Ystrad MynachCaerphilly

Ystcae one
Verified route

Verified Slow Way

Verified by 60.00% of reviewers

By a Slow Ways Volunteer on 07 Apr 2021


Distance

11km/7mi

Ascent

294m

Descent

280m

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So far it has been reviewed by five people and surveyed by one person and there are two issues flagged with this route.

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Description

This is a Slow Ways route connecting Ystrad Mynach and Caerphilly.

Know of a better route? Share it here.

This is a Slow Ways route connecting Ystrad Mynach and Caerphilly.

Know of a better route? Share it here.

Status

This route has been reviewed by 5 people.

This route has been flagged (2 times) for reasons relating to access.

Photos for Ystcae one

Photos of this route will appear when they are added to a review. You can review this route here.


Information

Verified route

Route status - Live

Reviews - 5

Average rating -

Is this route good enough? -  Yes (3) No (2)

Problems reported -  Access (2)

Downloads - 7

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 4X based on 1 surveys Sign up or log in to survey this route.
Description Note
Grade 4: Route includes very rough surfaces including deep ruts, steep loose gravel, unmade paths and deep muddy sections. Wheelchairs may experience traction/wheel spin issues.
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.

Not present at time of survey Public toilet (1)
Not present at time of survey Wheelchair accessible toilet (1)
Not present at time of survey Supermarket (1)
Not present at time of survey Restaurant (1)
Not present at time of survey Vegan restaurant (1)
Not present at time of survey Accommodation (1)
Not present at time of survey Accommodation < £50 (1)
Not present at time of survey Campsite (1)
Not present at time of survey Bothy (1)
Not present at time of survey Free wifi (1)
Not present at time of survey Public phone (1)
Present at time of survey Mobile phone coverage (1)
Not present at time of survey Train station (1)
Present at time of survey Bench (1)
Not present at time of survey Picnic table (1)
Not present at time of survey Bus stop (1)
Not present at time of survey Ferry (1)

Challenges

Potential challenges reported on this route. Some challenges are seasonal.

Not present at time of survey Scrambling (1)
Not present at time of survey Wading (1)
Not present at time of survey Swimming (1)
Not present at time of survey Climbing (1)
Not present at time of survey Stepping stones (1)
Maybe present Very slippery (1)
Present at time of survey Very muddy (1)
Maybe present Very icy (1)
Not present at time of survey Likely to flood (1)
Present at time of survey Long grass sections (1)
Not present at time of survey Crops encroaching on path (1)
Not present at time of survey Diverted path (1)

Obstacles

Obstacles on this route.

Present at time of survey Stiles (1)
Present at time of survey Step and kerbs (1)
Not present at time of survey Possible to avoid steps, if applicable (1)
Present at time of survey Flights of steps (1)
Present at time of survey Gates (1)
Not present at time of survey Kissing gates (1)
Not present at time of survey Locked gates (1)
Not present at time of survey Disables access gates (1)
Not present at time of survey Cycle barriers (1)
Not present at time of survey Ladders (1)
Present at time of survey Cattle grids (1)
Not present at time of survey Fords (1)
Present at time of survey Narrow bridges (1)
Not present at time of survey Ferry required (1)
Present at time of survey Acceptable road walking (1)
Not present at time of survey Unacceptable road walking (1)
Not present at time of survey Dangerous road crossings (1)
Present at time of survey Walking on paths beside roads (1)
Present at time of survey Walking on verges beside roads (1)
Not present at time of survey Railway crossings (1)
Not present at time of survey River crossings (1)
Present at time of survey Cattle possible (1)
Present at time of survey Horses possible (1)
Not present at time of survey Tidal area (1)
Not present at time of survey Potential falls (1)
Present at time of survey Exposed to elements (1)
Not present at time of survey Remote area (1)
Present at time of survey Mountainous area (1)
Not present at time of survey Military training area (1)
Present at time of survey No visible path (1)
Maybe present Seasonal nesting birds (1)
Not present at time of survey Other hazards (1)

Accessibility

Is this route step and stile free?

Not present at time of survey Free of stiles (1)
Not present at time of survey Free of single steps/kerbs (1)
Not present at time of survey Free of flights of steps (1)
Not present at time of survey Free of other obstacles (1)

Measurements

Surveyors were asked to measure the narrowest and steepest parts of paths.

The narrowest part of the path is 54.0cm (1)

The steepest uphill gradient East: no data

The steepest uphill gradient West: no data

The steepest camber: no data

How clear is the waymarking on the route: Clear (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.

Small Pug-sized dog (0)
Small Labrador-sized dog (0)
Large St. Bernard-sized dog (0)
Standard pram (0)
Off-road rugged pram (0)
Standard wheelchair (0)
Off-road rugged wheelchair (0)
Standard mobility scooter (0)
Off-road rugged mobility scooter (0)

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.

Small Pug-sized dog (0)
Small Labrador-sized dog (0)
Large St. Bernard-sized dog (0)
Standard pram (0)
Off-road rugged pram (0)
Standard wheelchair (0)
Off-road rugged wheelchair (0)
Standard mobility scooter (0)
Off-road rugged mobility scooter (0)

Terrain

We asked route surveyors to estimate how much of the route goes through different kinds of terrain.

25.0% of the route is on roads (1)

15.0% of the route is lit at night (1)

25.0% of the route is paved (1)

10.0% of the route is muddy (1)

8.0% of the route is over rough ground (1)

2.0% of the route is through long grass (1)

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1 surveys

Information from verified surveys.

4X April 2021 by Grifftinfoilhat
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Geography information system (GIS) data

Total length

Maximum elevation

Minimum elevation

Start and end points

Ystrad Mynach
Grid Ref ST1418894385
Lat / Lon 51.64170° / -3.24150°
Easting / Northing 314,188E / 194,385N
What3Words steamed.slack.arranged
Caerphilly
Grid Ref ST1573186565
Lat / Lon 51.57164° / -3.21732°
Easting / Northing 315,732E / 186,566N
What3Words ledge.closet.monks

Ystcae One's land is

Green urban 6.0%
Natural grass 22.1%
Pasture 37.4%
Urban 33.2%
Woods 1.3%

Data: Corine Land Cover (CLC) 2018

reviews


Tom Morris

18 Jun 2023 Spring

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.


Sftuck

16 Jun 2023 Spring

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.


Tom Morris

26 Feb 2023 Winter

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.


MaddyT

30 Aug 2021 Summer

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.

  • Paul Chilcott

    Paul Chilcott

    08 Aug 2023

    Hi Maddy T, Just to let you know the bridge over the A468 has now been restored, as of August 2023.

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Grifftinfoilhat

27 Apr 2021 Spring

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.


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Other Routes for Ystrad Mynach—Caerphilly See all Slow Ways

Ystrad Mynach—Caerphilly

Ystcae two

Distance

12km/7mi

Ascent

268 m

Descent

286 m

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