Pencow three

Verified Slow Way

Verified by 75.00% of reviewers

February 2024. Direction: Cowbridge to Pencoed.

A good Vale walk, mostly through fields and lanes. My walk was on the first dry day after a few days of rain, so the fields were sodden and there were some minor flooding of the lanes, especially around the Llangan area. I was wearing walking boots and managed to find a way through without getting my feet wet. Throughout the walk, there was a variety of gates, stone styles and wooden styles. It was generally very well signposted and starts off following the Great Glamorgan Way, but also crosses the Valeways network for a while, but there were just a couple of sections that were not well signed. After leaving the church at Llangan, there are no signs through the fields to St. Mary Hill, but head for the gate at the top of the field on the edge of the village, which the hidden style is next to. The other easy to miss turning was the track at the top of the woods just before Pant y gog and the descent through the woods down towards Pencoed. Take care with the steps leaving the main road by the Cowbridge by-pass - very steep!

Photo 1 - Penllyn Castle
Photo 2 - Penllyn church
Photo 3 - View towards Bridgend from just outside Penllyn village
Photo 4 - View towards Pencoed from after St. Mary Hill.

Walked from Cowbridge to Pencoed. This is a nice rural walk for the majority, let down by the road crossing at the end. It didn't feel at all safe to cross from this direction as the oncoming traffic is coming from around a bend with poor visibility and it seemed very busy. Perhaps it's better crossing the other way but I definitely can't recommend it. The rest of the walk was great.

Walked from Pencoed to Cowbridge. As the previous reviewer said once you’re out of Pencoed and over the A473 the walk starts properly.

The first section is fairly easy road and path walking with three wooden stiles as you climb up to St Mary’s Hill. Once you hit the top (look out for the trig point just off route) it descends through a farm and numerous gates to the road entering into the hamlet of St Mary Hill.

The next stretch is really pleasant walking between hedgerows through the countryside. Unfortunately one section was completely impassable due to flooding just as you approach Llangan. I suspect this is always flooded judging the depth and lack of vegetation.

There is a section a road walking as you got though Llangan but the village is beautiful so worth doing. There is a pub in the village called the Red Fox but it looked permanently closed when I passed it.

The rights of way aren’t clear in the next section as you pass St John the Evangelist church at the end of the village. Don’t be put off by large ‘private’ signs as you approach. The right of way goes off to the right and it’s not that obvious.

Once on the fields the route is fairly clear, so follow the path descending into the Penllyn estate. Forage is a fantastic cafe to stop at if you want a break. It opened a few years back and it’s quickly established itself as a fantastic venue.

As you pass the lodges be really careful with the horrendous slippery steps going down to the road.

Overall fantastic walk despite the murky conditions. A few wonky stiles at the start of the walk and the steps descending into Cowbridge must be navigated with care.

The last photo goes an idea of pace. The slower sections are either gradient or landmarks worth looking at.

One I would definitely do again!.

Walking from Pencoed, this is a scenic route once south of the A473: woods, fields, lanes, mostly well-marked footpaths, and a pub in Penllyn. Things to note:
1) Just south of Pencoed, the path through the wood near Tan-y-lan Farm is clearly marked at the bottom but not at the top; if walking towards Pencoed, look out for it as you approach the wood. If you miss it, you can take the zigzag route that skirts Tan-y-lan.
2) Leaving Penllyn towards Cowbridge, go past the church and along the driveway until you see two signs saying there is no right of way; look for the footpath marker on the right, through the fence and across the fields.
3) There are some very steep stone steps linking Cowbridge Cabins with Gibbet Hill (A4222); care is needed.

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