Local Walks

 We're so lucky with our area in that there are plenty of  local walks. 

Here's a couple we did recently.

Both routes cross the Taf via a footbridge

This path follows the track of the old Melyngriffith and Pentrych railway.  The line was originally a tramway in 1812 and carried iron from Pentrych to the Melingriffith tinplate works.  In 1871 it was converted to a standard gauge railway and joined the Taf Vale railway at Taffs Well.

The blue walk again crosses the same footbridge and goes up a path known locally as the Zigzag, because it does, in order to get up the steep climb.  This path was originally used by the Pentrych ironworkers and also the miners going to the Lan mine.

 There's a couple of benches on the path to rest up.  The path is well used as it links Gwaelod y Garth to Taffs Well 

The Lan mine  was the scene of a disaster in 1875 and 16 people were killed.

 On a happier note some flowers.

Wildflowers

Bee Orchids

Following on from a local wildlife bloggers post  where she posted about this.

Her blog is a mine of natural history information with the added attraction of being local.

This is what happens when verges are left un mown.   Cardiff Council, and many others now have a policy of not mowing and its so much better all round.

This verge is alongside a road going past a retail outlet centre so its high traffic volume but no many pedestrians, but its had good publicity on local wildlife sites because of the range of wildflowers.

Bladder Campion  

Vipers Bugloss  

 

Field Scabius 

This is what I went to see, Bee Orchids

and what a wonderful display.  Lets hope this no mow policy continues.