{"id":17142,"date":"2026-06-27T23:21:38","date_gmt":"2026-06-27T22:21:38","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/wenvoe.org.uk\/?p=17142"},"modified":"2026-06-27T23:23:08","modified_gmt":"2026-06-27T22:23:08","slug":"17142","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"http:\/\/wenvoe.org.uk\/?p=17142","title":{"rendered":"Pontrhydyfen & Llwyn-Onn"},"content":{"rendered":"

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Pontrhydyfen & Llwyn-Onn<\/span><\/span><\/em><\/span><\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n

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Pontrhydyfen<\/strong><\/span><\/em><\/p>\n

We parked at Rhyslyn, Afan Forest Park in late spring, and set off on the Richard Burton birthplace trail soon spotting clumps of cowslips.<\/p>\n

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Crossing the viaduct towards Bethel Chapel we looked down on the river and over to a second viaduct. As we turned the corner of the chapel, we noticed that high up in the stone wall was a gap filled with a different material; bees had obviously made this their home and were busy coming and going.<\/p>\n

It was a lovely day, and we walked in dappled sunlight beside trees. This was yet another walk where we were able to see bluebells (one of 6 this year). A long line of at least nine bee hives sat along the edge of a field. Next, a line of caravans and motor homes were awaiting their summer excursions. A donkey and a horse took an interest in us and our equine lovers said hello.<\/p>\n

As the day progressed it warmed and lambs could be seen gambolling in the fields. We had an early lunch sat amongst the roots of an old hedge line which also provided shade as the \u2018hedge\u2019 had grown to a line of trees. The view was a pastoral idyll of green fields, rolling hills and sheep with just a few houses in the distance.<\/p>\n

At one point we could see Port Talbot steel works in the distance, quite odd as there was no smoke and no sign of activity. Since then, one of the main Tata steel cylinders has been demolished.<\/p>\n

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We were at the highest point of our walk and came\u00a0across a bench with a heart-shaped dedication to a dog \u2013 \u2018always by my side, forever in my heart\u2019. It was now hot and the views expansive. The wall of a property totally overgrown with greenery had several pottery animals dotted about \u2013 a horse\u2019s head, a pig and some sort of bird.<\/p>\n

The return was a pleasant walk along the river and another bench with a dedication \u2018Sit with me and watch the world go by\u2019 \u2013 this time for a 26-year-old.<\/p>\n

Before long we were back in Pontrhydyfen, and wandered over to the Bethel chapel caf\u00e9, where hot and cold food is available. \u2018In 1984, hundreds of mourners, including locals, fans and A-list stars gathered here to bid farewell to Richard Burton.\u2019 The place is full of memorabilia as well as some pithy sayings such as \u2018skinny people are easier to kidnap, stay safe and eat cake\u2019. So, we did as it was someone\u2019s birthday and we sat outside in the balmy air to enjoy it.<\/p>\n

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As we walked back to the cars a friendly local chatted to us and pointed out the house where Richard Burton was born, rounding the day off nicely.<\/p>\n

Walk 6.8 miles 1000ft Map OS165<\/p>\n

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Llwyn-Onn<\/strong><\/span><\/em><\/p>\n

We parked in the Forrest holidays site, west of the reservoir where a wooden sculpture of the BFG stands. This was an excellent route for a hot day with plenty of shade.<\/p>\n

Although we were circumnavigating the reservoir, we could not see it for most of the walk. Birdsong accompanied us all day and there were bluebells once again but at the end of their display. The paths were edged by many orchids \u2013 early marsh, common spotted and others. An unusual yellow flower turned out to be common cow wheat and buttercups covered fields. White pignuts were plentiful in one area.<\/p>\n

We sheltered in the cool shadow of a tree for lunch and were swamped by swarms of midges \u2013 some of us suffering for days afterwards with the resultant bites.<\/p>\n

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The old Taff trail proved very difficult in parts\u00a0where the trees and shrubs were reaching across the path with a barbed wire fence on the other side. Towards the end of the walk the footpath disappeared so we changed route and walked beside the reservoir, stepping into it where gentle waves lapped the path.<\/p>\n

At Garwnant visitor\u2019s centre, information boards cover the geology of the Brecon Beacons and information on an arboretum. It was a beautiful hot sunny day and the walk \u2018a bit of an adventure\u2019. When we told a ranger at the visitor centre the problems on the old Taff trail. he said, \u2018he wouldn\u2019t go down there these days.\u2019<\/p>\n

We enjoyed drinks here and many of us also had ice-cream!<\/p>\n

Walk 7 miles 1000ft Map OL12<\/p>\n

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\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

Pontrhydyfen & Llwyn-Onn Pontrhydyfen We parked at Rhyslyn, Afan Forest Park in late spring, and set off on the Richard Burton birthplace trail soon spotting clumps of cowslips. Crossing the viaduct towards Bethel Chapel we looked down on the river and over to a second viaduct. As we turned the corner of the chapel, we noticed that high up in […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":4,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"jetpack_post_was_ever_published":false,"_jetpack_newsletter_access":"","_jetpack_newsletter_tier_id":0,"footnotes":"","jetpack_publicize_message":"","jetpack_is_tweetstorm":false,"jetpack_publicize_feature_enabled":true,"jetpack_social_post_already_shared":true,"jetpack_social_options":{"image_generator_settings":{"template":"highway","enabled":false}}},"categories":[38,436],"tags":[],"jetpack_publicize_connections":[],"jetpack_featured_media_url":"","jetpack_sharing_enabled":true,"jetpack_shortlink":"https:\/\/wp.me\/s6cWjO-17142","jetpack-related-posts":[{"id":14168,"url":"http:\/\/wenvoe.org.uk\/?p=14168","url_meta":{"origin":17142,"position":0},"title":"Llwyn Onn Reservoir and Taibach","author":"Alan Williams","date":"9th April 2024","format":false,"excerpt":"Llwyn Onn Reservoir and Taibach \u00a0 Llwyn Onn Reservoir Driving to the start of this walk, at the beginning of March, the weather was changeable, rain, sleet and hail and we could see snow on the tops of some hills. On arrival at the Garwnant Visitor centre at Llwyn Onn\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "Footsteps"","block_context":{"text":"Footsteps","link":"http:\/\/wenvoe.org.uk\/?cat=38"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"","width":0,"height":0},"classes":[]},{"id":12750,"url":"http:\/\/wenvoe.org.uk\/?p=12750","url_meta":{"origin":17142,"position":1},"title":"Place-Names Derivation – Llwyneliddon \/ St Lythans","author":"Alan Williams","date":"5th January 2023","format":false,"excerpt":"THE DERIVATION AND MEANING OF PLACE-NAMES LLWYNELIDDON \/ ST LYTHANS The Welsh name is made up of two elements - \u2018llwyn\u2019 and \u2018Eliddon\u2019. \u2018Llwyn\u2019 is the Welsh word for \u2018grove\u2019 or \u2018copse\u2019 and the second element \u2018Eliddon\u2019\u2019 is the name of the saint to whom an earlier church was dedicated.\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "Readers Articles of Interest"","block_context":{"text":"Readers Articles of Interest","link":"http:\/\/wenvoe.org.uk\/?cat=228"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"","width":0,"height":0},"classes":[]},{"id":5694,"url":"http:\/\/wenvoe.org.uk\/?p=5694","url_meta":{"origin":17142,"position":2},"title":"Parc Cefn Onn","author":"Alan Williams","date":"1st April 2019","format":false,"excerpt":"Parc Cefn Onn. The park was closed as they are installing ramps and a diversion skirts the eastern edge of the park. In February, Camellias were in full flower and the red trunks of Acers stood out. Entering open countryside we climbed onto the ridge and walked parallel to the\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "Footsteps"","block_context":{"text":"Footsteps","link":"http:\/\/wenvoe.org.uk\/?cat=38"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"","width":0,"height":0},"classes":[]},{"id":14100,"url":"http:\/\/wenvoe.org.uk\/?p=14100","url_meta":{"origin":17142,"position":3},"title":"River Taff","author":"Alan Williams","date":"15th March 2024","format":false,"excerpt":"River Taff January and the start of February have made life difficult for walkers with lots of rain and boggy countryside. This walk was mostly firm underfoot taking in the Taff trail and an old railway. We parked Northwest of Merthyr Tydfil in Cwm Taf Fechan. The beginning of the\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "Footsteps"","block_context":{"text":"Footsteps","link":"http:\/\/wenvoe.org.uk\/?cat=38"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"","width":0,"height":0},"classes":[]},{"id":8349,"url":"http:\/\/wenvoe.org.uk\/?p=8349","url_meta":{"origin":17142,"position":4},"title":"Footsteps – Draethen and Ruperra Castle","author":"Alan Williams","date":"5th October 2020","format":false,"excerpt":"Draethen and Ruperra Castle It was a hot day in early August when 4 of us parked in a woodland at Llwyn Hir, near Draethen and headed into the woods. We soon came across a tree with a large vertical hole in it where the trunk had split into two\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "Footsteps"","block_context":{"text":"Footsteps","link":"http:\/\/wenvoe.org.uk\/?cat=38"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/wenvoe.org.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/10\/Picture3.jpg?resize=350%2C200","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/wenvoe.org.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/10\/Picture3.jpg?resize=350%2C200 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/wenvoe.org.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/10\/Picture3.jpg?resize=525%2C300 1.5x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/wenvoe.org.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/10\/Picture3.jpg?resize=700%2C400 2x"},"classes":[]},{"id":5448,"url":"http:\/\/wenvoe.org.uk\/?p=5448","url_meta":{"origin":17142,"position":5},"title":"Clyne Valley","author":"Alan Williams","date":"6th January 2019","format":false,"excerpt":"Clyne Valley We parked in lower Sketty, Swansea near the recycling centre and headed generally northwest through Clyne Valley Country Park. The land near the path was once a rubbish tip and before that a spoil heap from the Clyne Valley Colliery (closed 1921). Coal mining was the first industry\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "Footsteps"","block_context":{"text":"Footsteps","link":"http:\/\/wenvoe.org.uk\/?cat=38"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/wenvoe.org.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/01\/walk-5-1.jpg?resize=350%2C200","width":350,"height":200},"classes":[]}],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"http:\/\/wenvoe.org.uk\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/17142"}],"collection":[{"href":"http:\/\/wenvoe.org.uk\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"http:\/\/wenvoe.org.uk\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"http:\/\/wenvoe.org.uk\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/users\/4"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"http:\/\/wenvoe.org.uk\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcomments&post=17142"}],"version-history":[{"count":2,"href":"http:\/\/wenvoe.org.uk\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/17142\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":17144,"href":"http:\/\/wenvoe.org.uk\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/17142\/revisions\/17144"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"http:\/\/wenvoe.org.uk\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=17142"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"http:\/\/wenvoe.org.uk\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcategories&post=17142"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"http:\/\/wenvoe.org.uk\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Ftags&post=17142"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}