All walks › Rhondda and the Western Valleys
Rhondda and the Western ValleysThe Cynon Trail
A level surfaced route down the Cynon valley on the old railway and canal line, entirely traffic-free between two towns with stations.
- Distance
- 3.4 mi / 5.5 km
- Time
- 1 hr 45
- Ascent
- 60 m
- Difficulty
- Easy
- Shape
- There and back
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
Follow the trail between Aberdare and Abercynon in either direction. Flat and surfaced, and the train runs back.
Worth knowing
- Both ends have stations, so this works as a one-way walk without a car.
- Sections follow the Aberdare Canal, filled in but still traceable.
- Shared with cyclists on the National Cycle Network.
What you’ll see
The Cynon river, canal remains, and the valley sides regenerating with woodland.
Background
The Aberdare Canal opened in 1812 and was abandoned by 1900 after mining subsidence made it unusable.