Cwmcarn Forest Drive

Two more mountain bike trails are open at Cwmcarn Forest Drive!

Cafall  and a new downhill trail (presumably no name yet,) have been added to the Twrch Trail and Y Mynydd downhill trail.  These routes are part of the Cognation project which has heavily invested in mountain biking in South Wales over the past three years.

South Wales is now one of the leading places to ride in the UK.

A lone biker on a misty Gelligaer Common

"With the addition of the new cross country and downhill trails, Cwmcarn is sure to be on most bikers must-ride list, ensuring South Wales remains one of the top mountain biking destinations."
                                                                         Peter Cloke, Forest Dist Mgr. Natural Resources Wales


As well as mountain biking, there are picnic sites and opportunities for walkers, with glorious views over the welsh valleys.  One special walk takes you to the historic site of Twmbarlwm with all its mystery and charm.  The lower your starting point on the mountain, the harder the cardiac workout to get there.  Or park in the top car park and after a short uphill slope, its flat all the way, across the crest of the ridge.

Cwmcarn Forest site also offers glamping, a lake and visitor's centre for those all important mementoes.


http://your.caerphilly.gov.uk/cwmcarnforest/content/welcome

Mrs Margaret Mackworth, Lady Rhondda

Despite being born into money at the turn of the century, with the choice of living a life of ease and pleasure, she chose to become an excellent welsh female role model for today's generation. This rather feisty lady worked hard for votes for women, holding offices in the Women's Social & Political Union, whilst being a successful business woman and journalist.

Professor Angela V John has published an excellent biography Turning the Tide, which documents Lady Rhondda's achievements.  This book will become part of a project to introduce school children to her role in history and encourage participation in local and national politics, as well as business.

In a detailed lecture at Caerleon Campus, as part of A bird in a Cage project, Professor John gave life to the name of Margaret Mackworth.  From loaning her outfit to an actress who became "The Pink Lady," to igniting letters in a Risca postbox and finally despite not being allowed to take her seat, having her portrait hanging in the lobby of the House of Lords, all whilst editing a newspaper and holding the position of Director on the boards of forty companies, this lady never stopped.




http://www.walesonline.co.uk/whats-on/arts-culture-news/many-lives-mrs-mackworth---6534007

International Orienteering Festival in South Wales

18-21 April 2014

According to the South Wales Argus 4,000 people are set to attend the JK Festival of Orienteering. This event will attract top orienteers from across the UK and Europe as well as families who enjoy the sport as an activity for all ages. Hosted by British Orienteering in conjunction with the Welsh Orienteering Association, the event will include four different distances contested over four days.

Swansea will host the first event on Good Friday,
then Easter Sunday Llangynidr Common, north of Trefil, Tredegar sees the long distance event.
Easter Monday a relay race for clubs from across the country will take place a Pwll Du, Blaenavon.

For more information visit:


www.thejk.org.uk

Wales Tourism Week

"Wales Tourism Week is as much about reminding 

us of the opportunities on our doorstep as about 

encouraging more visitors to Wales."

                                                            Baroness Randerson    

22 February to 3 March 2014

Wales Office ministers will visit local landmarks to promote Wales Tourism Week.

Jenny Randerson, Wales Office Minister for tourism will visit National Roman Legion Museum in Caerleon and National Trust's Tredegar House.

Stephen crabb, Wales Office Minister will visit BikePark Wales in Merthyr Tydfil.

David Jones, Secretary of State will visit Chirk Castle in Wrexham.

-----------------

On 1st March, Wales celebrates our patron saint, St David.  To commemorate this CADW the organisation who protects some of our national heritage sites, including castles, will be allowing free entry.

For details of places included in this offer, please use the link below:

http://cadw.wales.gov.uk/?lang=en

Penarth Seafront, South Wales

After the severe gales and storms of January 2014 we found a sunny day to visit Penarth seafront to survey the devastation.  This section of the coast seems to have got away reasonably lightly with very little visible storm damage.  Pebbles and seaweed had been washed up onto the pathways, and the odd sandbag was still visible, but otherwise it was its usual pleasant self.

Where is Forte's Cafe?

One important item which is currently missing is the Forte Cafe; always good for a warming cup of coffee or a cooling ice-cream.  The whole block of buildings is being renovated, so hopefully the cafe will return on completion.

Fishermen were taking the opportunity of a lull in the storms, but there was little evidence any of them had been successful.  I wouldn't be happy carrying all that gear from the car to the beach and back again just for the privilege of standing, looking at the sea!   I can do that just carrying my handbag!

Fun to find washed up on the beach, were stones showing signs of fossils, but my favourite were the stones worn to reflect the waves of the sea.  I'm surprised someone hasn't collected them up to make a fantastic patio. This isn't a suggestion, merely an observation.

Penarth Pier & Pavilion

What a joy to see the sad old pier rejuvenated and looking so spectacular in the sunshine.  Whenever we visited Penarth it was intriguing to wonder what was behind the shuttered windows. Now its incredible, well worth the efforts and heartache.

"The Art Deco pavilion opened in May 1929. Unusually for its period, it was made almost entirely from ferro-concrete, including the curved roof."

It has been refurbished with a gallery and cafe downstairs and meeting rooms and cinema upstairs.

The railings really takes you back in time

This art deco building has always looked amazing, even in its worst state.  I wonder what visitors would have thought when it was opened originally?



The cafe provides all-round views of the bay with the pier disappearing in a lesson of perspective in the centre.  Coffee and snacks along with a warm reception has already made this a favourite spot for many  who live locally.  I'm sure in the summer months they will find it difficult to get in.

The Penarth Pier Pavilion Project is wholly owned and run by Penarth Arts and Crafts (PACL) a registered charity (Charity No. 1081276), established as a social enterprise in 1998 to provide a range of education programmes especially targeted at disadvantaged members of the community, to organise exhibitions of art and craft, and to renovate and sustain heritage buildings.

The glorious art deco clock facing the roadway is no up and working as it was when the building was first opened. 

Ceramic in the entrance hall of the Pavilion

Close-up of the original ceiling decoration above the ceramic circle in the entrance hall

View of the pier from the upstairs window of the pavilion

http://www.penarthpavilion.co.uk/news

http://historypoints.org/index.php?page=penarth-pier-pavilion

Blaenavon Cycle Path

Beautiful stonewalling glowing in the sunshine.

A lone bird's nest providing a fantastic view of the valley below.

Carrying coal and iron as well as passengers this was the route of the railway line from Blaenavon through to Pontypool and beyond.

Peaceful

The old railway line was closed by Mr Beeching a long time ago, but over the last few years it has been turned into a cycle path/walking route.  The whole route extends from Cwmbran up through the valley to Blaenavon.

Last week we braved the rain and walked from Blaenavon railway station down to Talywain. Not far, but it rained as we reached the car.

Exact stonework, no spaces or damaged stones.

This section of the route provides fantastic scenery across the valley and clues to the original use of the pathway still exist;  expertly faced stonework, and remnants of the old station at Cwmavon, complete with stone luggage.

Safety space to allow trains to pass

The Mossy bank was the old platform edge

A large machine attached to a tractor was cutting, or rather slashing at the hedges on either side, leaving the ragged remains to regrow in the warmer weather.




Stone sculptures positioned on the old station to replicate someone's  luggage.  It really does capture a small part of the atmosphere of the old station

Hat Box

Canal's end

Signs posted along the Crumlin Arm advise…

Thomas Dadford Junior was the engineer in charge of building the canal in 1796. He knew that 1 barge pulled by 1 horse could shift 30 tons of coal or iron.

Benjamin Hall, owner of Abercarn Colliery and Rhymney Ironworks in 1805, thought that a tram road would solve his problem.  He knew that 15 trams pulled by 6 horses could shift 50 tons of coal or iron.

14 July 1875 was a black night in the story of the Crumlin Arm and Cwmcarn village. After weeks of torrential rain, a decaying reservoir dam, built to supply water to the canal, collapsed.  A wave of destruction roared through the sleeping village. One collier saved his family by battering through his bedroom wall with a bedstead and escaping onto higher ground. Three men drowned in their beds.

Ten miles away in Newport, ten bodies were recovered. They included those of the Hunt family, swept away that fateful night, along with their home and flannel factory.

Twelve perished in all, victims of the weather and neglect.

sculpture canalside at Risca

A sad end to the Crumlin Arm of the canal at Cwmcarn.

A hopeful future awaits this canal as workmen work with machines and pumps to dam and drain approximately a 200mtr section of the canal just below its culmination at Cwmcarn.  This will enable them to rebuild a wall which is currently crumbling into the water, threatening nearby cottages with flooding. They also plan to reinforce the banks and bed of this section.

Work to dam the canal is being carried out to enable repairs to banks and wall.

Example of the crumbling banks of the old canal.

Rhondda Heritage Park

Another interesting place to spend a day, with an underground simulation, a row of replica Victorian shops, and an excellent tearoom, what more do you need?



During the underground simulation you are accompanied by an ex-miner who knows the patter as well as all the facts. You walk via the winding house through into the Lamp Room.  There is none of the ritual of donning helmets and placing your cameras and smoking materials in a locker before you 'descend.'  But the experience is very convincing whilst you are within the tunnels and takes around 40 minutes





On the upper level is a fantastic art gallery with work showing a wide variety of styles.  On a clear day there are wonderful views of the Rhondda Valley.  None shown here unfortunately, as it was raining during our visit.

The Victorian shops display all sorts of items that us oldies remember from childhood.

Pontypridd Museum

Situated next to the iconic bridge, Pontypridd museum gives a glimpse into many aspects of the industrial and social life of Pontypridd, formerly known as Newbridge.  Items that make you want more information.

The building itself is interesting with a wide range of books for sale on welsh life and personalities.

The decorative ceiling and organ inside Pontypridd museum

With flat screen TV's becoming ever larger, it was interesting to see this example.  Imagine the owner's delight in being able to see as well as hear programmes on this expensive, state-of-the art piece of equipment. The original owners must have been really rich.

An early entertainment centre.
Radio & TV combined

The history of chain makers, Brown Lenox & Co.

A wide selection of miners' lamps with details of their development.

Well worth a visit, with a multi-storey car park nearby.  Enjoy a walk on the iconic bridge and in the park alongside the river.


http://www.thebestof.co.uk/local/pontypridd-and-rhondda/business-guide/feature/pontypridd-museum

Pontypridd's Iconic Bridge

Pontypridd bridge (with colour co-ordinated signs and vehicles.)

William Edwards was aged 27 when he was given the task of building a three-arch bridge over the river Taff at the town now known as Pontypridd in Glamorgan. He had never built a bridge before, but, self-taught,  he had a good reputation as a stone mason and builder. He had honed his stone building skills by studying the local castle at Caerphilly, where the walls had stood for five hundred years.

This first attempt was washed away when the river flooded the following winter. His contract was that he would build a bridge that would last at least seven years, so he built a second and stronger bridge. He sunk wooden piles into the river and built the bridge using wooden shuttering, but it was again washed away.  His third attempt was built as a single span, the same proportions as the existing bridge, but without the holes on the sides. This time, due to the weight of the stonework sides, when the wooden supports were removed, the bridge again collapsed.

The bridge you can stand on today was William's fourth attempt and was completed in 1756.

He built a structure with three holes at each end, not for water to pass through, but merely to reduce the weight of the stonework abutments. This bridge 250 years later has become iconic, appearing on many photographs and TV programmes.

The bridge first gained fame when an article appeared in the "Gentleman's Magazine" of 1764 claiming this 140ft span bridge was the longest single span in the world being 45 ft longer than the celebrated Rialto Bridge in Venice.  This put Pontypridd, or Newbridge as it was previously known, firmly on the
map of the engineering world.

The single arch bridge, with the modern day road bridge visible through its archway.

This information was gained from the Pontpridd Museum and a gentleman I met this week.
http://www.pontypriddmuseum.org.uk/en/

http://www.thebestof.co.uk/local/pontypridd-and-rhondda/business-guide/feature/pontypridd-museum

Views from the bridge