Average rating -
Is this route good enough? - Yes (1)
There are currently no problems reported with this route.
Downloads - 1
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Geography information system (GIS) data
Total length
Maximum elevation
Minimum elevation
Start and end points
Ferndale
Grid Ref
SS9988096980
Lat / Lon
51.66266° / -3.44895°
Easting / Northing
299,880E / 196,980N
What3Words
agent.length.means
Aberdare
Grid Ref
SO0044402613
Lat / Lon
51.71339° / -3.44240°
Easting / Northing
300,444E / 202,613N
What3Words
skip.tigers.frog
Ferabe One's land is
| Ferndale | |
|---|---|
| Grid Ref | SS9988096980 |
| Lat / Lon | 51.66266° / -3.44895° |
| Easting / Northing | 299,880E / 196,980N |
| What3Words | agent.length.means |
| Aberdare | |
|---|---|
| Grid Ref | SO0044402613 |
| Lat / Lon | 51.71339° / -3.44240° |
| Easting / Northing | 300,444E / 202,613N |
| What3Words | skip.tigers.frog |
| Moors | 1.0% |
| Natural grass | 34.8% |
| Other agricultural land | 4.7% |
| Urban | 29.3% |
| Woods | 30.2% |
Data: Corine Land Cover (CLC) 2018
review
Paul Chilcott
15 Sep 2022 (edited 18 Sep 2022)September 2022. Direction: Aberdare to Ferndale.
A walk of two halves really. The first half from Aberdare to Cwmaman was a classic South Wales valleys mountain walk, a definite 5-star route, but the second part from Cwmaman to Ferndale suffered from closed paths and an excessively long alternative.
At this time of year, these mountain paths are often overgrown with bracken and brambles and climbing up the hill out of Aberdare, I though this would be the same, but although the bracken was head height in places, the path was visible all the way, but very steep and slippery. The reward at the top was fabulous views down and across the Cynon and Dare valleys (Photos 1 and 2). Over the mountain top the route was mostly grass (Photo 3) with well signposted and visible paths and great views all around. The walk down into Cwmaman was also easy to follow (Photo 4). A great start !
From Cwmaman, I couldn`t find the path leading up into the forestry. A passing local told me there used to be several paths up the mountainside, but they are all now closed. Instead, I followed the path straight up the Aman valley roughly following the Aman stream to get to the top of the mountain, but this took me miles out of the way. I came out on the ridge and a forestry track and eventually onto the moorland overlooking Maerdy. I followed the contour along the edge overlooking the valley, and although this was a pleasant enough walk with great views down the Rhondda Fach Valley, it was a long detour. the detour eventually met the planned path just above Blaenllechau, but it came to a dead end and I had to find another way down into Ferndale. It was quite a nice walk outside of the forestry sections, but way too much of a detour - it turned into a 10-miler instead of 5 miles.
The second half of the walk from Cwmaman to Ferndale needs a better alternative.
Photo 1 - Aberdare from the slopes of Maerdy Mountain
Photo 2 - The Dare Valley
Photo 3 - The mountain top path
Photo 4 - Grassy track down into Cwmaman
Photo 5 - Cwmaman
Photo 6 - The Aman stream.
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