The Way to the Top.
On the eastern side of the Taf Valley at the southern end of the village of Troedyrhiw, an ancient trackway cuts diagonally across the hillside. Today it is much overgrown with bracken, silver birch and even some aspiring oak, but in times past it was an important link between the farms of the valley and the homesteads above. Indeed, on the Earl of Plymouth’s estate map surveyed in 1766 it is shown to be part of the valley’s main thoroughfare and marked as ‘The Main Road to Cardiff’, which continued along the hilltop.
September 2016. Much of the Pennant Sandstone rubble which covers the track came from the well-built walls which originally lined the road and along some sections tree growth has encroached, making walking difficult.
Although over two centuries have passed since its importance was usurped by the valley toll road and Glamorganshire Canal, it is still possible to appreciate the remains of lengths of dry-stone walling and some of the runnels which facilitated drainage. Enough can be seen which stands testimony to the skills of the ancient masons, but despite their efforts to ameliorate the difficulties of the steep and rugged terrain, the track would have been a troublesome and exhausting climb for both man and horse.
September 2016. In places it is still possible to find remnants of the stones placed there over two centuries ago to assist drainage.
In living memory, it enabled Bedlinog men who had enjoyed a pint on a summer Friday or Saturday evening in one of the Troedyrhiw pubs to find a convenient and safe way home. It was also the route followed by generations of tin carrying enthusiastic pickers who wished to sample the fruit of the best whinberry bushes around the Frog’s Rock.
December 2017. Winter snowfall makes any attempt to follow the road much more difficult.
On several occasions in the Fifties and Sixties it provided the location for some more lively and exhilarating entertainment. First held in Merthyr Tydfil in 1945 the Mitchell Trial was a national motorcycle competition. Staged at numerous locations throughout the County Borough the event attracted riders from throughout the United Kingdom, including such notable names as Sammy Millar and even Geoff Duke who was more famous for his exploits on road and racing circuits. On these occasions, spectators climbed the hillside to locate themselves at vantage points where they could watch the competitors test their skills over the track’s loose slabs and boulders.
Footnote:
On looking at maps of this locality it is interesting to the note the evolution of the trackway’s nomenclature. On the map of William Morgan’s farm surveyed in 1769, it is named as Rhiwgynrwg. In 1870 the Ordnance Survey named the farm as Troedyrhiw Cwmrwg and the top Pen rhiw gymro. On their 1900 edition this becomes Pen rhiw gymrwg. It was not unusual for the surveyors of the Ordnance Survey to misunderstand or misinterpret place names provided by the indigenous population. For the organisers of the Mitchell Trial this challenging section became Heol Cymro.
All Photos ©Clive Thomas
Clive Thomas
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