Tales of the Trails: Clydach Vale
Cycling trails exploring the history and heritage of the area
Discover the tales of the trails
Wales’ valleys and the mining communities which sprung up in them are a proud part of our past which deserve to be remembered.
Funded by the National Lottery Heritage Fund and Cadw – the Welsh Government’s historic environment service, Cycling UK’s Tales of the Trails project has worked with the Cambrian Village Trust to capture the stories of residents and bring them to life with cycle trails which take people into the landscape where they happened.
Coal transformed this valley from a sparsely-populated agricultural area to one of the most populous places in Wales by the late 1800s, with two collieries producing 100 tons of coal a day.
It created a politically active community, with industrial disputes and strike action which led to the Tonypandy riots in 1910.
Clydach Vale has had its own share of tragedy, with several mining disasters and catastrophic flooding during the 20th century.
But the community continues to look to the future, to celebrate the opportunities of the rich natural environment around them.
Explore these trails yourself to discover more about the past, present and future of Clydach Vale.
“We’ve got a really rich heritage and culture. We have people who have fought for the things that we have, we’ve got people who have dedicated their lives and had real struggles. It’s really important for young people to understand the value of the places we have, how they have developed and the passion and energy that people have poured into it.”
Simone Devinett, Clydach Vale resident
Click or tap the places to find out more about them, and swipe to see videos telling the stories.
Clydach Vale Countryside Park
Clydach Vale Countryside Park. Click to expand.
The friendly Lakeside Café Bar here is the perfect place to start and finish your ride.
Cambrian Colliery memorial
Cambrian Colliery memorial. Click to expand.
This memorial commemorates a mining disaster on 17 May 1965 which killed 31 people.
Clydach Vale flood of 1910
Clydach Vale flood of 1910. Click to expand.
Mining-related disasters didn’t just happen underground. Unbeknownst to residents of the village an obsolete Perch seam had been slowly filling with water for years, and on 11 March 1910 it burst. Tons of water, earth and rubble poured down the hillside towards the village, completely destroying 11 houses.
The Screaming Quarry
The Screaming Quarry. Click to expand.
According to local legend, a family of travellers once came to Clydach Vale to stay for several days. One evening, they got into a dispute with some local men. The locals chased the travellers out of the village and up the steep paths on the sides of the valley.
'The Mid' sports ground
'The Mid' sports ground. Click to expand.
The Mid Rhondda ground, known as The Mid, opened in 1903 and has hosted many large events, including the first ever rugby league international game in 1908 when Wales beat England 35-18 in front of a crowd of 15,000.
Dunraven Street
Dunraven Street. Click to expand.
In 1910, following a dispute over pay, miners from across the valley came together in solidarity for a strike.
White cross of Trealaw
White cross of Trealaw. Click to expand.
As you move around the valley, you might spot this large white cross on the hillside east of Tonypandy. The monument appeared overnight in September 2005, baffling residents.
Clydach Vale Countryside Park
The friendly Lakeside Café Bar here is the perfect place to start and finish your ride.
“I remember years ago when this was a derelict building, you would drive past it and think it’s such a shame because it’s such a beautiful space. To see it develop and become the heart of the community is really heart-warming and encouraging.”
Simone Devinett, Clydach Vale resident
Cambrian Colliery memorial
This memorial commemorates a mining disaster on 17 May 1965 which killed 31 people.
“I remember that day vividly, walking to school. We heard a noise and thought ‘that can’t be very good’. Later we heard it was a gas explosion and 31 men had lost their lives. My friend lost his father, our next-door neighbours lost their son-in-law. It affected the whole community, probably every house in the village.”
Phil Rowlands, resident and former headteacher
Former miner Bill Richards raised money for the memorial, and a commemoration event is held every year to mark the anniversary of the disaster.
Clydach Vale flood of 1910
Mining-related disasters didn’t just happen underground. Unbeknownst to residents of the village an obsolete Perch seam had been slowly filling with water for years, and on 11 March 1910 it burst. Tons of water, earth and rubble poured down the hillside towards the village, completely destroying 11 houses.
The flood then struck Clydach Vale School. Fortunately the miners were just leaving work and managed to evacuate most of the children, but six people lost their lives.
The Screaming Quarry
According to local legend, a family of travellers once came to Clydach Vale to stay for several days. One evening, they got into a dispute with some local men. The locals chased the travellers out of the village and up the steep paths on the sides of the valley.
Unfortunately, a mother and her five children, one a baby in arms, took the wrong turning and she led her family over the Screaming Quarry, where they all fell to their deaths.
It is said that when you walk down the Cwm Clydach incline during the evening of a hot summer's day, you will hear the blood-curdling screams.
'The Mid' sports ground
The Mid Rhondda ground, known as The Mid, opened in 1903 and has hosted many large events, including the first ever rugby league international game in 1908 when Wales beat England 35-18 in front of a crowd of 15,000.
The Mid was the home of Mid Rhondda FC, nicknamed ‘The Mushrooms’ or ‘The Mush’ for sixteen years until the team disbanded due to financial pressures in 1928.
There was also a cycling track around the edge of the ground, said to be one of the finest in the country and used for several one-mile record attempts.
The Mid became a natural meeting place for striking miners. It is here that Labour leader Keir Hardy addressed the miners during the period of the Tonypandy riots in 1910.
Dunraven Street
In 1910, following a dispute over pay, miners from across the valley came together in solidarity for a strike.
There was a stand-off with police outside the powerhouse, and violence erupted. The crowds moved towards Dunraven Street, where windows were smashed and looting occurred.
The events became known as the Tonypandy riots. That wasn't the end of the situation - the disputes with mine owners continued for a whole year.
White cross of Trealaw
As you move around the valley, you might spot this large white cross on the hillside east of Tonypandy. The monument appeared overnight in September 2005, baffling residents.
It was created by local man Glyn Thomas to mark the spot where he had scattered his friend’s ashes. He had moved quantities of white stone up the mountain gradually, keeping them hidden in the ferns until it was time to create the cross.
It has become a much-loved landmark, with the community pitching in to repair it when it was vandalised.
Tales of the trails - Clydach Vale
1940-1947 Bartholomew historic map courtesy of the National Library of Scotland
Tales of the Trails has been delivered in partnership with the Cambrian Village Trust and the local community and funded by the National Lottery Heritage Fund.
