Between the Valleys

The scenery, together with a history that covers so much of this area's recent industrial past made this such a worthwhile walk. The variety of views, flora and points of interest in such a relatively short walk can be summed up by leaving the deep and narrow valley floor of Ferndale, to be shortly greeted by spectacular views from the nearby 'Old Smokey,' that not only take in the Rhondda Valley, but on a clear day, the far off Bristol Channel that glistened in the winter sunshine. The same views can then be found when looking down on the Cynon Valley and Penrhiwcieber from the village of Perthcelyn, and for those who are reasonably fit, and can catch a fine day to make the most of those views, then this walk comes highly recommended.

Howard Marshall, Mountain Ash

This walk from Ferndale to Penrhiwceiber is very familiar to me. I was brought up in the Cynon Valley and as a teenager I used to take this walk. I did the walk because it meant more than just exercise. It reminded me of what the valleys were and what the Industrial Revolution did to them. It helped give a foundation to my outlook on life. This walk should help people realise what the past really meant to the people who lived at the turn of the 19th/20th centuries. The contrasts between wooded areas, barren hills and mining valleys are profound.

Chérie Hoyle, Australia

I have enjoyed very much reading about the walk that Emily Roberts traveled on between the Valleys in South Wales, I do not know this area at all but I am now very interested in walking this area myself! I especially enjoyed the excellent maps and the old Photographs and learnt much about life in past days in the mining communities , I can now understand a little about slag heaps and appreciate the beautiful countryside ! How different it was then to how it is now. Hopefully in June I will try this walk out and this has given me an interest in finding out more of the history of the area.

Stella Groves, Australia

A varied and very interesting walk with striking contrasts between the rural 'tops' and the industrialised valleys. It was brought to life by the personal stories. Recommended.

Les and Anne Hampson, Helsby, Cheshire