SOME late summer sunshine greeted the ten walkers who joined William from Penarth and District Ramblers outside Cardiff Central Railway Station for a walk from the capital city of Wales taking in the iconic River Taff, while hoping to catch sight of a Kingfisher.

The added incentive of this journey was that the winner would be able to claim the prize of a pretty enamelled Kingfisher badge from the RSPB.

Heading across Central Square and crossing the River Taff via Wood Street Bridge they joined the riverbank and made their way along the Taff Embankment, below Cardiff Bridge and into the delightful Sophia Gardens. The Marquess of Bute who was a major landowner in Cardiff developed the docklands in 1839 to cope with the industrial revolution of coal exporting and as the town grew his wife showed concern for the welfare of the people as the town of Cardiff rapidly expanded. So work began to create parkland for recreation purposes and later in 1947, the fifth Marquess of Bute donated the Bute Estate and gardens to the City Corporation with the proviso that no building would be allowed on the parklands.

They moved on past Sophia Gardens Cricket Ground, home to the Glamorgan cricket team and through Pontcanna Fields whilst pausing to watch a happy fisherman reeling in a trout. After weeks of no rainfall when they arrived at Blackweir there was very little water flowing over the weir and as they continued along the west bank an excited shout of ‘Kingfisher’ rang out. Hard to believe that within a couple of miles from the city centre this magical elusive bird could be seen.

Then across Western Avenue gazing towards Llandaff Cathedral and a stop for morning break when the badge was awarded to Mary D in a proud Kingfisher presentation by William. Then on past Llandaff Weir adjacent to the rowing club and across the bridge to walk along Radyr Court Road, whilst overlooking canoeists on the River Taff before crossing the river via a footbridge over the railway between Radyr and Llandaff stations.

Reaching the Melingriffith Water Pump, they learned it was constructed in 1807 to pump waste water from the Melingriffith Tinplate Works feeder into the Glamorganshire Canal, which carried coal to Cardiff Docks and required a constant level of water. Originally designed by the engineer Watkin George, it was built by John Rennie and driven by an undershot wheel linked to two cylinder pumps. After the tinplate works was closed the pump fell into disrepair but has now been refurbished and is cared for by Cardiff Council and the Friends of the Melingriffith Water Pump.

As the group approached Radyr Weir this part of the Taff Trail was really busy with cyclists, dog walkers and families out enjoying the weather. Leaving the riverside path they journeyed on to the remains of the Glamorganshire Canal which opened in 1794 linking Merthyr Tydfil with Cardiff, and this twenty-four and a half mile link which was a feat of engineering rose to a height of 300m and contained 49 locks. Unfortunately it is now very overgrown and silted up allowing wildlife to take over and moorhens, coots, ducks and a grey heron were spotted along with dancing dragonflies.

Some more pavement pounding brought them into Hailey Park after land was donated to the council in 1923 by Mr C.P. Bailey who resided in Whitchurch and this generosity provided the parkland we now see which began taking shape in 1925. A stop taking advantage of the shade of some old beech trees for lunch was very much enjoyed, before moving on along the eastern side of the Taff. Passing below Western Avenue to Blackweir Recreation Ground and back across Cardiff Bridge into the bustling city centre, they moved along Westgate Street to pass the renowned Principality Stadium to return to the railway station at their long journey’s end.

You can follow the group at www.penarthramblers.wordpress.com or on Facebook.

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