The Taff Trail:Pontsticill
Pontsticill Reservoir
This point on the Taff Trail is the eastern end of the Pontsticill Reservoir and dam.
It is also the point where a short lane will take you to one of the stations of the Brecon Mountain Railway. This is a narrow gauge railway however bicycles can be carried on request. See www.breconmountainrailway.co.uk for more information.
Refreshments can be taken at the Red Cow in Pontsticill Village - Cross the dam and turn left 150yds towards the village. This is the last pub South of the Brecon Beacons.
Pontsticill to Pontsarn
Leaving the Dam of the Pontsticill Reservoir and the Brecon Mountain Railway behind, we drop down the hill. The Water Treatment works are on the right. Left at the junction and after going under the railway bridge turn right off the road into a traffic free section which takes us through to Pontsarn.
This is the former Taf Fechan mineral railway.
Pontsticill to Torpantau
(approx 5 miles 8km)
Across the Pontsticill Dam the road runs to a junction. Turn sharp right away from Pontsticill Village.
The road now runs parallel to the reservoir, but soon we fork left tracks of Pontsticill forest. Continue for just over 2km then a bridge takes us over a brook in a deep ravine. A further 1.5 km brings us to tarmac road. Turn left and left again.
We continue straight ahead ignoring the road to the right which is quite steep (down then back up). Across the Taf Fechan which is just a stream above Pentwyn Reservoir and a Car Park on the right. Continue to the top.
Ahead are the Neuadd Reservoirs which are situated right at the top of the Taf Fechan valley. The trail doubles back sharply to the right. This track, running between forestry and grazing land, has a series of gates which should be left closed. At the end we come to another car park on the site of the former Torpantau Railway Station - you may be able to see the tunnel entrance nearby. A short climb on a tramac road brings us to Torpantau Summit.