The trail begins at St David’s church, the location of our first war grave. Taking the lane from the back of the church bear right to the memorial bus stop. This features two commemorative plaques and striking poppy-themed mural. From here, turn left down the lane and carry on along the footpath through the fields/trees until you reach a narrow road. Go left down this towards Miskin Manor.
Largely rebuilt in 1864, Miskin Manor played a vital role during the Second World War. In 1940 it was taken over by the Red Cross and used as a convalescent home for wounded service personnel. After the war, in 1948, it became part of the National Health Service (NHS) and continued to operate as a hospital for many years.
Go through the car park and out along the path beside the River Ely, passing Miskin Manor Cricket Club. The pavilion here was built to honour 5 club members who died in WW2. Keep on along the path and through the gully ahead right up to where the Miskin War memorial proudly stands. The memorial honours local men who lost their lives in both World Wars and those who fought but returned after the First World War.
From the memorial go down along Hensol Road go over the railway past Chapel House and Miskin Mill. Keep going on this road and just after you go under the M4 turn right onto the footpath that follows the lane going parallel to the M4.
At the top of the slope as it turns sharp left, cross into the field ahead and follow this down until the path splits. Take the half-left path down through the trees. At the bottom of the hill turn right and follow the path into the trees through a gate and over the stream.
Follow the path up the hill and exit over the stone stile, turning right onto the lane at the top. Go past some houses and Talygarn Mews and keep going until you reach the entrance to Talygarn House.
Take the road to the right for about 30m and follow the footpath left into the field. Keep on this path through the fields past the tennis courts and on towards the main road where the path joins it in the hamlet of Talygarn.
When you meet the main road go left and shortly after, take the footpath to the right up to St Anne’s Church. The current church was built in the 19th century by George Clark the ironmaster who owned Talygarn House.
The remains of older churches going back to the 13th Century can also be found here. There is a war grave in the churchyard.
Follow the narrow road from the church to the right and continue until you reach Strawberry Lane and follow it until you meet the main road and turn right. Continue along this road into Brynsadler where the stone bus shelter has 2 memorials to Brynsadler men taken from the former tabernacle Chapel in Pontyclun. The shelter also has a mural depicting Talygarn House and the former Brynsadler brewery. Carry on uphill to the junction and turn left and follow the main road down towards Pontyclun.
Soon, you’ll arrive at the Pontyclun War Memorial. The memorial, engraved with the names of the fallen in both World Wars, serves as the focal point for the community’s annual Remembrance Day services.
Continue towards the shops and businesses in Pontyclun’s centre. Turn right into Palalwyf Avenue at Giles gallery and go about 100m till you reach The Pontyclun Athletic club. This building given to the people of Pontyclun by the Clarke family was the site of a WW1 hospital bringing the Remembrance Trail to a close.
To return to Groesfaen walk back to the town shops, turn right and walk on through and over the Railway bridge. Go a further 200m to the bus stop on Llantrisant Rd. You can take a bus from here to Groesfaen.
Alternatively take a right just before the bus stop into Clun Avenue, walk to the T junction and go right along Heol Miskin through the roundabouts till you reach the main A4119. Cross and turn right towards Cardiff and then left at the Castell Mynach. Keep going till you reach Groesfaen.
