talking point - Rhondda Cynon Taf

Royal Mint
From every street corner there are wide views out over the Vale of Glamorgan or north to
the higher hills of the Rhondda, and we now have a choice of routes into those distant
Highlands. A left turn at the bottom of the Bullring will take us to Beddau: the route back
to Pontypridd lies straight on at the roundabout in the centre of the village but a
detour to the left soon leaves houses and people behind and enters a
heavily wooded valley with access to Tri-Nant trout Farm. Set in 45
acres of countryside, the farm has four purposebuilt
lakes, stocked daily with trout and
triploids, as well as a B&B and
restaurant serving home
cooked fayre.
Returning to the roundabout at the centre of Beddau,
turn left to complete our route via the hilltop village of
Penycoedcae and a long, dramatic descent into the
centre of Pontypridd. At the top of this hill, a sideturning
called Maindy Road leads to the Fforest Uchaf
Horse and Pony Rehabilitation Centre about a quarter of
a mile on the left. The Centre caters for many animals in
distress and is open to visitors on weekdays from the
beginning of May to the end of September.
A longer route into the Valleys from Llantrisant involves
returning to the A4119 and following the road north up
the Ely Valley. A mile above Llantrisant the road passes
the Royal Mint where coins and medals for the United
Kingdom and many other countries are made, and then
continues to Tonyrefail and Porth via the A4233 and
another hilltop village, Trebanog, before a very steep
descent into Porth through a harsh, rock-strewn valley –
a complete contrast to the lush meadows of the Ely
Valley. From here it is a short drive back to Pontypridd,
with time perhaps to visit the Rhondda Heritage Park
which is described in Route 1.
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