Locations of Historic Interest
The Trevithick Trail runs for nine miles from Penydarren in Merthyr
Tydfil to Abercynon, an ex-mining village at the confluence of the Taff and
Cynon rivers. It follows the line of the early nineteenth century Merthyr or
Penydarren Tramroad which linked three of Merthyr’s ironworks to a loading
point on the Glamorganshire Canal at a place then called Navigation.
Two years after the completion of its construction in 1802, the
Cornishman Richard Trevithick ran a steam locomotive along its length, an
event that was to establish a landmark in the history of railway development
and forever link the tramroad with the name of the locomotive’s constructor.
The route the trail follows, as well as offering the walker/cyclist the
opportunity to enjoy some unrivalled natural habitats, visits sites that
were significant in the industrial and social history of the area. The
eleven chosen locations marked on the map offer information, which will help
the traveller to gain a better understanding of the area’s past, and
hopefully a greater enjoyment of the experience.
Download the Map (PDF 400kb)