A group of nine walkers joined Geraint for a trip up to the Dare Valley Country Park which opened in 1973 after the old coal tips from collieries in the area were removed, the River Dare was re-routed and two lakes were created. As a tribute to the area’s mining past the Pit Head wheel was erected as a monument to the site of the Bwllfa Dare Pit.
Their aim was to tramp over four valleys whilst climbing three hills following a Ramblers Routes walk of ten miles.
Setting off from the park and during a steady gradual climb, outer coats were hastily removed and pushed securely into rucksacks as the group warmed up. Pausing for a photograph beside a tall Welsh flag that was fluttering proudly in the breeze, they continued above the rock face at the end of the valley before crossing open moorland.
A descent led them down to the delightful 19th century stone built single arched bridge at Pont Lluest-wen where the Rhondda Fach or ‘little Rhondda’ makes its way down the valley and this was the perfect place for morning break.
A short distance above the bridge is the Lluest-wen reservoir and dam built in 1898 covering an area of 20 acres and between December 1969 and January 1970 what would have been a huge disaster was prevented.
Just before Christmas, the horse a local man was out riding near the dam plunged into a huge hole that suddenly opened up and was filled with water. Obtaining help it took rescuers two hours to free the horse after which the dam was inspected by the Water Board. If the dam broke a twenty foot tidal wave would crash down the valley towards Maerdy. So as a preventative measure schools and pits were closed, residents were removed from their houses and water was pumped from the reservoir. Finally after the water level was reduced by 30-feet at a cost of one and a half million pounds, on 25 January 1970 the residents were allowed back.
Following the Rhondda Fach River downstream they passed the Castell Nos reservoir above which are the remains of the Castell Nos filter house that was used as part of the Rhondda Fach water scheme and above that, on the hilltop are the remains of a medieval Welsh castle. This stronghold possessed by Maredudd ap Caradog ap Iestyn, a Welsh ruler of Meisgyn and Glynrhondda during the late 12th century was created as a defence against the Normans following the seizure of Glynrhondda by Richard de Clare in 1246.
A century ago there were around 53 collieries in the Rhondda Valley and by 1990 the only one left was at Maerdy and when it closed 300 miners lost their jobs. Interestingly at Maerdy, a blue plaque commemorates David Davies 1842-1928, a coal miner for 73 years from the age of seven until he retired from his post as chief engineer at Maerdy Colliery, aged 80 and having taught himself to read he went on to father eleven children.
Making their way past the site of the colliery they crossed the river for another climb and reaching the top of the hill they followed a path lined with red capped and white spotted – fly agaric toadstools in the woodland. Finding a clearing in the trees they made a stop for lunch break whilst gazing at the lovely clear views out across the valley.
Refreshed a steep descent past moss covered old stone walls, a testament to the fact that the land on which the woodland and forestry plantations now cover were originally used as farmland.
Crossing rough ground over old coal tips and down into Cwmaman where the River Aman flows through the village, they passed the Cwmaman Workmen’s and Social Club.
It was time for their third and last climb up onto open moorland at Rhos Gwawr where horses came over to greet them. Then descending an overgrown path laced with vicious brambles that clung to the backs of legs as they passed through and crossing the A4233, their path improved as they headed for the River Dare where a gentle slope led them back into the park just as the forecasted rain began to fall.
