Discover the beating heart of Wales on this epic hike — Taff Trail

The Taff Trail follows the course of the River Taff from the Welsh Capital into spellbinding scenery and through the heart of the Brecon Beacons National Park.

The 55-mile (89 km) route begins from Cardiff Bay and journeys north along pretty riverside paths, old railway railway lines, serene canal towpaths, forest roads, and rugged mountain passes to finish in Brecon.

The trail uses a closed branch of the Taff Vale Railway and of the Glamorganshire Canal; both built in the 18th and 19th centuries to transport coal and iron ore to the docks at Cardiff and Barry.

Highlights along the way include: Cardiff Castle, a stunning site with a 2,000-year history; Castell Coch, the fairytale castle of Wales; the Rocking Stone, a glacial boulder surrounded by a stone circle; Pontsarn Viaduct, which was built in the 1860s; Pontsticill Reservoir, a vast water store situated in picturesque surroundings; the beautiful Blaen-y-Glyn waterfalls; the Monmouthshire and Brecon Canal; the Usk Valley; Brecon Castle, a magnificent Gothic structure in the heart of the national park; plus more.

The most common way to walk the trail is from south to north (as per this Collection). However, there's no reason why you can't hike the other way.

In this Collection, we split the route into four stages. Of course, you can split up each stage into as many days as you are comfortable with. You can also walk any single stage, or a couple of stages, in isolation.

Every stage finishes close to accommodation, even if there are only a few options nearby. Places to stay are not always abundant so it's worth planning in advance and scheduling any rest days accordingly.

If you're planning to arrive by public transport, you can catch a train to Cardiff, which has direct trains from London, Birmingham, and Manchester, among others, and has connecting services around Britain. From the station, it's a 2-mile (3 km) walk to Cardiff Bay, where the hike begins.

To get home, you can catch the T4 TrawsCymru bus service from Brecon back to Cardiff, where you can easily find trains to your desired destination. Due to Beacon's geographic position, your route home can depend a great deal on where you are going but it shouldn't be too difficult using local buses or trains.

If you're planning to arrive by car, your best bet is to negotiate with a hotel or B&B a rate to stay for a night either side of your hike in Cardiff. Alternatively, you could find long stay parking in Cardiff. To get back, you can catch the T4 TrawsCymru bus service from Brecon back to Cardiff.