Connect Ferndale with Slow Ways
We’re creating a network of walking routes that connect all of Britain’s towns, cities and national parks
more walks and reviews are needed to fully connect Ferndale to the verified network. Can you give a hike and help?
Give a hike!Ferndale / Glynrhedynog
Rhondda Cynon Taf
Slow Ways linking Ferndale and Aberdare, Mountain Ash, Tonypandy, Treorchy, Tylorstown
Wales / Rhondda Cynon Taf / Ferndale
Ferndale’s five Slow Ways are 45% checked
Help connect Ferndale
Many Slow Ways have several route options. Some will be better than others, or good for different reasons.
Our goal is for each Slow Way to have at least one route that is verified and surveyed. To be verified – and get its snail badge – a route needs at least three positive reviews.
Give a hike and help get a for every one of Ferndale’s Slow Ways.
Walk to Ferndale from further afield
| Slow Way | Route | To do | ||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Ferndale—Aberdare
|
Ferabe one |
|
U U |
|
Review me | Distance 9km/5mi | Ascent 505m | Descent 390m | ||
Ferndale—Mountain Ash
|
Fermou one |
|
|
U U |
|
Double check | Distance 9km/6mi | Ascent 442m | Descent 313m | |
Ferndale—Mountain Ash
|
Fermou two |
|
U U |
|
Review me | Distance 12km/7mi | Ascent 353m | Descent 487m | ||
Ferndale—Tylorstown
|
Fertyl one |
|
U U |
|
Review me | Distance 3km/2mi | Ascent 45m | Descent 87m | ||
|
Tonypandy—Ferndale
|
Tonfer one |
|
U U |
|
Pioneer me | Distance 7km/5mi | Ascent 192m | Descent 294m | ||
|
Treorchy—Ferndale
|
Trefer one |
|
|
U U |
|
Double check | Distance 6km/4mi | Ascent 185m | Descent 265m | |
Treorchy—Ferndale
|
Trefer two |
|
U U |
|
Review me | Distance 6km/4mi | Ascent 310m | Descent 230m |
Fancy stretching your legs a bit more?
If you’ve polished off all of the routes between Ferndale and its neighbours, how about walking its whole web?
This includes the great ring of routes that join its neighbours to each other!
Collective progress
46% of Ferndale’s five route options are drawn, reviewed, surveyed and/or verified
7/7
6/7
0/7
0/7
2 people have contributed to Ferndale’s Slow Ways
1 people have pledged to walk and review a route
0 people have surveyed a route in Ferndale
44km out of 51km have been walked and reviewed
44km of reviews have been shared in Ferndale
Latest Updates
The first half from Aberdare to Cwmaman was a classic South Wales valleys mountain walk, a definite 5-star route, but the second part from Cwmaman to Ferndale suffered from closed paths and an excessively long alternative. At this time of year, these mountain paths are often overgrown with bracken and brambles and climbing up the hill out of Aberdare, I though this would be the same, but although the bracken was head height in places, the path was visible all the way, but very steep and slippery. Over the mountain top the route was mostly grass (Photo 3) with well signposted and visible paths and great views all around. Instead, I followed the path straight up the Aman valley roughly following the Aman stream to get to the top of the mountain, but this took me miles out of the way....
Paul Chilcott
It follows the Rhondda Fach river, which has been artificially straightened and the banks strengthened in places, but in some stretches it looks natural and there are some nice pools deep enough for a dunk on a hot day. This path should be negotiable by wheelchair, although just a note of caution at the bridge crossing the river at around the half way point....
Paul Chilcott
The problem with this route is that the footpath above Blaenllechau Road (Ferndale) is overgrown and disused. See Fermou2 for an alternative....
MaddyT
MaddyT added Fermou two, a new walk from Ferndale to Mountain Ash
Walk this routeI think a more direct route could be found through St Gwynno Forest (had to find an alternative due to impassable/non-existent footpaths in Fermou1) but otherwise this is a good route. There’s a long walk along the road between Ferndale and the forest - not much traffic and excellent views as far as the sea and Exmoor....
MaddyT
However, the footpath leading into/out of Ton Pentre is totally overgrown. A man living next to it explained that the council cleared it 4 years ago after complaints from the Ramblers - and now it's overgrown again. There's another path starting nearby (at the end of Pleasant View) which leads up onto the hill - see Trefer2....
MaddyT
I enjoyed this hill walk, although the Ton Pentre side of the hill was a bit confusing: sometimes I wasn’t sure whether I was on a sheep path used by the occasional human or a human path used by a lot of sheep. If walking towards Ferndale, head towards the wind turbines - and don’t do this route in fog!...
MaddyT
Slow Ways added Fermou one, a new walk from Ferndale to Mountain Ash
Walk this routeSlow Ways added Fertyl one, a new walk from Ferndale to Tylorstown
Walk this routeSlow Ways added Tonfer one, a new walk from Tonypandy to Ferndale
Walk this route
Ferndale’s Slow Ways starting point
Grid ref
SS9988096980
Lat / Lon
51.66266° / -3.44895°
Easting / Northing
299,880E / 196,980N
what3words
Fancy stretching your legs a bit more?
If you’ve polished off all of the routes between Ferndale and its neighbours, how about walking its whole web?
This includes the great ring of routes that join its neighbours to each other!
Facilities
Users have reported that the following facilities can be found within 1km of Ferndale's meeting point
Public toilet
Wheelchair accessible toilet
Supermarket or convenience shop
Restaurant, cafe or pub
Accommodation
Accommodation for under £50 a night
Campsite
Bothy
Free wifi
Mobility scooter hire
Off-road wheelchair hire
Disabled Parking
Train station
Bus stop
Ferry
Official ‘Walkers are Welcome’ town
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