Joining their leader Stephen C from the Cardiff group but leading for Penarth at the start of their trek in part of the Bannau Brycheiniog National Park, they set off through the village making their way through fields and onto the open moorland steadily climbing up the slopes of Mynydd Llangynidr in lovely warm sunshine and with panoramic views.
The area is covered with cairns and shake holes and is scarred with the remnants of ancient limestone quarrying and their aim was to locate the Chartist Cave, which lies in the middle of the lonely moor. The Chartists who were working class desired political reform and better voting rights for everyone not just the wealthy and used this cave to store weapons in advance of a planned march to Newport following their People’s Charter, stating their aims having been rejected by Parliament in 1838.
So, followers came together to join the march, John Frost leading the Blackwood men and William Jones with Pontypool men, along with Zephania Williams from Ebbw Vale and on November 4, 1839, the march led to the Westgate Hotel in Newport, which was closely guarded by soldiers. Up to 10,000 chartists met and then joined in a riot after a single shot was fired and after around half an hour many chartists were wounded and lives were lost. The leaders were arrested for treason and sentenced to be hung, drawn and quartered, but following a public outcry they were transported to Australia and although during their lifetimes their demands went unheard, almost all of the rights they demanded now feature in modern elections.
The summit of Mynydd Llangynidr stands at 557m at Garn Wen and passing through the group paused at the memorial stone for Aneurin Bevan (1897-1960) nicknamed ‘Nye’ who loved the freedom to walk the rugged open moor in this area and both his and his wife Jennie Lee’s ashes are scattered nearby. Born in Tredegar and growing up in a working-class family, upon leaving school at 13 he worked in the mines but won a scholarship to study in London and became involved in politics. In 1945 he became the Labour Minister of Health and started to establish the National Health Service and by 1948 all medical treatment was free for everyone.
Turning west and entering a forestry plantation at Cwm Pyrgad and walking beside the Nant Pyrgad, rather unexpectedly a lot of hounds came into view that were being trained by the hunt and circling the wooded path above the head of the Dyffryn Crawnon valley, the track led out onto the ridgeway at Pen Rhiw-calch.
Below them in the valley a glorious view of the huge Talybont reservoir built to supply drinking water for the growing area of Newport and which is fed by the Caerfanell River. The first scheme which extracted water from the river failed, as during dry periods the river in places dried up, so in 1931 new plans including a dam and a new treatment works were put into action. The workmen lived in communal huts and building materials were brought in by a spur line of the now disused Brecon Merthyr Junction Railway and in 1939 treated water finally made its way to Newport.
The ridgeway led to the lower western slopes of Tor y Foel and a steep climb brought them to its summit at 551m above sea level, with its glorious views northwards to the Black Mountains and over the stunning Usk Valley, and westwards towards the central Brecon Beacons. Then a gradual descent led them down its steep eastern slope and through lush green fields past Llwyn-yr-eos to make their return back to their start after their 13.5-mile journey which involved 2,600 feet of climbing.
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