Upper Tarell Valley walk
Follow this glaciated valley down the 18th-century metalled track that was once the main road from the Midlands to Cardiff.
Take a meandering stroll by the river Tarell
Cross the valley and follow the river Tarell, where you'll pass the remains of farmsteads that were once inhabited during the heyday of the coach road.
Map
Start:
Storey Arms, grid ref: SN982203
1
Start the walk by crossing the road from the car park to be outside the Storey Arms (once a coaching inn, Storey Arms is now an outdoor education centre run by Cardiff Council). Take the track to the left of the centre down the valley towards Brecon and pass through a kissing gate and cross a stone bridge.
Dramatic views
Once you start walking down the coach road, be sure to look behind you at the dramatic view of Craig Cerrig Gleisiad, the glacial hollow overlooking the A470. It's now a National Nature Reserve looked after by Natural Resources Wales (NRW).
2
Continue downhill along the coach road. On your left next to the river below the new main road you'll see stone built sheep pens. These pens were used to wash the sheep before taking them to market. Pass through a large gate and continue until you reach a stile on your left signposted for the youth hostel.
Veteran trees
Many of our veteran trees are visible from the old coach road running north from Storey Arms. From a distance they look like any other tree, but up close they’re hollow, gnarled and full of life. Alder, birch, rowan and oak are just a few of the species of trees in the valley.
3
Once you have crossed the stile, walk down to the river and cross it by the wooden bridge. Just above the bridge are the remains of a Bronze Age burial chamber. Turn right and follow the fence above the river until you reach another stile.
4
You now want to follow the path beside the fence along the river valley. You will cross several stiles and fields. Keep your eyes open as you are surrounded by wildlife as well as farm animals.
River Tarell
The river is home to otters and dippers. Salmon and sewin (sea trout) have been known to swim up this river, quite some feat as the River Tarell flows into the River Usk which travels all the way to the sea at Newport. Look out for red kites, as they are also around.
5
Keep the river and fence on your right until you come to the end of the fields. Go over the stile across the bridge and onto the tarmac road, turn right leading up and past the cottages called Old Glanryhd. Keeping straight ahead, the tarmac road will end at Blaen Glyn farm and the National Trust office. You are back on the metalled track of the old coach road, follow this all the way back up to Storey Arms.
Old brewery and tavern
Glanryhd cottages used to be a tavern and brewery serving the old road back in the 18th century. Drovers would leave their sheep, guarded by their sons, close to the river (in an area marked by pine trees in a circle) and go to the tavern for the evening.
End:
Storey Arms, grid ref: SN982203
