ON A glorious sunny morning but with a cool breeze a group of eight female walkers teamed up with Rachel from Penarth and District Ramblers for the journey up to Beddau, parking at Castellau Church.

Tramping along quiet roads that were running with surface water from the adjoining fields and reaching Castellau Fach Farm situated behind a picturesque pond containing crested ducks, there was a short pause near to Castellau.

This grand house with its bow ends on either side and which is Grade II listed, dates back to the 17th century but was remodelled during the 1800s and was once home to the Traherne family, beginning with Edmund Traherne who was mayor of Llantrisant in 1630 and descendants of this family also have connections in the Vale of Glamorgan.

Entering fields, then through bare woodland carpeted with autumnal leaves and boggy in places led across an old bridge over the pretty Nant Castellau and uphill on the edge of woodland into open fields towards Tonyrefail Road.

Arriving at a road junction a steep scramble up a slippery bank led over a stile into a huge field containing spring lambs and was spoiled only by a line of huge electricity pylons, and after crossing a marshy area to a narrow road a pause for morning coffee on a roadside bank near Cefn Coed Farm.

Passing through a gate, a long driveway interspersed with daffodils led downhill to Tyla-winder and paddling across a fast running brook which makes its way downhill to join the Nant Gelliwion and climbing steeply by track and field to a road, a narrow path led them gradually uphill through some boggy areas but in the shelter of a perfect dry stonewall on the edge of forestry at Mynydd Gelliwion.

Heading along tracks just west of the confluence of the Rivers Rhondda and Taff and directly above Barry Sidings Country Park, with spectacular views towards Pontypridd and the Taff Valley, following the curving path through tall conifers led out onto open access land with misty long distance views towards the mountain peaks of the central Brecon Beacons.

A wide rough stony track led on towards an area of boggy tufted grass with views towards Tonyrefail in the southwest and skirting the edge of a field on the lower slopes of Mynydd y Glyn came a meeting with two walkers who were enjoying a break.

Descending gradually towards Langton Court Farm a sturdy stone wall provided seating for lunch in lovely warm sunshine out of the breeze, before continuing downhill by road past Rackett Cottages to an imposing old disused gateway at Treferig House, once the centre of a flourishing Quaker movement.

A stile led into woodland and along an old disused railway adjacent to the Nant Muchudd and across a footbridge, after which through the trees came the loud sound of a donkey braying above a field containing two huge Gloucester Old Spot pigs, who came running up to the fence in search of food.

Arriving at another footbridge a track below the entrance to Treferig Cottage Farm led them around farm buildings and through a field containing young lambs at Treferig Isha, which dates from 1609 and was a Quaker meeting house.

Then paddling across another stream and climbing uphill over more boggy ground through fields, one containing a shaggy coated Shetland pony closely guarded by a very impatient horse, led back to the road at Castellau for the journey back to their start.

On April 8, meet 9.30am at Cogan Leisure Centre for a 6.5-mile moderate walk around Caerphilly Mountain; contact Geraint on 029 2051 5278.

On April 9, meet 9am at Cogan for a nine-mile moderate walk taking in Skenfrith, Garway Hill and the Monnow Valley; contact Joy on 01446 737131.

Wear suitable clothing, preferably boots and carry waterproofs, food and drinks. Some degree of fitness is required and if you are in any doubt, then please contact the walk leader for advice.

To follow the group please log onto penarthramblers.wordpress.com or Facebook. Programmes and membership advice can be obtained from Pam on 029 2025 5102.