Beginning from near Cardiff High School, the huge comprehensive formed by the merger of three separate schools at Llandennis Road just north of Roath Park, they pounded pavements in the suburbs of Llanishen and Rhiwbina before crossing the M4 and walking the old embankment before climbing steeply through Greenmeadow Wood. Fields led them to Rhiwbina Farm, then westwards to reach Castell Coch or the ‘Red Castle.’
Perched high above the Taff Gorge, the turreted castle is built on the site of a 13th century castle, which was originally a hunting lodge used by the Norman lord Gilbert de Clare, but was turned into the present fairy tale castle for the third Marquess of Bute by William Burges, and it is now managed by CADW. Climbing up through the vast Fforest Fawr, which contains three walking trails, they chose the sculpture trail, the master mind of Simon O’Rourke who fashioned the brilliant sculptures on view that were bright pink at first but have now weathered and darkened to fit in with the surroundings.
Dropping down and following pathways through the northern part of the forest they crossed part of the Cambrian Way at the top of Cwm Nofydd, heading east to reach a road by the Travellers Rest Inn and then onward to the ruins of Castell Morgraig at its rear. Almost hidden from view beneath foliage, it is believed this castle was built in the mid 1200s below the escarpment of Graig Llanishen with a wonderous view over Cardiff, but was probably never finished. The mystery goes deeper than that, as it is assumed, following an excavation by John Ward of the Cardiff Museum in 1895, that the castle was built by the Norman de Clare family, whilst others insist it was built by the Welsh. There isn’t much left of the original castle, but Sutton stone has been found, and that was only mined at Ogmore/Southerndown in the Vale of Glamorgan in an area guarded by Ogmore Castle, which was built by William de Londres following the Norman invasion of Glamorgan. There is a theory that Castell Morgraig was a cavalry outpost, but was it built as a threat to Cardiff – or to protect it?
They tramped the ridgeway to drop down into Parc Cefn Onn, which was originally laid out by Ernest Prosser in 1911 on land known as The Dingle, as he wished to create an estate with woodland and a house to live in. In 1944 it was purchased by Cardiff Council who gave it its present name and now it hosts fantastic colourful displays of azaleas and rhododendrons, along with its fabulous tree collection, winding pathways and ponds that can be enjoyed by all.
Back over the M4 into suburbia once again before passing through the delightful woodland of Coed y Felin in Lisvane, which is cared for by volunteers. Belonging to Cardiff Council since 1980, when its woodland was suffering from the effects of Dutch Elm Disease, they set to work to improve the area, making footpaths and erecting fences to make it secure and a safe area to walk. The Nant Fawr Brook which flows through its centre into Roath Park Lake was used to power Llanishen Mill, a corn mill that stood at the southern end of the wood and the old mill pond is still in situ.
Then on to the reservoirs, where in 1864 work began on the Lisvane reservoir to hold fresh water fed by streams to combat the diseases in nearby Cardiff during the industrial revolution. The Llanishen reservoir followed in 1884 as the population grew, but in modern times, plans were put forward for a housing development on the site by Western Power. Following much work by the community in fighting this, the plans were rejected by the Welsh Assembly, but the reservoirs were drained in 2010 by Western Power. Since 2016, Dwr Cymru, the present owners, have been awarded a 999-year lease, the reservoirs have been refilled and are used for water sports, the attraction of birds and wildlife and for the use of walkers in this lovely, tranquil setting. Three of the group had left at various locations to wend their way home, so a group of seven made their way back to their start after just over six and a half hours of walking in lovely dry weather.
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