All walks › Bannau Brycheiniog: Central Beacons
Bannau Brycheiniog: Central BeaconsTaf Fechan Gorge
Limestone gorge north of Merthyr with ancient woodland, a viaduct overhead and lime-loving plants that grow nowhere else in the county.
- Distance
- 3.1 mi / 5 km
- Time
- 1 hr 50
- Ascent
- 150 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 follow the river through the gorge from Pontsarn and climb the sides, returning by the Taff Trail. Steps and rock.
Worth knowing
- The limestone woodland here holds plants found nowhere else in the borough.
- Pontsarn viaduct crosses the gorge and is a striking sight from below.
- Slippery limestone underfoot in the wet.
What you’ll see
The gorge and its river, limestone woodland and flora, and the viaduct.
Background
The gorge escaped the industrialisation that reshaped everything around it, which is why the woodland survives.