This particular section starts at the Community Centre and alongside St. Johns Church is a very narrow path that very soon crosses a bridge over the A465.Leaving Cefn Coed behind, rapid progress is made to the south east of Trefechan before you enter the Cwm Taf Fechan Nature Reserve. Although it wasn't snowing at the start of the walk a few small flakes started falling on the approach to Pontsarn.
The next footbridge takes you over the Glais hill before you pass the remains of the platform at Pontsarn Station. The first train came through the station on 8th August 1868, before increasing to 21 trains a day by 1873. The station was closed in 1963 as part of the Beeching review.
Almost at the end of the platform you pass under a bridge and then cross the Pontsarn Viaduct which was built in 1866 to carry the Brecon and Merthyr Railway. The viaduct, which has seven spans and is a listed structure, is 455 feet (139 mtrs) long and 92 feet (28 mtrs) high.
The trail continues the well defined route before the path ends rather abruptly at a sign declaring the next section is private land. The trial now joins the main vehicle access under a bridge then turns right past the water treatment works to the dam of Ponsticill Reservoir.
Passing under the bridge (above) this particular walk left the official Taff Trail to climb the Ffynon Dwn straight into Pontsticill. At this point it was snowing persistently and starting to stick!
The blazing open coal fire in the Red Cow invited me to stay longer than just one pint and it was tempting, but with the snow falling heavier it was definitely time to depart.
The walk was 4 miles and took just over 80 minutes to complete in snowy conditions! Again the terrain was easy underfoot with only one ascent into Pontsticill. All of the photographs taken on this walk can be viewed here. Select 'slide-show' for automated viewing.
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