| 1. One reason I like this route is that you don't have to use a car if you don't want to.
From Hengoed station (30 minutes/£4.50 return from Cardiff) pick up Route 47 of the Celtic trail. Head west on the trail towards Nelson.
Stick to the trail until Nelson where you have a choice of routes ...
(Route 1 (can have lots of fast traffic) go into the town and use Dynefor Terrace to get to the A472. Carry on to Quakers' Yard and drop down to the Taff Trail.)
(Route 2: Stay on the trail past Nelson, till you get to Taff Bargoed park. Turn left on the footbridge, on to Trelewis, use the Curly-Wurly cyclepath/walk to Quakers' Yard, pick up the Taff trail heading south towards Cardiff. )
Near Abercynon fire station go on the main road, just past the Catholic church get to Martin's Terrace, behind the houses you'll find the Taff Trail again.
Carry on on the trail till you get to the outskirts of Pontypridd where you'll again need to use the roads to get to near the main roundabout near the famous Old Bridge. Use the trails through Ynysangharad Park (open only during daylight) to get to the other side of P'pridd. (Or if you want to brave the roundabout, cross it to Ynysangharad Rd and then to Merthyr Rd which becomes Pentrebach Rd)
If you use Ynysangharad Park trails, use the footbridge to cross over the A470 onto Pentrebach Rd, head toward Cemetery rd, near where you can again pick up the Taff Trail.
About three-and-a-half miles will bring you to the lights at the junction with Caerphilly Rd in Nantgarw. Cross over the dual carriageway and again you have two choices.
Option One: Stay on the pavement, climb up (slight incline) past the GEAC aircraft engine factory to Penrhos Roundabout (the next rdabt) and turn right onto the A469. Take the first left, go for around 600 yards till you get to a pond on your left. Take the path and you'll come out on the road next to the Caerphilly Miners' Hospital. Go right for 50 yards, turn left onto St Martin's Rd at the end of which you'll find yourself near Caerphilly Station.
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