Cambria Sports Culture CIC Cymraeg

All walksCaerphilly and the Eastern Valleys

Caerphilly and the Eastern Valleys

The Twmbarlwm Ridge

The full ridge walk over the Twmp and along the escarpment, with the Severn estuary on one side and the valleys on the other.

Distance
5.6 mi / 9 km
Time
3 hr 10
Ascent
380 m
Difficulty
Demanding
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

Climb from Cwmcarn or Risca onto the ridge and follow it in either direction, returning by the forest tracks or the lower paths.

Worth knowing

  • The Raven Walk from Cwmcarn is the most direct way up.
  • Ponies graze the ridge and the ground is open with no shelter.
  • The Sirhowy Valley Walk and the Raven Walk both cross this ground.

What you’ll see

The summit mound and ramparts, both estuary and valleys, and open common.

Background

The mound on the summit is probably a Norman motte raised inside a much older hillfort commanding the Ebbw valley.