10 Mile Run - Aberaman to Ystrad Mynach

10 Mile Run  - Aberaman to Ystrad Mynach

Cynon Trail (Route 478) and The Celtic Trail (Route 47)

 

I fancied exploring further afield today and got my hubby to drop me off 10 miles away from home in the direction of Aberdare. My ran began just short, in Aberaman. The route took me along the Cynon Trail for the first 4 miles (which is slightly downhill) before I joined the Celtic Trail for the second half (which is slightly uphill)......

 



 

 

The first mile or so is road running, but it's quite pleasant as it is all tree lined.....

 

 

I reach the Cresselly Arms in Mountain Ash and come across some strange,

 but interesting face sculptures......

 

I continue along the cycle track, which runs parallel to the river Cynon....

 

 

 

Slight incline in the track here.This cycle track is windy and undulating.

I love it! Flat and straight can get soooooo boring!

 



 

Over the bridge.........

The route is well signposted.....

 

Here, the track gets closer to the river......Very pleasant running!

 

The trees start to cover overhead aswell.....

 



Up we go...................

 

View across the other side of the valley towards Penrhiwceiber....

 

View to the left......

 

I follow the track downhill and take a right half way down....

 

Look our for the sign.....

 

Here's the right hand turn......

 

The track's nice and bendy here again.....Can't wait to see what's around the corner!

 

 

 View to the left of the mountain.....

 

View to the right towards Ynysybwl.....

 

 

Oooooo, some nice downhill :o)

 

And some more!

 

Wow! This part is soooooo green and there are loads of

bluebells growing on the slopes to the left!

 

After 4 miles of beautiful cycle track, I come to the end of the Cynon Trail

at Pontycynon Industrial Estate.

 

 

 Here's the sign which signals the start/end of the trail.

You could just park in the industrial estate and run the route I have done backwards???

 

 

 I run through the industrial estate and take a right across a bridge,

then a left where you can see the white sign.......

 

 

I run down the hill past Abercynon Rygby/football club.

 There are the most butch looking welsh ladies dressed in bright pink kits playing rygby!

 

Sorry to disappoint, but I didn't take a photo of them because

 I reckon they would have beaten me up!!! Lol!

 



 

I am now running alongside the river Taff......

 

 

 

I come to a fork in a road and take a right down this road.

On the bend, just after the lights I rejoin the cycle track.

 

 

......take a left over a bridge which crosses the Taff and take a right....

 

 

Route 8, to the right, looks very tempting, but it leads towards Pontypridd and the Taff Trail -

the opposite direction to home at the minute! I shall have to explore this way another day :o)

I take a left up this street instead.....

 

 

....then a left at the Celtic Carvery....Mmmmm - I'm getting rather peckish now.....

 

 

Soon, I need to take I right to join the Taff Trail in the direction of Quakers Yard.....

 

 

 

 At this sign, I am tempted by the path leading left, down towards the river,

so I take a sneaky peak for a minute!

The path goes across the river and back to Abercynon...

View of the River Taff.......

 

 

  

 

I run back up to the road and discover yet another trail that looks inviting

- the steps up to the right...Another day praps??

 

This road above joins up to the Fiddler's Elbow roundabout. I need to take a right up a shed load of steps to the right, inbetween those two cars ahead.....

 

To the left, there is a beautiful waterfall. you can only see this by walking through

the "legs" of the road above (left hand side) 

 

Well, here are the steps I need to take.....

 

I count them as I run, to take my mind of the sudden incline.......70 in all!!

 



 

As I reach the top, I realise that I stopped my Garmin watch at the bottom to take

a photo and forgot to re-start it before my incline! So, I have to go back down, re-start

and run back up! Make that 140 steps!!!

 

I am now at Fiddlers Elbow roundabout. I follow the road towards Nelson/Ystrad Mynach.

I am now 3 miles from home. Time for a spot of road running.

 

View to the left.....

 

There are loads of ewes and their lambs in the surrounding fields..... 

Finally, I reach the outskirts of Nelson.......

 

 

The Railway Inn. I could really do with a swift half now!

 



I run into the villiage and take a left past yet another pub - The Lord Nelson Inn.....

 

....and another pub! I take a right at this one - The Royal Hotel.....

Here, I am running through a residential area. 

Just past number 53, I take a right....

 

The path crosses a railway line here...Take care!

I then take a right & join the Celtic Trail - route 47.

 

That's better - a bit of greenery! :o)

 



I reach one of the lakes at Penallta Parc.....

 

It's really peaceful.....

Only 1 mile to go now. I follow the sign to Ystrad Mynach - right.....

 

 

To the left and right here are more ponds.....

 

 

A bit of an incline......

 

I run past another two ponds which are well stocked for fishing.

 

 

I take a right off the track for a little bit off-road downhill to finish......

 

The stream which I run parallel to. I have now run 10 miles!

I am home in Ystrad Mynach at last!

 

Well, I've had yet another lovely mystery tour.

Some road running and lots of cycle track running.

The Cynon Trail was beautiful undulating, windy cycle track!

I've found it really relaxing to run alongside rivers for the bulk of the route too!

 

This morning I ran my fastest 10 miles EVER - 1hr 18 mins.

Which means that my average pace was 7 mins 51 per mile! 

I am super doooper chuffed!

My pedometer tells me I have taken a grand total of 16,403 steps!!

 

 

Hope you enjoyed :o)