The Taff Trail

Bunch of Grapes, Ynysangharad Road

Stop for refreshments, packed lunches, or just refill your water bottles. www.bunchofgrapes.org.uk

Ynysangharad Park

The route now runs through the park, but that presents several problems. 1.A series of "Cyclist Dismount" signs at random intervals. 2.The route shares a very narrow and hazardous vehicle access to the carpark. 4. Access at Bridge Street is via a pelican crossing with no obvious cycle path across the fron to shops and 4. The park is not open 24/7. I prefer to continue to use the old route via Ynysangharad Road past the Bunch of Grapes.

The Taff Trail:Pontypridd

Pontypridd

This is the point in Pontypridd in Bridge Street next to a row of shops and an interchange below the A470 road. This just happens to be the point where the Taff Trail and National Cycle Routes 4(West), 8 and 47 (West) come together. The old Taff bridge can be seen down the hill.

This is a busy roundabout and novice cyclists should dismount to become pedestrians to cross several roads between Ynysangharad Road and West Street. Experianced cyclist should also take their time and extra care.

Pontypridd to the Penrhos Cutting, Nantgarw

The route South goes via Ynysangharad Park, where is is joined by the E-W NCN 4 from Tonyrefail. NCN Routes 4 and 8 are common from Pontypridd to Penrhos Cutting.

Pontypridd to Abercynon

Going North we go into West Street (next to the shops) and the one way system of parallel streets of Trallwn. Turn Left at the top into Coedpenmaen Road, then left again into a park through to Cylfynydd. Here we cross a lane and pass the end of the excellent cycle route to Ynysybwl. We are now on a recently constructed path through to the Navigation at Abercynon.

NCN Routes 8 and 47 are common from Pontypridd to Quakers Yard.

Pontypridd to Tonyrefail

NCN Route 4 takes another very steep route out of Pontypridd. Roads to the rear of the Railway Station lead to Gelliwion Road. Follow a series of minor country roads through to Tonyrefail.

Pontypridd to Llanwonno

NCN Route 47 takes the Graigwen Road out of Pontypridd (Turn right off Gelliwastad Road in the Town Centre). This road is very steep climbing approx 200m in 2km. From the top the countryside is very pleasant.

A new traffic free route from Cilfynydd to Ynysybwl recently constructed is recommended. Unfortunately this ends in Ynysybwl and the remainder of the route through to Llanwonno is on steep country lanes.