143.Garth's 50th (9.2 miles)

8.5/10

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A special this week as it's Andy's 50th birthday !!
So we headed over the Severn crossing to Wales and the first mountain in Wales Mynydd y Garth or The Garth standing @ 307 m (1,007 ft)
In the UK, geographers historically regarded mountains as hills greater than 1,000 feet (300 m) above sea level, which formed the basis of the plot of the 1995 film The Englishman Who Went Up a Hill But Came Down a Mountain.
But Today, a mountain is usually defined in the UK and Ireland as any summit at least 2,000 feet (or 610 meters) high, while the official UK government's definition of a mountain is a summit of 600 meters or higher

This is View of said mountain or hill

Starting below Castell Coch, which this one was built in 1875 but a castle of sorts has stood here since 1081.

A Coch heading into Castell Coch :). Castell Coch in Welsh means Red Castle.

After following the Taff Trail we head under Barry Railway Penrhos Branch / GWR Rhymney Branch line, Then head towards the small hamlet of Taffs Well

 
Passing over the River Taff then a very steep uphill hill climb on to Garth hill

Once at Lan Farm which has a Zoopla Estimate of  £2,609,000 !!! its just beyond wall .

You start to see a few views up in to the valleys this view shows Pontypridd to left.

Quite a few birds about as well 5 Wheatears my first this year and many Skylarks up and singing Nuthatch,Buzzards,Jay to name a few.

Blue skies add to stunning vistas

Llantrisant and wind turbines at Tonypandy

Jogger for scale

And finally the trigpoint standing at 307m or 1007ft , just over half a mountain.

Sorry special occasion had to post picture !
A 50 year old man and my walking companion of 24 years !!

Sun was shining bright (my excuse for B+W ) here's Castell Coch and looking back across Bristol Channel towards England

Trigpoint and valleys .

Me looking on :)

After leaving summit we make our descent passing Wood Anemones and Crossing remains of the Barry Railway again then skirting along the side of a very busy and noisey M4.

A few more views of Castell Coch.

This one as we cross the Taff Vale Railway, which runs from Pontypridd to Cardiff

 
Then finally crossing the River Taff which runs from Pen Y Fan ish  to Cardiff about 40 miles.
A great walk scoring a high 8.5 nearly 9 but lacked a Mr whippy but well worth the trip We shall return to Wales again soon .

Thanks for looking now walk it !!