Tarr on the Road

Following a summer of baking heat and drought, my September journey was accompanied by a smattering of rain. I started at Cardiff Bay, once the largest coal distribution port in the world but now a more serene and peaceful place, following the closure of the pits in the valleys of South Wales.

A decent buffet breakfast at the Marriott Hotel set me up for the three mile walk to Llandaff Cathedral. Following the Taff Trail I passed the magnificent Principality Stadium, a cathedral of sorts for the worship of Welsh rugby, and the SWALEC Stadium in Sophia Gardens, the international cricket venue. Unlike many inner city rivers, stretches of the Taff in Cardiff are a delight to follow.

Sun and rain were the order of the day as I headed towards Tredegar House through the rural landscape that lies between the ports on the coast and the towns stretching northwards in the fingers of The Valleys.