PENARTH and District Ramblers recently travelled up to Cwmtillery where a group of 16 walkers joined leader Su Green on a sunny summer morning for a walk surrounding Cwm Tyleri, which is situated between Mynydd James and Blaina to the west and the Gwastad and Coety Mountain to the east.

During the Industrial Revolution the fertile green pastures were turned into collieries but following their closures the land has been reclaimed and turned into Cwmtillery Lakes, a local nature reserve since April 2009.

They headed uphill on part of the Cwmtillery Rosehayworth Trail by quiet road where the banks were covered with the pink and purple of wild heather to the West Bank, where 28 miners’ cottages once stood that have since been demolished in favour of more modern housing.

A rough lane led into woodland with fantastic views towards the Arail before a steep climb up through fern-lined paths in Coed Castellau where the trees sheltered them from the heat of the sun.

After morning coffee on an open grassy bank a gradual descent followed where deforestation has been taking place, and much of the woodland that was in situ when the leader recce’d the walk a month ago, is now hewn and chopped into neat piles of logs.

Then a road with houses perched on the hillside led them over a stile into open grassy fields with great views of St Paul’s Church set into the hillside with its surrounding churchyard at Cwmtillery.

Crossing a man-made leat, where scattered feathers on the path indicated a bird of prey had enjoyed breakfast, the tranquil greenery of Cwm Tyleri populated only with sheep contrasted with the shadows on the hillsides cast by a few low passing clouds.

The path headed along the lower slopes of Mynydd James, first through waist high ferns on a broad path and then into head-high ferns where the going became much harder.

As the heat rose so the climb became steeper and after a pause under an oak tree, they hauled themselves up onto the top for a lunch stop with a pleasant cooling breeze.

Narrow paths through heather and bilberries led the group northwards across Mynydd James towards the top of the cwm, which they rounded and an open moorland track led towards the two tall wind turbines above Blaentillery Farm.

A rough path on the lower slopes of Coety Mountain was the start of the long descent back down the eastern side of the valley under blue skies in very warm sunshine, with views of the distant Cwmtillery Lakes which are fed by the Afon Tyleri and various springs on the surrounding hillsides.

Field boundaries consisted of very neatly formed drystone walls, as an ankle crunching rocky path led them into a pretty green cwm where a brook tumbled down over orange stained stones.

They continued past shorn sheep quietly grazing on the reservoir banks whilst a farmer on a quad bike with his two sheepdogs rounded up the sheep in the field above them.

The upper lake provided water for Abertillery and is now popular with fly fishermen as it is stocked with rainbow trout, whilst the lower lake in the valley below provided the water supply for Cwmtillery Colliery.

The memorial garden dedicated to a well-known local community worker Bill Thay and a beautifully formed willow archway led them to a decorated footbridge and the lower lake, with its benches and picnic tables where youngsters were jumping into the water to cool down as the group continued past them and back to the car park.

On August 20, meet 8.30am at Cogan Leisure Centre for an 11-mile moderate circular walk from Glasbury to Hay-on-Wye; contact Sylvia on 029 2070 8758.

On August 24, meet 8am at Cogan for a 16-mile hard walk in the Black Mountains taking in the Allt, Sugar Loaf, Bryn Arw and Ysgyryd Fawr; contact William on 07528 701 952.

Wear suitable clothing, preferably boots and carry waterproofs, food and drinks. Some degree of fitness is required and if you are in any doubt, then please contact the walk leader for advice.

To follow the group please log onto penarthramblers.wordpress.com or Facebook. Programmes and membership advice can be obtained from Pam on 029 2025 5102.