GOOD FRIDAY
– 29th March 2024

Be part of the tradition…

It has long been local tradition for people of Risca and surrounding area, to get together and walk to the top of Twmbarlwm – it’s a tradition that was starting to fade away but CTS has been promoting the event since we formed over 14 years ago. More and more people turn up every year, yet we don’t expect everyone to join our organised walk but all will be welcome. We just want to encourage people to get up the Twmp, any time of the day, at their own pace and bring a picnic and spend a while enjoying the views and the mystery of this iconic mountain.

FREE HOT-CROSS-BUNS

CTS members, ably helped by local scouts, will be there offering Hot Cross Buns to all who get to the top, FREE – but we will gratefully accept any donations in payment to help our society. The buns are distributed on a ‘first come, first served’ basis and if you join one of the organised walks you’ll get first dibs.

If you are organising your own group – why not carry a flag to let us all know who you are.

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The main CTS organised walk re-traces part of the route of the ancient pilgrimage trail.

Nowadays that’s straight through Ty-Sign estate – but we’re soon in the beautiful countryside that we have on our doorstep. Meet at the Stoney Bridge on Fields Road in Pontymister at 10.30am, to walk up to Twmbarlwm. The walk will be led by Maggie Thomas – the route back down will be via Pegwn-y-Bwlch and Darren Road to the canal and along the canal to Manor Way, Mill Street and back to the starting point – if you prefer not to follow that route, and make your own way back down please inform the walk leader.

Here’s the What3Words location of the Stoney Bridge:
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Or Click here for a link to a Google Pin

Dogs are welcome – but please be sure to keep them on a lead and under control – and of course bring plenty of poo-bags to pick up after your dog.

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Click Here to download the poster, print it out and display it in work or anywhere it will get seen – let’s get the word around and get a record number of visitors this year. SCROLL to the bottom of the page to see a gallery of images from last year’s event.

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ROUTES

There are many routes you can take to get to the top of Twmbarlwm and the one you choose depends on whether you want to drive part of the way and how energetic you feel on the day. I have put a map together on Google Maps to show you a few options.

FROM PONTYMISTER

CTS is leading a walk from the Stoney Bridge on Fields Road in Pontymister – starting out at 10.30am. We chose this route as it is part of the ancient Cistercian pilgrimage route that was used by pilgrims travelling from Llantarnam Abbey to Penrhys. The walk is only about 3 miles, mostly on road, but straight up the steep hill through Ty-Sign and onto Mountain Road – it should take about one and a half hours. The walk leader intends descending down through Pegwn Y Bwlch to join the canal at the Darran, then along the canal to Manor Way and so back down along Mill Street back to the Stoney Bridge.

NOTE: if you intend to take a different route back down please let the walk leader know in advance. This is a popular walk and in previous years we have had over 30 people taking part.

 

CWMCARN FOREST DRIVE

The Forest Drive is now open to public traffic, and this provides a great way to get to the top of the Twmp (it costs £8). Drive to Car Park 2 from where it’s a gentle slope up onto the ridgeway and then it’s a relatively flat walk of 1.5 miles to the Twmp. You could also park up at car park 7 (Pegwn y Bwlch) and take the shorter but far steeper route up to the Twmp. The Cwmcarn Visitor Centre is open for business and you can park there (parking charges apply) and walk up through the woods and through Pegwyn-y-Bwlch to the top – but, be warned, it is quite a strenuous route.

Friends of the Cwmcarn Forest Drive haven’t yet organised a led walk but many people gather at the lower car park at the visitor centre at 9:45 to leave at 10:00 and taking a route alongside the drive and up to Pwll Tra. From there they go on to the ridgeway and across to the Twmp – if you come with this group there will be a hot-cross-bun waiting for you. This walk is about 7 miles – so make sure you are capable of this walk and are dressed appropriately for the terrain and weather conditions.

FROM CWMBRAN

There will be an organised group from Cwmbran. This walk is also part of the ancient Pilgrimage route – but we have not finalised the details yet so please watch this website for details.

FROM ROGERSTONE

It is possible to drive to within half a mile of the summit on the Risca side – at the end of Mountain Road just below the Twmp itself. But please be aware that Mountain Road is a narrow single track road with few passing places and on a busy day like Good Friday there is a good chance of meeting oncoming traffic – so if you choose this route be prepared to have to reverse in this narrow country lane and please be patient and courteous to other road users. Coming from Rogerstone you drive up Pontymason Lane and turn right just past Risca Leisure Centre and Comprehenisve School, onto Mountain Road – from there it’s about 1.5 miles to the car park. You could, of course park at the Leisure Centre and walk from there.

 DARREN ROAD

On Darren Road there is the canal-side cafe of Whysom’s Wharf. You could park around here (please be considerate of the residents’ parking areas) and walk straight up Darran Road (a fairly steep climb) up to Pegwyn Y Bwlch and then the final steep ascent to the summit – do not attempt to drive up to the top of Darran Road, there is nowhere to park and it is extremely difficult to turn to come back down.

CIRCULAR ROUTES

A quick look at the map will show you many possibilities for an interesting circular route. In previous years walkers on our organised walk from the Stony Bridge have continued over the top of the Twmp and back down to Darren Road, a cup of tea at Whysom’s Wharf and then a walk down the Mon. Brec Canal back to the starting point. Even if you drive to the Risca side car park, although it’s a short walk to the top you could then drop down to Pegwyn Y Bwlch and follow the forestry road back round to your starting point.

JUST DO IT

Whatever route you choose – Just Do It – walking to the top of Twmbarlwm any day is a great day out but on Good Friday it’s extra special.  It’s a local tradition that’s centuries old. The whole family will enjoy it, and if it’s a nice day you’ll be rewarded with stunning views – bring a picnic – but please remember to take all your rubbish home with you.

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  Here’s a few photos from last year’s event – it was a cold, overcast spring day and very chilly at the top – but it was still well attended and it was estimated that a few hundred people walked to the top throughout the day.