Rhondda Fach’s 10km walking and cycling route is complete

The full 10km shared walking and cycling route between Maerdy and Tylorstown is now available, following work carried out between 2023 and summer 2026. Rhondda Cynon Taf Council marked completion with an event near Ferndale Skate Park on 28 September, attended by pupils from four local schools. The ceremony followed the construction work; it was not the day every section first opened.

Where the route goes

The main path largely follows the former railway through the Rhondda Fach. Community links provide places to join and leave it, including connections around Ferndale and Tylorstown. The council’s project page, linked below, provides the route map and a video filmed by Sport RCT officers cycling the main path. Use those for access points and the route itself rather than treating the 10km end-to-end distance as a circular walk. The southern phase opened in 2026, with further work after its May opening to provide links to Rhondda Fach Leisure Centre and Tylorstown Surgery. Two new bridges at Blaenllechau formed part of the section completed in 2025.

The link still to come

Completion of the main route does not mean every proposed link has been built. The council’s detailed project page says a separate 1.5km connection at Maerdy received planning consent in June 2024 but still needs funding. It is intended to connect the main path to Richard Street and nearby community facilities. The detailed page identifies this outstanding link as phase three, while the four completed construction phases form the main route. The opening announcement describes the phases differently, so the distinction here follows the council’s project breakdown. Welsh Government’s Active Travel Fund supported the scheme over several years, with Transport for Wales involved in administration and advice. The announcement does not state a total project cost.