Blaencwm

In the upper reaches of the headland of the historic Rhondda Fawr, the intrepid duo of Butterballs and Lord Twynyrodyn tackled the wild mountainous area around the hilltops of Treherbert to Rhigos. Setting out from the Penpych woodland car park and heading east towards the pine forests and waterfalls as the sun shone high in the azure blue April sky.

Everywhere they looked vast conifer forests surrounded a tight knit former coal mining community. However, most of the old industrial heritage has now been reclaimed by nature.

Making their way over mountain streams they continued onwards and upwards into Mynydd Blaenrhondda until they saw the first of the smaller waterfalls. As the ascent increased a stone track led to an impressive larger waterfall that cascades over the edge of a high cliff.



After reached the hilltop, the view opens out to become the domain of ravens, kestrals and buzzards where a Manchester United flag - in memory of a young local boy who died in a tragic motor accident - adorns this magnificent viewpoint above Treherbert in the valley below.



The landscape changed as the duo became over-shadowed by the steep cliffs and scars of Craig Blaenrhondda. Then after leaving the woods in the distance the A4061 Rhigos Road dissects the valley like a sword cast from the precious metals hidden beneath the rugged hillside, before arriving at the stunning Nant Melyn waterfall which flows into a large pond created by the constant flow of water off the mountain.



A grassy track takes the duo down past the ruins of the Iron Age settlement known as Hen Dre’r Mynydd. There is evidence in the area of Mesolithic and Neolithic human activity, mainly through the discovery of basic hunting, foraging and tool making items.



The settlement is now in ruins but you can clearly see where the round stone buildings once stood. The walk opened up dramatically as the valley floor widens.



Leaving the ridge the walk returns down the snaking dirt road towards the nearby town of Treherbert, lying in the shadow of Penpych. Refreshments on the return journey were take at the Glancynon Inn in Hirwaun.



The walk was 6 miles and took approximately 4 hours to complete. It featured on Weatherman Walking earlier this year.