Taff's Well and Pentyrch 3.5 miles 13/4  hours

From the main entrance of Taff s Well BR, cross the road by the pedestrian crossing, walk over the bridge and up the lane beside the playing-field. Turn right at the main road, and walk beyond the playing-field, with the wooded hill to your left, up to a road junction. Cross to the left of the main road, and take the path leading upwards into the woodland.
From here, the route follows this fairly direct path through the woods. Initially, the route runs close to the road, but after a while the path ascends to an upper level. ( Where the route crosses a metalled road, watch out for lorries transporting quarry-stone).

The view to your right opens up to reveal the ridgeway of Garth Hill, with farms and fields below. The path emerges near housing, and a road which leads to the Lewis Arms, near a war memorial and children's play area. Turn left at the next junction, passing Capel Horeb, and walk down the road for about a mile to the King's Arms. The interior of the pub still retains many of its original features, with beamed ceilings and stone floors; an open fire in the colder weather makes for a welcome half way house after the walk through the woods.

Just beyond the pub is the centre of Pentyrch village, and St. Cattwg's church. Close to the church is the site of Cattwg's Well, an earlier site of pilgrimage than the spring of Ffynnon Taf, but no less important in its day. As with many centres of early, Celtic Christianity, the saint's well provided a focus for a religious community during the period of post-Roman settlement, and the formation of the Welsh kingdom of Morgannwg.

From the church, retrace your route along the road to the left-hand bend and go through the kissing gate on the right-hand side. Bear left and walk to the next kissing-gate; again, bear left to emerge onto the old parish road. Turn right for the return route to Taff's Well, linking with your original path through the woods.



Sponsored by Pentyrch Community Council, with financial assistance from the Prince of Wales Committee. Produced by the Taff Trail Project. Text and illustrations by Kevin Littlewood. (c) Taff Trail Project/K. Littlewood, 1990.

Cross the fence, go left, and walk along with a stream on your right, to the point at which it is joined by a another stream. Continue straight ahead, taking the path with fence and trees on your right. Continue to another fence, with a stream and stile over to the left of your route. Cross the stile and walk across the field to another (high) wooden. stile. Beyond this, veer right and downwards to a path beside a stream.
Bear left, with the stream on your right, and follow the path through the trees. Walk through a small gate, then through dense woodland, to emerge at an upper gate leading to a road and housing. Continue to the junction, turn right then first left and take the lower route which leads through a gate to a road. Turn right, past a playing-field, and crescent of houses on your left. Continue to the junction, turn left, walk to the far side of another playing-field, and turn left for the footpath to the station.