Ystcae one

Verified Slow Way

Verified by 60.00% of reviewers

Unfortunately at the moment the beginning section of this route from Tredomen until the mountain ridge trail is completely inaccessible. It's totally overgrown and it seems no-one is taking responsibility to sort it out.
I would suggest as an alternative:
Walk from the station to the council offices, get onto the NCN. Walk down past the fishing lakes and up the small hill, then turn left. Follow this path out to the road (there is a barrier to hop unfortunately) and then follow the road all the way up. (You can also just walk alongside the road to this road, where a dog walking field is signed.) Then continue as normal along the mountain track when you reach it. This may add considerable length however. Hopefully council or landowner may take responsibility.

Walked from Ystrad Mynach to Caerphilly. The public right of way out of Ystrad is very overgrown in places. The first part is just very tall bracken, easy enough to get through, but then the brambles and nettles get involved. I would just use the waymarks as a guide and don't try to follow them too meticulously once in the fields. If you use the non-overgrown parts, you will eventually reach the farm at the top. Once you get past the farm, it gets much easier, basically following a track along the ridge and then making your way through Caerphilly to the station. Nice views from the ridge, shame about all the fly tipping. Also, the footbridge over the A468 was in use.

Apart from the shooting range it is a fairly uneventful walk. As long as you stick exactly to the route provided, it's fine, as the shooting shoots away from the path towards coal tip. Maybe not amazing in wet weather, as you're really exposed to the elements. Fine on a dry day, much of the path is gravel.
This is definitely NOT the quickest route between Ystrad and Caerphilly, IMO, but it is probably the one with the least traffic.

I walked from Ystrad Mynach to Caerphilly. The first part was quite an ordeal (from the beginning of the first footpath to Castell Llwyd Farm) due to brambles and ferns. The first section was passable, but there was another part (pictures 1&2) which I had to bypass by climbing over some barbed wire fences. The route was well-marked but poorly maintained. Some sections had been used by horse riders, but overall it looked poorly-used as a footpath.
Once above the farm, things got slightly better (pic 3) and the ridgeway was easy with great views (pic 4). From the farm to Caerphilly I give this route 3 stars, or 4 stars with less fly tipping on the ridgeway.
The route into Caerphilly was fine, except the footbridge over the A468 no longer exists (pic 5) so a twisty detour is needed around residential streets.

Great walk. Did it on a very sunny April day starting at Ystrad station. My experience of walking between Caerphilly and Ystrad Mynach mainly stems from my teenage self frequently missing the college bus and slogging it up the road through Llanbradach. This route is much more pleasant.

However, there is a steep climb on uneven paths out of Ystrad with several stiles one of which is in a serious state of disrepair and another which I found difficult to swing my legs over (and I'm 6ft2). The path loses it's way a bit, but as long as you aim for the farm you'll be fine.

Then you are up on the ridgeway. There is a small car park here and I'm sad to say the amount of fly tipping is pretty disgusting. Such a shame.

Navigation wise it is pretty simple from now on, you are pretty much walking in a dead straight line to Caerphilly. It's so peaceful up here, you can still hear the hustle, bustle, sirens and general chaos from the valley towns below but it's like being in another world. At one point you even get a sea view, right over to Somerset.

You will pass the huge coal tips that are an indication of the area's coal mining past, the 13th century Senghenydd Dyke before eventually dropping down into Caerphilly. Look out for the plaque denoting Tommy Coopers birthplace in Llwyn-Onn Street just before Energlyn and Churchill Park railway station.

Through the beautiful Morgan Jones Park and you will get your first glance of the absolutely massive Caerphilly Castle (well worth a visit). Then it's just a short walk through the town to the train station. However, as it was the first day of open pubs in Wales after lockdown I thought it would be rude not to pop down to The Courthouse and enjoy a pint in the garden overlooking the castle. Definitely earned it!

Overall an excellent walk with steep climbs at either end but worth it for the stunning landscape and views.

Share your views about this route, give it a star rating, indicate whether it should be verified or not.

Include information that will be useful to others considering to walk or wheel it.

You can add up to 15 photos.