Only one negative, where the route through Merthyr Mawr turns sharply south, the path was well overgrown, so rather than a battle with above head height bracken and himalayan balsam, I elected to take the easy way out along the path leading down towards Candleston Farm and then south along the sandy bridleway, meeting up with the original route near the Candleston Castle car park....

Paul Chilcott

The walk doubles up with Pencow3, Pencoed to Cowbridge, for a couple of sections (Cowbridge to Penllyn and then the green lane leading to Gelliaraul Farm near Llangan). The end of the green lane at Gelliaraul Farm was flooded (Photo 6)1 Just past Gelliaraul Farm, the footpath from the lane to Heol Las Farm, the footpath across goes through a gate which was tied, so I had to jump it. Photo 5 - The green lane leading to Gelliaraul Farm....

Paul Chilcott

The GPX around Brackla Primary School is not quite right as you can't enter the lane where it says, but you can join it a little further down Trem Y Mor, and as others have said, it's easier to just use the underpass under Princess Way....

sftuck

The first section is along very quiet country roads – only 4 cars passed me. Then through fields to the outskirts of Bridgend, where it took a while to cross the A48, but all in all, not too bad....

sftuck

A really nice start off road circling the church and then pleasant, peaceful walking along historic quiet lanes. My favourite part of the walk was taking a short diversion to take a visit to St Michaels church and Ewenny Priory....

Stuart Bain

A pleasant walk firstly through country lanes from Colwinston, then the middle section through fields around the Ewenny Priory estate, before entering the outskirts of Bridgend for the last leg. The land around the route is intensive agriculture most of the way, but there are some nice views over the Ewenny Valley and Bridgend after leaving the lanes and descending down through the fields....

Paul Chilcott

All of a sudden, everything goes haywire, and the maze of trodden paths you find on the ground simply don't match what's shown on the map. I walked back and forth through those dunes, just to see where the waymarked paths went, along with the most well trodden paths, and I managed to separate out three good options for getting from one side of the dunes to the other. I think this is the best route through the dunes and it's also the closest to the right of way shown on the Ordnance Survey map2 This is a good route, but once it splits from option 2, there are no waymarks, so you have to follow the most trodden path onwards, and not get pulled off course onto other paths....

Paddy Dillon

A good walk overall, although it takes quite a while to get through the Brackla housing estate on the way out of Bridgend (I understand that at one time, this was the biggest housing estate in Europe). The footpath is clearly shown on the maps and is also part of the Bridgend Circular Walk route....

Paul Chilcott

Photo 1 - The boardwalk after crossing the dual carriageway at Sarn...

Paul Chilcott

It runs under the motorway and after a short stretch on a very quiet road, you follow the River Ogmore into Bridgend....

Stuart Bain

As others have mentioned, Merthyr Mawr Warren is certainly a test of your navigational skills, but it's also the nicest part of the walk. There's some road walking, but it's not too busy....

sftuck

As most of the route is road based, I would have turned left at Penycae and walked up the pavement towards the shops and then right at the roundabout to Litchard Hill....

Smudge

Then the route went off road alongside cycle lanes until it left the confines of Bridgend. Once I visited the church I followed the route across agricultural land and although the route diverts off the right of way halfway across there is an obvious track to follow. The path eventually leads through the middle of a farm and reaches the road that runs alongside Stormy Down onto the A48....

Stuart Bain

I would strongly recommend not to do this route and chose PylBri 2 route that addresses the rights of way issues and safety....

Stuart Bain

The route goes east of Porthcawl on the road until you split off on a right of way through a caravan park. The next section is very pleasant walking off road on a paved path on the coast path going around Trecco bay caravan park overlooking the beach. Leaving the car park you walk alongside a single track road that was fairly quiet for my visit until you branch off the road close to the church. Returning to the route, there is a small section of field walking before you follow the road around the Merthyr Mawr Estate House for 20 minutes. Follow the river to the Bridgend Life centre and then it’s a short walk on the road into the centre of Bridgend....

Stuart Bain

If you don't know Sarn the best place to start is Sarn railway station where there is a free car park as well as an hourly train service between Maesteg and Bridgend (Cardiff). In wet weather some of the slats on the boardwalk can seem a bit spongy but it's quite safe. The whole path is shared with cycle users and is well used by locals....

Smudge

The previous reviewed is correct with the busy road to cross into Brackla. Once you enter Brackla, you follow a myriad of ginnels, walkways (all off road) and cut throughs....

Stuart Bain

Fortunately you don't have to walk alongside this busy road as there is a small access road running parallel that will take you up to the rugby ground. There is another busy road to cross via the pedestrian crossing and then you walk up through the town centre with shops, cafes and pubs....

Stuart Bain

This route is 100% road based running through some fairly run down council estates so I didn't feel particularly comfortable walking the route and the scenery wasn't great....

Stuart Bain

All the main points are covered in the first review; the most important is that the route through Merthyr Mawr Warren (from Candleston car park to the beach near Porthcawl) is difficult to navigate as it is indeed warren-like with many more paths than are shown on the map, and few markers. It’s easier to walk through straight through the dunes between the car park and the beach (directly south of the car park). The footpath sections south of Bridgend are well-marked; there are a couple of stone-slab stiles (see pic 2)....

MaddyT

This is a hugely rewarding walk of just about 8.5 miles with glorious sea views, fine countryside and fields all the way into the heart of Bridgend....

Black Squirrel

Leaving Bridgend it took some concentration to cross the A48, even on a Sunday morning, and there were a few stone slabs instead of stiles - but overall, it’s a good route....

MaddyT

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. 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. 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....

Black Squirrel