This route combines history with nature, beginning at the foot of Newcastle Hill, we pick up the footsteps of ancient pilgrims, coming down the hill after visiting Newcastle Church (GC5QXKV) at the top and the St John Hospice halfway down, they would have then headed off South West toward their final destination of St David’s in West Wales. The entire series is about a 2.5 mile round trip on foot, you can reduce this to about 2m by skipping No1 and No14.
We follow their route through the Craig y Parcau Nature Reserve as far as the Dipping Bridge in Merthyr Mawr (GC6ZVRB) and then return via Newbridge Fields, the much loved and well used green heart of Bridgend.
Craig y Parcau is a fine oak and ash woodland and a real wildlife haven. Wildflowers line the attractive riverside path and you’ll see lots of birds using the woodland trees as look-out posts for insects hovering over the Ogmore River.
You’ll see Bluebells and other woodland flowers such as Wood Anemone, Yellow Archangel and Wood Sorrel, Hartstongue Fern, Lesser Celandine and Herb Robert among many others. It’s also a good place to look out for birds. Regular visitors include Willow Warblers and Tree Creepers, you may even be lucky enough to spot a Green Woodpecker or a Kingfisher!
Craig y Parcau and Newbridge fields are also home to bats, otters, cricketers, rugby players, footy players, dog walkers, joggers, boot campers, sponsored fundraisers and of course highly stealthy geocachers :-)
1,2,3,12,13,14 are highly populated areas and will require a combination of shoelace tying, bag checking, selfie taking, phone call answering, sitting and watching the world go by and all your other nonchalant tricks to ensure the cache is still there for the next cacher, and I don’t wear my poor little legs out on too many maintenance trips. Please replace EXACTLY as found.
4,5,6,7 are all in the woods and although it’s surprising how many people come through here, it is usually easy to find a quiet few mins to grab, sign and replace in peace, but be aware you are visible from across the river in places.
8 is out in the open, and you may be viewed from afar, so have a good look around before grabbing and replacing.
9 is totally secluded, although I did get surprised by snuffling Jack Russell on one visit
10 &11 can be muggle central or completely solitary depending on what’s happening, avoid Saturday afternoons and Friday evenings
Approach this one from the West. DO NOT approach from the EAST via Council Office Carpark Ramp, you'll be on entirely the wrong level with no way through. After No 13 of the series, if you keep going on the same side of the river, all the way up the path, under the underpass, you will be on the correct side of the dual carriageway to get this on your way back to No 1.
This one is a magnetic nano camoflaged to match it's hidey hole, pencil included, EXTREME stealth required, busy road and overlooked by many windows, including mine :-), definitely a talking on the phone/taking pics of the trees tactic required.