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Pontsarn Viaduct An Ancient Walkway
Farming in Vaynor Vaynor
Church Norman's at Pontsarn Taf Fechan River
Taf Fechan Nature Reserve
Morlais Castle
Further Information
Circular Walk One
Circular
Walk Two
Pontsarn is located just north of Merthyr Tydfil on the
minor road from Cefn Coed to Talybont. At Pontsarn you enter the National Park - an area
of 519 square miles, extending north to Brecon and Hay-on -Wye, west to Llandeilo and east
to Abergavenny.
Although most of the land is privately owned, special care is
taken to conserve the fine landscape. Pontsarn has been a honey pot attracting visitors
for generations. It is easily reached on foot from Merthyr Tydfil - via the improved
footpaths and bridges of the Taf Trail long distance route.
The five acres of land on the western bank of the Taf Fechan from the
viaduct to the Glais Brook and including the Blue Pool were presented to the Brecon
Beacons National Park Authority by Whitbread Brewers in 1986 for the princely sum of
£1.00. It is now cared for by the National Park Warden Service so that this beautiful
area, the closest part of the National Park to Merthyr Tydfil, can continue to be enjoyed
by one and all.
The first train travelled over Pontsarn Viaduct on 8th August 1868 on
the Brecon and Merthyr Railway line. In 1873 the local rector recorded 21 trains a day. The viaduct is 455 ft. long, 92 ft. high and has seven
arches. The railway brought many visitors from the industrial heartland's of South Wales
to this beautiful location which became "the rendezvous of thousands of tourists and
pleasure seekers from all parts of the Principality, as well as the special resort of the
inhabitants of Merthyr and Dowlais.....Pontsarn is now admitted to stand in the foremost
rank of summer resorts in the whole of Wales". "The Vaynor Handbook" 1893.
This railway line now carries the route of the Taf Trail long distance footpath and cycle
way from Cardiff to Brecon.
AN
ANCIENT WALKING WAY.
Pontsarn is understood to be an abbreviation of Pont-y-Sarn Hir or
Bridge of the Long Road. The long road referred to may be a Roman road linking Cardiff to
the fort at Y Gaer outside Brecon which passed through the "gap" below Cribyn.
Where the stone bridge crosses the river is an ancient bridging point which may have
carried the roman road. The river below flows through a limestone gorge and beautiful
large solution pot-holes can be seen in the river bed shaped by the passage of water and
time. Pwll Glas or the "Blue Pool" is located just below the stone bridge. Be
warned the water in the pool is cold even in the hottest summers and is not recommended
for swimming.
THE NORMANS
AT PONTSARN
Morlais Castle was built by the Lord of Glamorgan
Gilbert de Clare around 1287. Only the
crypt, well and part of the moat are now recognisable features. The surrounding cliffs
were extensively quarried in the C19th to supply limestone for the Dowlais Ironworks. The
Castle offers fine views of Merthyr and Vaynor accessible via the Morlais Heritage Trail.
THE TAF FECHAN
RIVER
The Taf Fechan river has its source below Corn Du and Pen Y Fan. It
supplies water to the Neuadd and Pontsticill reservoirs before joining with the Taf Fawr
below Cefn Coed Y Cymmer. The flow of water is determined by the requirements of the
reservoirs and is normally about 4.7 million gallons a day to ensure the health of the
river ecology. From Cefn the Taf continues on its journey and flows into the sea at
Cardiff near the start of the Taf Trail long distance footpath.
FARMING IN
VAYNOR.
In the C18th and early C19th there was enough corn grown by the 50 or so
farms in Vaynor to keep 4 corn mills on the Taf Fechan employed. The remains of one such
corn mill, and in particular its Millstone Grit millstone, can be seen on the eastern bank
of the river just below where the Glais joins the Taf Fechan. With industrialisation
Merthyr Tydfil grew from a small village in 1760 to become the largest town in Wales with
a 27,000 population by 1831. The small farms of Vaynor, self-sufficient for generations
with mixed land use, now found it more profitable to specialise. Farmers now used the land
more for pasture to supply the market of Merthyr Tydfil with milk, butter, cheese and
meat. The Glais corn mill found a new use as a Pandy or woollen mill supplying yarn to the
town before falling into disuse by the late C19th. Today sheep is the staple product of
the Vaynor farms. Many of the farmers have diversified to supplement the income from the
farm.
Vaynor
Church
The first church at Vaynor dates from the ninth century. The old stone
church of which only the castellated tower remains dates from 1295. The new church was
consecrated in 1870. There are many interesting inscriptions such as one on the steeple
end of the church which commemorates a remarkable woman, Catherine Morgan, who lived under
the reign of seven monarchs from her birth in 1688 until her death 106 years later in 1794
aged 106.
PONTSARN: A
HABITAT.
The Taf Fechan river cuts its way through carboniferous limestone on its
journey south towards Cefn Coed. The steep valley sides of the river are covered in a rich
broad-leaved woodland of limestone loving species. Typical trees include oak, ash and
downy birch. Beech is also common, particularly in the Pontsarn area. In the Spring wood
anemones, celandine, primoses and later bluebells provide a riot of colour throughout the
woods.
The river itself provides an important focal point for wildlife. Brown
trout, roach and minnows can be found, and it provides an ideal habitat for dippers and
grey wagtail, which exploit it to the full. On the riverside below the Blue Pool can be
found the water loving plant Butterbur. The leaves that grow to one metre wide were used
at onetime for wrapping butter hence its name.
THE TAF
FECHAN NATURE RESERVE
The Reserve was established in May 1975 and is now a
designated a Site of Special Scientific Interest (S.S.S.I.). The Reserve comprises about
1.5 miles of winding river and steep valley sides. It has an area of 102 acres from the
old river bridge at Cefn Coed to the river bridge at Pontsarn. The Reserve is managed by
the Friends of the Taf Fechan Nature Reserve with the assistance of Merthyr Borough
Council and the Merthyr & Cynon Groundwork Trust.
FURTHER
INFORMATION
If you wish to read more about the Natural and Social History of this
area the following publications are recommended:
"The Historic Taf Valleys, Volume 2 in the Brecon
Beacons National Park" and "School and Play in Vaynor". Both are available
from local booksellers. Leaflets giving details of circular walks and the route of the Taf
Trail are available from the Merthyr & Cynon Groundwork Trust (see useful contact
addresses web page). In addition Merthyr Central Library has an excellent collection of
local history material and publications.
If you visit Pontsarn you will find a public information
board located in the Car Park of the Pontsarn Hotel. The following two circular walks
start from this information board. Disclaimer: Whilst every care has been taken in the
selection of these routes walking in the countryside does involve risks. Persons following
these routes do so at their own risk and Faenor Environmental will not accept any
responsibility for any injury or liability resulting there from.
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