Cwm Parc Darran Circular

Walk & Talk

Date:

Wed, 17th June, 2026

Meeting point: Parc Cwm Darran - Free Main Car Park CF81 9NR

Meeting time:

9:15 am

Start time:

9:30 am

End time:

1:30 pm

Noel Powell will be leading us on a very picturesque circular hike from the valley floor. This was the site of Ogilvie Colliery one of the busiest coal mines in the area. We then go through scenic woodland where we climb onto the Rhymney Valley Ridgeway. There will be expansive views from the ridgeway including Pen y Fan. Points of interests on the Ridgeway are the Tagernicus Stone a 6th century burial site and then Capel Brithdir a ruined 9th century church. From the Ridgeway we then descend back through woodland to our start point where there is a cafe for a well earned cuppa.

This is a Grade 4 walk of 5-8 miles of approximately 4 hours

Useful information

Meeting point
What3Words

Meeting point map

Leader information

Noel Powell

On the day

Arrival
We recommend arriving at least 15-20 minutes before the walk/event start time. It’s a great opportunity to meet the event leaders, register and catch up with your fellow Marauders before we start.

Parking
Park onsite at Parc Cwm Darran free car park

Registration
You will be asked for your name, your mobile telephone number along with an emergency contact name and number. If you have any relevant medical conditions or medication that may be relevant to declare, please pass this information to the event leader during registration.

If you already have your Marauders digital ID, great – we’ll just scan you in. If not, you can pre-register and get your very own QR code beforehand here –
Register Here

Be Prepared – Health, Wellbeing & Weather
Participation in this event is entirely at your own risk, and it is your sole responsibility to ensure you are physically fit and well enough to take part. This includes being appropriately dressed for the event/weather and carrying any personal or emergency medication you may require during the activity.

Dogs
Well behaved dogs are welcome on this walk but must be carefully supervised at all times and kept on a lead when necessary. We may at times walk on/near to busy roads and/or in fields with livestock roaming free.

What to bring

Grade 4-5 Walk
Designed for 5–10 miles in rural areas with steep sections and rough ground.

Footwear: Waterproof walking boots with ankle support are essential for rural, rougher, or “toughest” terrain.
Clothing: A full layering system (base, mid, and waterproof outer shell) to manage 5–7 hours of exposure.
Refreshments: 1.5–2 litres of water and a substantial packed lunch for these full-day efforts.
Safety: Any personal medication or small first-aid items you may need while away from easy access points.

Photo album

We have set up a Google Album to store our photographs and capture our memories of the day:

Volunteering support

This event requires some volunteering support to make it run smoothly and we’d love to hear from you if you are able to lend a hand on the day. This week we are looking for:

Walk & Talk support (to assist the leaders and keep an eye on the group (eg man the walkie talkie, be a backmarker, nominate yourself as a first aider)

Befrienders (to look out for new guys that join and make them feel welcome)

Bring a mate with you

Our events are free and open to all men aged 18+. If you know of anyone that may enjoy this event, click to copy the page link, to paste and share with a friend.

Disclaimer

By participating in this event, you acknowledge and agree to the following:

Assumption of Risk: You are voluntarily participating in this activity and assume all risks associated with it, including but not limited to: falls, slips, trips, injuries, illness, or other accidents.
Medical Conditions: You are in good physical health and have no medical conditions that would prevent you from participating in this activity. Please ensure any essential medication is kept in an easily accessible pocket and that its location is shared with a walking buddy or leader for your safety.
Personal Responsibility: You are solely responsible for your own safety, equipment, and actions during the activity.
Waiver of Claims: You hereby waive any and all claims against the organisers, leaders, or participants of this group for any injuries or damages that may occur.