Dogging in Glamorgan Valleys and Bridgend: area guide

The lie of the land in Glamorgan Valleys and Bridgend

The valleys run north to south like fingers. The Rhondda, Cynon, Taff and Ogmore all drop from high moorland to the coast, and towns sit in long lines along each floor. Pontypridd, Aberdare, Merthyr Tydfil, Treorchy, Maesteg and Bridgend are the main centres, with Llantrisant and Porthcawl nearby.

Between the valleys, the hills are open moor, forestry and old mining land that has gone back to grass and bracken. North of Merthyr, the Bannau Brycheiniog (Brecon Beacons) National Park begins. Bridgend is a gateway to the coast, with the sandy shore at Porthcawl and dunes along the Glamorgan coast.

Because each valley is a separate world, getting from one to the next can mean going down to the coast or up over a mountain. Some moorland roads are quiet for hours, then busy for no clear reason.

Getting about safely

The M4 serves Bridgend at junctions 35 to 37, and Pontypridd and Llantrisant are close to it. The A470 climbs the Taff Valley to Merthyr and the Beacons, and the A465 Heads of the Valleys road crosses the north. The A4061 and A4119 cross the high ground, and some roads over the tops have bends and drops with no barriers. Road signs show Welsh and English.

Valley Lines trains run from Cardiff to Treherbert, Aberdare, Merthyr Tydfil and Pontypridd, and the Maesteg line links Bridgend to Maesteg. Services thin out in the evening, and last trains can be early. Check before you set off, and keep a taxi number to hand because some stations are unstaffed.

Weather is the main hazard. Mountain fog, ice and snow arrive fast on the tops, while the valley floors stay clear. Sheep wander across unfenced roads at night, and old mine workings sit close to some paths. Phone signal drops in deep valleys, so don't rely on it. The coast near Porthcawl has fast tides and shifting sand. Tell someone your route and fill the tank before you climb.