I've created an alternative route using an existing promoted route to make it easier to follow....

Mike Kohnstamm

There was some great scenery along the way, especially looking up the Rhymney Valley from the slopes of Mynydd Machen and also around Rudry Common. From the mountain road it was straight forward until Machen... Leaving Machen and taking the footpath into the forest was the other problem area....

Paul Chilcott

This is not a walk I would do again, but it`s a safe and reasonably direct route and if you don`t mind a couple of miles of walking alongside busy roads, it`s fine. However, I`m sure there must be a good alternative route using the many footpaths between Mountain Road in Caerphilly and the woodland section that avoids the main roads....

Paul Chilcott

An excellent walk mostly on the Penrhos Cutting and then the Taff Trail. At the time of my walk there were two diversions in place: (1) at Taff`s Well, while they are completing the metro development around the station area, the main Taff Trail route was closed, but a "Taff Trail B" diversion is in place, which is well sign-posted. (2) Also, the River Taff walkway by the Millennium Stadium was temporarily closed, but Westgate Street or the Taff Embankment make easy alternatives....

Paul Chilcott

Direction: Pontprennau to Caerphilly. After leaving the fields and lanes and entering the woodlands, the path zig-zags up the mountain. Photo 4 - Brick path through Wern Ddu woods...

Paul Chilcott

Pretty easy to follow, although judging by all the dead bracken around, it might be more difficult earlier in the year....

sftuck

Photo 1 - View back down the path towards Cilfynydd from Eglwysilan Road Photo 4 - View towards Penarth and Bristol Channel from Eglwysilan Road...

Paul Chilcott

A good route out of town through Landsbury Park, then just a short section along the busy and noisy Distributor Road, before peace and calm is restored on Old Bedwas Road. After the section through Bedwas village and the old mine workings area, Ty Canol Lane is a good test of the lungs....

Paul Chilcott

The route looks suitable for cycling with mountain or trail bikes (maybe not a road bike though), but the mountain track is fairly rough in places, as is the Heol Pont y Seison footpath leading from Penallta Park before it turns into the lane after crossing the A472 road. Also, the bridge over the A468/469 road at the bottom end of Court Road leading into Caerphilly is now open again (one of the changes from Ystcae1). Photo 3 - The mountain ridge track...

Paul Chilcott

Follow this path out to the road (there is a barrier to hop unfortunately) and then follow the road all the way up....

Tom Morris

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....

sftuck

Nice walk, mostly along cycle paths, so almost entirely tarmac. Was a bit busy at some points...

sftuck

Great route, pretty easy to follow, mostly off road with great views....

sftuck

As long as you stick exactly to the route provided, it's fine, as the shooting shoots away from the path towards coal tip....

Tom Morris

Fancied a walk over the top to caerphilly again on a crisp beautiful January afternoon but didn't relish the thought of scrambling up through the farm....

grifftinfoilhat

All uphill from Risca up to the just below the Machen that was easy to find the route for. After turning left below the peak of Machen the route is all gently heading down with more gorgeous views surrounding you....

Philip Jones

Nice walk from Caerphilly that starts off in the town centre, so you can take a look around the castle if you want before heading on. The route is clearly marked by signs along most of the route through the town. Once you get to Ty-Canol Lane get ready for the gentle walk to get pretty steep though as you will be climbing up non-stop until you hit the ridge line and the cairn up top....

Philip Jones

The first part as far as Rudry was excellent, with some lovely views across the Rhymney Valley and the hidden valley with the Nant Gwaunybara running through it. Photo 1 - A welcome seat at the top of the walk up the breast of Rudry Mountain, with views over the Rhymney Valley....

Paul Chilcott

After leaving the park, there is a short section alongside the A4054 main road, but it`s only a short stretch, and then you`re on to the Taff Trail cycle route walking through long woodland sections....

Paul Chilcott

This route drops down from Caerphilly and then follows the Taff trail into Cardiff centre....

Deri Roberts

This is a very nice route that follows the Taff trail between Pontypridd and Caerphilly....

Deri Roberts

The walk consisted of mostly walking through shaded woodland along well-maintained paths with the occasional valley view of the hills beyond. The route itself was very easy to do with flat, concrete paths making up the majority of the walk....

Daniel Chapman

1) Leaving Bedwas, when you leave the road just past the church, there are 2 paths. On the OS map it looks like you should veer right towards the houses but instead take the left fork. There’s a network of footpaths following an embankment - try and stick to the north side of it until Tŷ-Canol Lane. 2) There are several unmarked bike trails in the forest above Ynysddu, which makes map-reading tricky As long as you head downhill, you can’t get seriously lost....

MaddyT

The Cilfynydd to Caerphilly section is fine, but the path running parallel to the A4054 (Abercynon to Cilfynydd) wasn’t in use for the full distance (overgrown, not maintained). Walking from Abercynon, the first part was fine but then it zigzags up the slope and becomes a path across the disused tip/quarry, joining a dead-end road leading to National Road and then Cilfynydd. Although it was a nice walk, it extends the distance and involves extra climbing & descent....

MaddyT

The footpath between Cilfynydd and Penheol Ely Road is mostly clearly marked, and the long stretch along Eglwysilan Road is fine - not much traffic and great views....

MaddyT

An outdoor fitness company is using this area so there are plenty of tracks (and even some dilapidated footpath markers), but access at the top seemed to be blocked. There's a much better route parallel to this one - see Chucae2....

MaddyT

South of Church Village, the path across the Dryscoed property is clearly marked but when it joins the road there's an automatic gate....

MaddyT

3) Instead of crossing the playing field, stay on the road at Heol Pontprennau/Heol Glandulais...

MaddyT

This is a good route along clearly marked well-used paths through woods and grassy fields. However, there are a couple of potential hazards: 1) Just S of the M4 you need to jump/splash across the stream at Nant Glandulas. It was easy today but may be trickier after heavy rain. 2) Care is needed on the tiny stretch of St Mellons Rd between the footpath to Malthouse Farm and the start of the pavement: a few metres of narrow road, blind bends and oncoming traffic....

MaddyT

I walked from Caerphilly to Draethen - easy to navigate, peaceful surroundings & good views. Some stiles were a bit wobbly, but overall it was an easy route. At Penhow Farm the right of way is shown on the map as going through the farmyard, prompting lots of barking from (enclosed) dogs....

MaddyT

The path on this route was overgrown with bracken and brambles, so I had to backtrack and find an alternative route (uploaded)....

MaddyT

There are a couple of small supermarkets where the route passes through Machen if you need supplies....

MaddyT

From the farm to Caerphilly I give this route 3 stars, or 4 stars with less fly tipping on the ridgeway....

MaddyT

I've uploaded a new route that shows the route I eventually did to get through, takes a bit longer but I couldn't see any alternative. Also, the new route avoids Lansbury Park, one of Wales' most notorious housing estates....

grifftinfoilhat

The climb out of Ynysddu is very steep and can get very muddy but worth it for views across the channel to Somerset. The area is very popular with trial bikes and scramblers who go downhill at ridiculous speeds. You can hear them coming a mile off but be aware....

grifftinfoilhat

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. Navigation wise it is pretty simple from now on, you are pretty much walking in a dead straight line to Caerphilly. Then it's just a short walk through the town to the train station....

grifftinfoilhat