All walks › Rhondda and the Western Valleys
Rhondda and the Western ValleysThe Ogmore Valley Ridges
Open mountain above the Ogmore valley, with the Bwlch pass road crossing the ridge and old tramroads on the slopes.
- Distance
- 5.0 mi / 8 km
- Time
- 2 hr 55
- Ascent
- 330 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
The route climbs from the valley onto the ridge and follow it towards the Bwlch, returning by forestry or a lower path.
Worth knowing
- The Bwlch road between Ogmore and the Rhondda is a well-known viewpoint.
- Ponies graze the ridges and the ground is open access.
- Tramroad terraces contour the slopes and make useful walking lines.
What you’ll see
Both valleys from the ridge, ponies, and the Bristol Channel south if the visibility holds.
Background
The Ogmore valley held a string of collieries, the last of which closed in the 1980s, and the ridges above were quarried for stone.