Parking at a popular viewpoint you can reach this 515m Rhondda Cynon Taff hill with minimal ascent and effort, but the views from the off would be worth ascending it from the bottom if you wished.
You can see the whole Brecon Beacons range of mountains and even pick out the Sugar Loaf in the far distance.
You need to head along or alongside the busy road for the first bit, before picking up an ATV track that takes you through a couple of gates that are unlocked and can be opened – just make sure you shut them afterwards. According to others who have walked this hill, the track is definitely worth taking, even though it is longer that cutting directly across country the longish grass makes it a tough walk.
Another positive of taking the track is that it takes you along the escarpment so the views are good over the Brecon Beacons and you also approach the craggy side of Hirwaun Common and can get some nice photos on the approach.
The summit high point is just a patch of flowing grass, but the track actually makes it quite photogenic and the views are great.
I now wish I had carried on a little further to take in the trig point that is 5m lower than the high point. Maybe I will come back one day with a telephoto lens for some landscape shots of the distant Beacons and I’ll head down to that trig point.
Boots are recommended if the weather is wet or there has been recent rain as the track was very wet.
This is a highly recommended walk because the effort is minimal, but the views are really spectacular. I’d say it was suitable for almost any fitness level and the track is easy as well.
