I started and ended at Cardiff Gate Retail park. Possibly not the best place to start, catching a bus to Machen would have been better, as Machen is actually on the walk, however Cardiff Gate was more convenient. It did mean that the first hour of the walk was retracing my steps along the Rhymney Valley Walk. A bit muddy, with streams of water crossing the path and some super size puddles. I managed to completely knock over a pedestrian gate as I opened it. The base of the post holding it had rotted through. I carefully pulled it back in position, so that the same thing would happen to the next walker.
I reached my first point on the Rhymney River Circular Walk and headed off towards Machen along the edge of a field beside a stream swollen by the continuing rain. Most of this walk is across farmland, with some (more interesting) sections through woodland, and other sections along single lane country roads. Much of the route overlaps with either the Rhymney Valley Ridgeway Walk or the Rhymney Valley Riverside Walk. My first challenge was to cross a brook. I had been this way before and do not even recall crossing this stream, but today it was so swollen by rain, that any stepping stones were covered with fast moving water. It was inevitable I would get my feet wet. With images of the Appalachian trail in my mind (from Bill Bryson's account) I rolled up my trousers, removed by socks and put my bare feet back in my boots. Then I carefully crossed, thinking I should have placed my belongings in waterproof (as opposed to rainproof) bags. Then I poured the water out of my boots, squeezed the water out of my insoles, replaced my socks and continued.
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| Where I had to cross the "stream" |
Next problem was that I lost a stile, it was further up a field than I imagined, and I spent several minutes wading through wet, long grass and nettles trying to find it. Then it was a pleasant walk through Coed Wern-ddu (coed means woods, nothing to do with mixed sex schools). After that there was a view of Ruperra Castle, a 17th century manor house still awaiting someone to restore or preserve it. The walk follows the path beside it, a muddy paddle today. In Coed Craig Ruperra (Craig Rupera woods), there is an optional diversion up to Craig Ruperra and an old hillfort where you get a view across the Severn, but in the rain it was not attractive and there would be no view.
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| Ruperra Castle |
At Draethen I tried to follow the designated path, but as usual it was overgrown with brambles and I had to go around via the road. Reaching the village of Machen, I took a shortcut across the football grounds as I knew from past trips that the designated path would be under water. After crossing the river the path doubles back on itself, crossing muddy fields and passing Plas Machen, a farmhouse of ancient foundation with nice chimneys.
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| Waterlogged fields on the path to Machen |
After Michaelstone bridge I had some navigational problems (again said my wife). The path went across a very muddy, recently ploughed field. Keeping to the grassy edge and I took the wrong exit and reached a barbed wire fence in the next field. In the rain my map was turning to pulp (yes I know I should have used a map case, but I find them so awkward). So I headed back to the road and walked to Micahelston y Fedw by road. Not being satisfied with my lack of navigational acumen, I then followed the path back from Michelston y Fedw and worked out where I had gone wrong.
I was tempted by the pub at Michelston but by now I was very wet, muddy and unattractive, so I headed to the end of the circular walk by the shortest route, along the road, paddling through the water draining down it, without deviating into fields as the map suggested. (I subsequently took the route through the fields which required ducking under a plank and some tape in a field of donkeys and a small wood full of bluebells).
Retracing my steps to Cardiff Gate Retail Park, skirting the upmarket Cefn Mably estate, the River Rhymney appeared to be fuller than ever, with branches being swept along at a good speed, and the base of trees being covered. Floods seemed likely somewhere tonight.
So were my waterproofs effective? Not entirely, my arms were wet as was the bottom of my trousers. My boots were wet but I had waded through a brook and several large and unexpectedly deep puddles. Gloves were soaked, but they were not designed to be waterproof, I do have waterproof gloves but once your hands get a little bit wet they are very difficult to pull on, my hands just will not slide past the lining.
A gpx file of the route I took can be obtained from wikiloc.com. The route is already on Viewranger thanks to Harri Roberts.
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| Rhymney River |
So were my waterproofs effective? Not entirely, my arms were wet as was the bottom of my trousers. My boots were wet but I had waded through a brook and several large and unexpectedly deep puddles. Gloves were soaked, but they were not designed to be waterproof, I do have waterproof gloves but once your hands get a little bit wet they are very difficult to pull on, my hands just will not slide past the lining.
A gpx file of the route I took can be obtained from wikiloc.com. The route is already on Viewranger thanks to Harri Roberts.
