Brecon to Cardiff 109km/68 miles total

A route along the Taff valley using old railway lines, canals and forestry paths to link the Brecon Beacons National Park and Cardiff Bay along the Taff valley via Merthyr Tydfil and Pontypridd. Most of the route is a multi-user path also available to cyclists and horse riders. The Trail was opened in 1992 as the culmination of a project led by Groundwork Merthyr & Rhondda Cynon Taff, in partnership with over thirty other organisations.

The Brecon Beacons section in the north offers two routes between Brecon and Merthyr Tydfil: a 38.5km/24-mile multi-user path via Talybont reservoir (which also has an alternative walkers only section along the Monmouthshire and Brecon canal) and a rugged 25.5km/16-mile pedestrian path via Storey Arms and the Garwnant Forest Centre. It is possible to walk both routes as a long circular walk. High level and low level alternatives are also offered in the area of Castell Coch north of Cardiff. The distance shown above is for the whole route, including both alternatives; the shortest linear walk from Brecon to Cardiff is 70.5km/44 miles.

Connects with Cambrian Way, Coed Morgannwg Way, Marches Way, Rhymney Valley Ridgeway Walk, Taff-Ely Ridgeway Walk, Usk Valley Walk

Parks and countryside Brecon Beacons

Highway Authorities Cardiff, Merthyr Tydfil, Powys, Rhondda Cynon Taff

Tourist Information Centres

Click here to find bed & breakfast accommodation on this path

Explorer maps OL12, 151, 166
Landranger maps 160, 161, 170, 171
The Trail is shown on recent editions of these maps.

Publications

• Taff Trail route for walkers and cyclists: A journey from the Brecon Beacons to Cardiff Bay - Taith Taf fford i gerddwyr a seiclwyr: Taith o Fannau Brycheiniog i Fae Caerdydd.  Free bilingual English/Welsh leaflet from information centres (see above). The detailed guide to the Trail is now out of print and is unlikely to be reprinted in the near future, but the Trail can be followed using the leaflet in conjunction with OS maps and signing and interpretation boards on the ground.