An Online Community Newsletter published by the Pencoed Town Council
The Ridgeway Walk
From this point, where the two paths meet, the easiest way back to the town is down the steep escarpment to the south, down to Ystadwaun and back along the common road to Hendre Road.
For the concluding part of this short series on the footpaths of Pencoed, we have a walk for the fit and energetic, but one well worth taking for the views it offers. Once again starting at the monument, walk up the hill towards the post office and turn into Penprysg Road across the railway bridge. Walk for about three-quarters of a mile to the old bus garage (now A & A Tyre services). Opposite this garage, you will see Penylan Road, which rises to the west to Penylan House.
If you wish to stick strictly to the footpath, there is a stile in the fence on the right of the road; the footpath then climbs steeply skirting the old stone quarries to the right of the path. It is probably easier to walk further up Penylan Road and join the footpath a few hundred yards further on by taking the path over the cattle grid on the right of the road.
If you wish to stick strictly to the footpath, there is a stile in the fence on the right of the road; the footpath then climbs steeply skirting the old stone quarries to the right of the path. It is probably easier to walk further up Penylan Road and join the footpath a few hundred yards further on by taking the path over the cattle grid on the right of the road.
From here the path follows the ridge of the hill for several miles though it leaves the confines of Pencoed a few yards before reaching the reservoir which is the highest part of the ridge. About half way between the start of the path and the reservoir, the path is crossed by another that passes between Ystadwaun to the south and the site of the old Brynwith Colliery to the north. This is called the Miners (or Colliers) Path for obvious reasons.
As I stated earlier, here from the top of the ridge are some of the finest views in the area. Looking southeast, you can see the rolling limestone country of the Vale of Glamorgan. To the southwest, you can see the gap in the limestone hills that form the estuary of the River Ogmore. Between the two, you get a magnificent panoramic view of Pencoed itself. To the north, is the 800 foot ridge of Mynydd y Gaer, which is the start of the Welsh mountains. In the valley below is the South Crop of the Welsh coalfield where for over a century local men dug the black gold that fed the industries of the world. Along the base of the ridge, there are a dozen or more old mines and the sites of four opencast operations.
By Ancient Mills
