Parking is at the shrine of Our Lady of Penrhys, which offers a good dedicated car park for a few cars. It is also on the ridgeway so this walk has very little – and very gentle ascent up to the two high points.

Our Lady of Penrhys
Our Lady of Penrhys. | Minolta MD 28mm f3.5 @ f5.6.

The footpath heads along a road and onto the golf course, along a clear gravel track. The views are great as soon as you get out of the car with Classic South Wales perspectives.

Mynydd Troed-y-rhiw
View back to the shrine and the small car park, the hill in this direction to the left if Cefn y Rhondda. | Minolta MD 28mm f3.5 @ f11.

The trig point is just off the path, but at 327m it is one metre lower than the true high point which is unmarked, but easily accessible through an open field not far from the footpath.

Mynydd Troed-y-rhiw
Views West on the gentle walk up. | Minolta MD 28mm f3.5 @ f11.
Mynydd Troed-y-rhiw
Views West again. | Minolta MD 28mm f3.5 @ f11.

On the route above you’ll see a detour, this was to sit on the bench so I could feed my 10 week old daughter who is accompanying me on some of these hill walks. It was a nice little detour down past some ponds and offering good views down the valley.

Mynydd Troed-y-rhiw
Looking back down the start of the golf course towards Cefn y Rhondda. | Minolta MD 28mm f3.5 @ f11.

A really nice little walk this one and it is worth walking on from the trig point to the true highpoint as the views back are nice, as well as those South.

Mynydd Troed-y-rhiw
View from near the highest point. | Minolta MD 28mm f3.5 @ f11.

I didn’t quite stand on the highest point at it was occupied by a herd of cows who looked well settled and I was going to risk their wrath by disturbing them.

Mynydd Troed-y-rhiw
Cows on the true high point, looking South. | Minolta MD 28mm f3.5 @ f11.
Mynydd Troed-y-rhiw
The well-manicured trig point. | Minolta MD 28mm f3.5 @ f11.
Mynydd Troed-y-rhiw
Looking North back down the ridgeway. | Minolta MD 28mm f3.5 @ f11.
Mynydd Troed-y-rhiw
Looking North. | Minolta MD 28mm f3.5 @ f11.

Quite a different hill from the usual and well worth a visit, and if golf is your thing I can’t imagine many courses with quite this many views as you take in a round.

Mynydd Troed-y-rhiw
Heading back to the Shrine offers some great views. | Minolta MD 28mm f3.5 @ f11.

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