On a perfect autumnal day that began crisply then warmed up as the day wore on, a group of seven walkers joined Rachel for the journey up to Beddau with the intention of reaching Tonyrefail, but unfortunately because of the bad state of the public footpaths in Rhondda Cynon Taff with its tricky gates and stiles, they were thwarted.
With prior permission they parked and began their journey from Castellau Congregational Chapel built in 1843 in the Gothic style, then rebuilt in 1877 and a feature of interest is the north facing wall that contains an unusual louvered oculus which is a round window or opening. Until 1939 an Eisteddfod was held there annually.
Setting off they tramped along the road to Castellau hamlet with the attractive Castellau Fach Farm situated behind a picturesque pond containing crested ducks that put on an entertaining show for the group.
On the opposite side of the road is the grand house of Castellau, with its bow ends on both sides which dates back to the 17th century and was once home to the Traherne family, beginning with Edmund Traherne who was mayor of Llantrisant in 1630.
Entering fields and passing through mature woodland where a cliff face is used for occult ceremonies they headed towards Penbwch Uchaf, then over a stone stile and rickety steps onto Tonyrefail Road.
Avoiding a much overgrown stile in favour of a gate to Waun Castellau the field was festooned with marsh grass and patches of sphagnum moss before a road led them to a stone track near the entrance to Tyla-winder Farm where a wall made a great place for morning break.
Descending and continuing past the immaculate house and through the pretty garden brought them across a fording place on the brook for the gradual climb on forestry tracks at Mynydd Gelliwion, with crystal clear views under the blue sky over Maesycoed and Trehafod along with the central Brecon Beacons and the familiar outline of the flat-topped Tylorstown Tip.
The pretty but invasive Himalayan Balsam lined the forestry path through the conifers before they headed out onto open access land on a disused coal tip, now used by off -road motor cycles for scrambling and with unusual politeness and consideration, the motor cyclists turned their engines off to allow them to pass.
Returning onto farmland passing grazing sheep and many drystone walls, some barbed wire had to be undone where there should have been a stile to allow them access and shortly afterwards, the footings of one of the walls made the perfect place in the warm sunshine for lunch, with views to both the Wenvoe and St Hilary TV masts along with Aberthaw Power Station and across the Bristol Channel to Steep Holm.
Descending by road past the isolated Rackett Cottages and an imposing old disused gateway at Treferig House, which was once the centre of a flourishing Quaker movement, a stile led into woodland and along an old disused railway track adjacent to the Nant Muchudd.
The Religious Society of Friends or the Quaker movement was begun in England by George Fox during the 17th century at a time of great unrest when people began turning away from the Protestant faith. In 1660 when King Charles II came to the throne the Quakers suffered persecution and imprisonment with mob attacks and the breaking up of their meetings. By 1689, the Toleration Act allowed non-conformist Christians to practice their faith but the Quakers still had to register their meeting places and were forbidden to meet in private dwellings, but from that time the movement grew in strength.
Reaching Treferig Isha which dates to 1609 and served as a Quaker meeting house, they were greeted by Dot and Patch two supposed miniature pigs, all grown up and enormous!
After viewing the remains of another Quaker cottage nearby where there was a grave commemorating 12 Quakers and paddling across a stream back into fields, they re-joined the road at Castellau for their return back to the start.
