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Caerphilly and the Eastern Valleys

Caerphilly Mountain and the Castle

The ridge above Caerphilly, with the second largest castle in Britain spread out below and Cardiff and the Bristol Channel beyond it.

Distance
3.7 mi / 6 km
Time
2 hr
Ascent
200 m
Difficulty
Moderate
Shape
Circular

Where it is

The circle shows the general area, not the exact start. Use the directions link below to get to the car park itself. Contours and paths shown are OpenTopoMap, drawn from OpenStreetMap data.

The route

Paths climb the common from the mountain road and follow the ridge, with the option of dropping to the town and the castle. The Rhymney Valley Ridgeway Walk runs along here.

Worth knowing

  • The castle is enormous, moated, and has a tower that leans further than Pisa’s.
  • The mountain road snack bars are a Cardiff institution in their own right.
  • Good winter walk; the ridge drains well and the views are clearest then.

What you’ll see

Caerphilly Castle and its water defences, the Rhymney valley, and Cardiff and the Channel southwards.

Background

The castle was begun in 1268 by Gilbert de Clare and its concentric water defences were the most advanced in Britain at the time.