Circular walk Pontardawe-Clydach over Gellionen mountain: 9 miles
So the sun was shining this morning and I decided to cancel hot yoga, do some yoga in the garden and then take the dogs out for a mega long walk.
Distance: 9 miles (approx, I got a bit lost so ended up doing 9.5)
Difficulty: Fairly moderate
Time: 3.5 hours
Details: no walking boots needed, some steep climbs over the mountain for first 3-4 miles but all road walking/gravel track along the canal footpath and flat terrain on the return
Facilities: plenty of dog poo bins (by the bus stop near Spar, by the school before the Traveller's Well, on the return loop through Clydach, Trebanos canal junction, Pontardawe leisure centre), public loos in Clydach, shops in Clydach and Pontardawe, garage in Trebanos (just over the bridge from the canal, on the right hand side of the main road), Traveller's Well pub.
Dog info: open fields to run about near the leisure centre and Coedgwilym park, swimming in the river Tawe adjacent to the canal towpath.
This is a local route for me but still full of beautiful views and some good climbs to get the heart pumping and fitter. I start this route from home but you can start pretty close by by parking on James Street in Pontardawe.
Parking: James Street, Pontardawe.
If you turn left at the traffic lights in Ponty, park just a bit further up on the left opposite the gym before the right turning onto Alltycham drive.
Route instructions:
1. Walk up the road straight on for approximately 1.5 miles. Go past the new housing estate on the right and then past a Spar. Keep going until you reach the Traveller's Well pub.
2. Turn left onto Baran road at the pub and shortly after turn left again onto Penlan road.
3. Climb up the hill and keep following this road for 2 miles.
Enjoy the nice views back down on the valley the higher you climb.
4. Keep going until you reach a fork in the road. Branch right and climb up the hill. When I did this walk, the left branch (which we're not doing anyway) was closed because the road had subsided and the council was doing work....knowing Neath Port Talbot, it'll likely go on a few years if not longer...the less said about their poor response to potholes and road maintenance the better!
The diversion confused me here and I ended up going downhill and heading in completely the wrong direction then realising I needed to walk back up....but it's all good because I need the exercise and the extra fitbit steps! Feel free to add an unnecessary descent and ascent if you are also attempting to shed some pounds ready for the summer/a wedding/holiday(delete as applicable).
5. Keep going straight on at the top of the hill and go over a cattle grid. There's an info board here about wildlife on the common.
6. The road branches here, stick to the left side and keep going.
7. Follow this road all the way downhill. There's some nice views of the whole valley here and you can see right out to Swansea bay on a fine day.
8. Head down the road until it becomes more residential and pass a school. Keep going straight down the hill and you come out in Clydach.
9. Turn left at the Vardre (Ti Amo restaurant opposite) and keep going straight on this road until you reach two mini roundabouts.
10. Turn left and join the canal towpath heading back towards Pontardawe.
Keep going along the canal, part of the walk goes through a disused car park and continues past Coedgwilym park and up to Trebanos.
Keep going past the stables and another park and eventually you reach the fields by Pontardawe Leisure centre.
Keep going straight on along the path until you reach Pontardawe retail park (Argos/Home Bargains etc). Keep to the left and turn left into a tunnel which brings you out alongside the canal and then out onto High Street in Pontardawe.
Turn left and walk past a few shops and the Dilwyn Arms then cross the road at the traffic lights. Walk up the road to where you parked the car.
Clydach is a good place to stop for me as I have two aunties I can call on so we had a drink and a sandwich and the beagles were happy for a rest!
So the sun was shining this morning and I decided to cancel hot yoga, do some yoga in the garden and then take the dogs out for a mega long walk.
Distance: 9 miles (approx, I got a bit lost so ended up doing 9.5)
Difficulty: Fairly moderate
Time: 3.5 hours
Details: no walking boots needed, some steep climbs over the mountain for first 3-4 miles but all road walking/gravel track along the canal footpath and flat terrain on the return
Facilities: plenty of dog poo bins (by the bus stop near Spar, by the school before the Traveller's Well, on the return loop through Clydach, Trebanos canal junction, Pontardawe leisure centre), public loos in Clydach, shops in Clydach and Pontardawe, garage in Trebanos (just over the bridge from the canal, on the right hand side of the main road), Traveller's Well pub.
Dog info: open fields to run about near the leisure centre and Coedgwilym park, swimming in the river Tawe adjacent to the canal towpath.
This is a local route for me but still full of beautiful views and some good climbs to get the heart pumping and fitter. I start this route from home but you can start pretty close by by parking on James Street in Pontardawe.
Parking: James Street, Pontardawe.
If you turn left at the traffic lights in Ponty, park just a bit further up on the left opposite the gym before the right turning onto Alltycham drive.
Route instructions:
2. Turn left onto Baran road at the pub and shortly after turn left again onto Penlan road.
3. Climb up the hill and keep following this road for 2 miles.
Enjoy the nice views back down on the valley the higher you climb.
4. Keep going until you reach a fork in the road. Branch right and climb up the hill. When I did this walk, the left branch (which we're not doing anyway) was closed because the road had subsided and the council was doing work....knowing Neath Port Talbot, it'll likely go on a few years if not longer...the less said about their poor response to potholes and road maintenance the better!
The diversion confused me here and I ended up going downhill and heading in completely the wrong direction then realising I needed to walk back up....but it's all good because I need the exercise and the extra fitbit steps! Feel free to add an unnecessary descent and ascent if you are also attempting to shed some pounds ready for the summer/a wedding/holiday(delete as applicable).
5. Keep going straight on at the top of the hill and go over a cattle grid. There's an info board here about wildlife on the common.
8. Head down the road until it becomes more residential and pass a school. Keep going straight down the hill and you come out in Clydach.
9. Turn left at the Vardre (Ti Amo restaurant opposite) and keep going straight on this road until you reach two mini roundabouts.
10. Turn left and join the canal towpath heading back towards Pontardawe.
Keep going past the stables and another park and eventually you reach the fields by Pontardawe Leisure centre.
Turn left and walk past a few shops and the Dilwyn Arms then cross the road at the traffic lights. Walk up the road to where you parked the car.
Clydach is a good place to stop for me as I have two aunties I can call on so we had a drink and a sandwich and the beagles were happy for a rest!
This was Dexter's longest walk since he partially ruptured his cranial cruciate ligament (the doggy equivalent of the ACL). He coped pretty well...and is on a diet at the moment as he's getting a bit chunky so I was pleased with how he held up! Aiming to build him up to regular 8-10 mile weekend walks this year before our camping trip to North Wales in June.
So far so good!
Let me know if you try it.
Comments
Post a Comment