Taff Trail

The Taff trail runs for 55 miles from Cardiff to Brecon following the River Taff part of the way, and was once the railway operated by the Brecon & Merthyr Tydfil Junction railway to transport freight to Cardiff. It opened in 1868 travelling across the Brecon Beacons. Although the company was almost bankrupt, it purchased the Rumney Railway to form a network from Brecon to Newport. Close to Blaen-y-Glyn it featured the highest railway tunnel at Torpantau at 667 yards long. All services had ceased by by 1962 with the goods traffic continuing to serve Brecon from Newport until 1964. The Rumney Railway originally opened as a horse drawn 4 ft 2 “ tramway in 1826 carrying mostly coal to the Iron works in Rhymney Valley and Newport docks. The section we are covering is from Blaen-y-Glyn to Dan-y-Wenallt Study Centre/ Youth Hostel a distance of just over 5 miles. Also part of NCN 8, the trail on this section doubles as the Beacons Way, which diverts onto the Tram Road bridleway at Pen Rhiw-Calch. The area is rich in wild life and Red Kites as well as many other birds of prey can be seen looking for their next meal. Grid ref: SO 0550 1744 near Blaen-y-Glyn. Forestry car park nearby Grid ref: SO 1079 2058 Top of Tal-y-Bont reservoir Parking/turning at this location - access across the Dam road. Brecon and Merthyr Tydfil Junction Railway - Wikipedia