The Taff Trail
The River Taff in Wales
The river that runs through the town of Pontypridd in South Wales is called the Taff. Pontypridd is actually the point where the Taff river and the Rhondda river join - it is at the confluence of the two rivers. The river Taff rises in the Brecknock Beacons (mountains) and runs down to the Bristol Channel. And that last sentence is one we had to learn off rote in primary school. The Taff river is famous. "Taffy" is a nickname for a Welshman and is included in an old nursery rhyme, "Taffy was a Welshman, Taffy was a thief, Taffy came to my house and stole a side of beef. I went to Taffy's house, Taffy wasn't in, so I jumped upon his Sunday hat and poked it with a pin." There are a great many more verses to this. In school we were taught that it was a song about the Welsh raiding the English over the borders hundreds of years before and the English trying to retaliate. Nowadays it is seen as an anti Welsh rhyme from a couple of hundred years ago.
The Taff walking and cycling trail
The Taff Trail runs beside the River Taff for about 55 miles, from the Brecon Beacons to Cardiff, the capital city of Wales. It wasn't open in my day and I only heard about it when I went to the school reunion. I had already planned to walk into the town of Pontypridd after the reunion and one of my friends from then said she would walk with me along the trail. It was just as well because I would not have known about it. The trail went through Ynysangharad Park past the cricket ground, the bowling green and the children's park. I am posting a selection of photos from the trail.
FOPP Pontypridd Valleys TaffRiver TaffTrail BreconBeacons Rhondda YnysangharadPark
Image Credit » my own photo (c) MegL
Comments
Kasman wrote on July 13, 2015, 2:48 PM
Do you intend to walk the full length of it? There is a similar trail which runs pretty much past my house - the Fife Coastal Path. It stretches for 117 miles along the coastline of Fife Region and, despite the fact that is my nearest walking path I have only done short sections of it!
JohnRoberts wrote on July 13, 2015, 3:00 PM
I like your photos. Is that bridge accessible or a train track? I would not mind walking along the Taff for awhile but not the whole 55 miles!
MegL wrote on July 13, 2015, 3:23 PM
The bridge is accessible, it takes you onto a stretch of road between Pontypridd and Treforest. You can get on and off the trail. My friend said some parts are 2 miles long, others are longer and the most she did in a day was 6 miles. She and her friend take a bus to a section they want to walk
MegL wrote on July 13, 2015, 3:27 PM
It is more likely that I would walk the Ulster Way first.
AudreyHowitt wrote on July 13, 2015, 6:40 PM
This looks lovely and lush. My husband's family is from Wales and I loved seeing these pictures!
Kath wrote on July 13, 2015, 7:27 PM
Never been to Wales. Enjoyed reading this little snippet of history, viewing the photos, and hearing about the 55-mile trail. The vegetation looks so lush! I have seen many pictures of Wales showing rolling green hills so it is interesting to see some forest type trees close up.
bestwriter wrote on July 13, 2015, 9:04 PM
Coining up words that have an origin is how the English language evolves and the reaction is understandable. That trail must have been exciting to experience. Did you have to go through thick growth or even hills?
DWDavisRSL wrote on July 14, 2015, 12:32 AM
It looks like a rather pleasant trail to walk or bike along.
MegL wrote on July 14, 2015, 1:53 AM
Not on this section, it runs beside a motorway from one built up part into a busy town but goes through the local park.
1MegL wrote on July 14, 2015, 1:56 AM
There were plenty of cyclists on it that day, a lot safer for them than the road! There are also fitness stations along that section, with bars and other outdoor machines.
DWDavisRSL wrote on July 14, 2015, 1:02 PM
A lot of effort has gone in to making the trail attractive to fitness minded folks. I know the people in the area must appreciate it.
1MegL wrote on July 14, 2015, 1:12 PM
We have some similar equipment here but I don't see many people using it.
1AliCanary wrote on July 18, 2015, 3:44 PM
Oh, I've heard the rhyme about Taffy! I didn't realize it was a slur.
VinceSummers wrote on September 15, 2015, 7:48 PM
At one time, I might have considered it challenge. At this phase of my life, I prefer an armchair and something refreshing.