The River Taff flows some 28 miles southwards from Merthyr Tydfil to join the waters of Cardiff Bay. In doing so it drops 600ft, and so it is advantageous for cyclists to cycle in the same direction for preference. Freewheeling downhill is one of the great joys of cycling, something that you cannot do with any other form of locomotion, with the possible exception of roller skating, but who wants to roller skate 28 miles?
So we start at Merthyr Tydfil, having travelled there from Cardiff by train.
The railway runs along the valley from Cardiff but goes no further than Merthyr due to the Brecon Beacons which lie to the North.
Click on pictures to enlarge them.
From the railway station at Merthyr Tydfil the first problem is to find the start of the route which lies on the South side of the town alongside the river and close by this roundabout.
Here the Sustrans milepost confirms that we are on the correct route and that Cardiff is but 28 miles distant.
This milepost is in the car park of the Aldi supermarket in Merthyr.
Directions and the route from the railway station are currently (May 2015) much affected by road and pathway works close by the station.
Soon we are off on this nicely surfaced path with the prospect of a (mostly) downhill run all the way to Cardiff.
The valley is wide here as we pass by Aberfan, scene of a terrible disaster in 1966.
Although we are never far from the River Taff, there are some diversions and also some small climbs. This is both a diversion and a hill.
But well worth the effort as we continue downhill.
Although the route is well signed, there are some sharp turns. Great care needed here as we drop down to the grim underpass beneath the A477 trunk road, as the path is not only steep but there are steps
It's as steep as it looks!
Exit from the dark and foreboding underpass. Note more steps.
To this lovely old stone arched bridge which would have most modern motor vehicles grounded.
The most humpback of humpback bridges.
As bridges go, this is a work of art.
A welcome surprise here at Pontygwait Farm where you can get a nice cup of tea and a cake in return for a donation to the National Gardens Scheme Charity. Highly recommended.
A few yards further up the hill we turn through the gate to enter the Pontygwaith Nature Reserve.
The path through the nature reserve was once the site of a tramway built to carry coal from the nearby mines down towards Cardiff. .The path surface is poor for cycling
.
The River Taff runs way below on the right and the bank is precipitous.
A mileage check here as we are almost halfway to Cardiff (15 miles) having come 11 miles from Merthyr.
Near Pontypridd the path gets down to river level.
The route passes through the public park in Pontypridd.
And eventually, after some difficulties in crossing the main roads, we approach Cardiff through Bute Park which is enormous.
Alongside the River Taff, now much wider than we have yet seen it.
The Sustrans milepost confirms that Cardiff is but two miles hence.
Hundreds of mature trees in Bute Park, these hosting a carpet of wild garlic in flower.
We pass by this elegant suspension bridge which connects Bute Park to Sophia Gardens on the far bank of the river.
Finally we come alongside the magnificent Cardiff Castle and through the gates are suddenly on the busy streets of the capital of Wales.
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