Cefn Onn Park upto Rhymney Rideway Walk
The Muddy Walk
With the weather looking promising for this time of year we decide to explore the Rhymney Ridgeway more on foot this time. We start at the car park at Cefn Onn Parc in Lisvane. The Parc at this time of year particularly beautiful. The tree and foliage are array with autumn colours and the squirrels are out in force foraging around for nuts. It’s a wonderful park with well maintained gardens and paths on the outskirts of Cardiff. We walk through the park, taking in the autumnal view and take a right out of the park about half way through. This footpath takes you up hill alongside LLanishen Golf Club and onto the Nant Fawr Corridor. We head up hill and take a left, following the footpath onto Craig Road. From here we take a left onto it and then an immediate right , following on, passing Bryn Hill Farm and onto the lower Ridgeway common Craig LLysfaen. Here we pass through farm land with Grouse, Pheasant and Quail (where is Lucy when you need her lol) We climb gently up to the ridge to the bridle path. We stop here for a bite to eat and to take in the scenery. We remark on how it was only a few months ago the field we just walked up was all mud and furrows, now it green with grass and sprouting turnips (we think that’s what they are anyway – must brush up on our veg as the allotment will need our attention at some time!) Instead of following the path along the Ridgway we take a right off the bridle path and into the forestry of Coed Coesau Whips. It’s a lovely shaded path through the forestry where we see plenty of mushrooms in bloom. We head towards a stream, a word of warning here – though it was a lovely dry day it had been a wet week so the path was a little boggy so be prepared to get mucky on this walk in the winter. We cross the Nant Yr Cwm stream and follow the path to take a left at a style into Coed Cefn woods. It’s quite a steep climb through woodland, once at the top you are on the other side of the ridge and catch glimpses of Caerphilly, Rudry common and Rudry mountain. Again, the wet weather has turned the path to mush so take care. We emerge onto Craig road next to Pant Glas Farm. Initaially we thought of continuing on the footpath across the road to zig zag back towards Nant Fawr via Transh Yr Hebog woods (also known as The Hawks Gully) Instead we opt for the shorter faster route via the road. This road is quiet with gates at either end so not much traffic passes through. It’s a pleasant enough walk along the road back down onto the footpath off Craig road to take us back into Cefn Onn Park. It’s definitely worth a walk, with beautiful scenery, nature and fauna to see anytime through the year.
For information on Cefn Onn Park- Click here
