Xmas Lunch in Pontsticill

With festive alcohol to consume at the Strollers Xmas luncheon, it was to be a car-free walk for Lord Twynyrodyn and Wandering today (Butterballs, the Fit Fiftysomething from the Cynon Valley and RGB were all unavailable due to prior engagements!).

The predicted heavy snowfall overnight had failed to materialise as we left the Shire of Thomastown at mid-morning although the ground was sprinkled with a light dusting.

After negotiating the western section of Thomastown Park we experienced a white-out as we left Alexandra Avenue en-route to the top gate at Cyfarthfa Park.





Work had started on repairs to the feeder at Cyfarthfa Park lake that Lord Twynyrodyn had a professional interest to see so we went off-road under the bridge at the bottom of Cefn High Street and walked along the old railway tracks behind Lakeside Gardens.



The Cwm Taff Fechan Nature Reserve section of the walk has been covered on the blog previously. However, today the river was almost in flood.

We were graced with the presence of a heron, buzzard, dipper and green tit along the river bank.



We continued over the bridge and under the viaduct at Pontsarn until we reached the White Bridge where we left the trail to climb to the former-Church Tavern, that has now been converted into a dwelling house and is currently for sale at a price of £495k.



The Ironmaster Robert Crawshay is buried in the graveyard of Vaynor Church ("God Forgive Me" is engraved on his tomb) and we walked a few hundred yards to the site of the original church that was built in the 8th Century but was burnt down during the battle of Maesvaynor which took place in 1291.



Leaving this historic site we walked along the country roads into the village of Pontsticill to the Red Cow Inn, where we ate a Dragons Tongue!



From the windows of the service bus we could still see snow covering the agricultural area surrounding the village as we returned to the metropolis by late afternoon.