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Nant Brynglas (4km, 2.5 Miles)
A 2 hour walk through attractive countryside within easy reach of Bridgend and Pencoed with the 12th century Coity Castle which was once an important seat of Norman influence in Southern Wales. Coity Castle was besieged in 1404 by Owain Glyndwr – who is regarded as the greatest of all Welshmen.
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Going is easy but may be wet in places.
Starting Point - Coychurch or Coity
For convenience the directions are written with Coychurch as a starting point, but you could well start from Coity.
Coychurch
Perhaps best known for the Rev. Thomas Richards who was responsible for compiling a Welsh to English dictionary first published in 1753.
Cross the main road through the village and walk up Heol y Capel to the left of the White Horse up to the railway line.
At this point you will have to cross the railway line, but please note that this is the London to Swansea main line with high speed Inter City trains passing frequently. PLEASE TAKE EXTRA SPECIAL CARE WHEN CROSSING HERE.
Follow the lane from the railway. Here you have a choice.
1) If you want to get to Pencoed (3kms, 2 miles) take the next footpath on the right.
2) For the circular walk, continue to the road junction at Shelf, then turn left down the hill and take the public footpath on the right just before the stream.
Keep the stream on your left and you will be on the right path. Don't be misled by sheep tracks!
Continue through the kissing gate, keeping the stream on your left. Pause at the metal bridge.
Here you have another choice
1) To get to Brackla (1km, ½ mile) cross the bridge and follow the path through the woods.
2) To continue with the circular walk, ignore the bridge and follow the path alongside the stream.
The fields here often contain sheep or other stock, so if you have a dog with you, please keep it on a leash and under control.
Follow the waymarked route over three stiles and through 2 kissing gates. Head for the Electricity pole in the next field. Go through two more kissing gates then turn right, keeping to the right hand hedge. You now have three stiles to cross after which you should find yourself on a farm track - well done!
You now have yet another choice
1) To visit Coity, with its castle, turn left along the track and keep turning left at successive junctions until you reach the village. You'll also find a shop and an Inn here.
2) To continue with the circular walk, cross the stile on the other side of the track.
Follow the waymarked path from the farm track through two more kissing gates and into a field. Head downhill towards the farm gate in the bottom corner.
This is the first of three gates you will go through before you reach the road, but bear in mind that there are farming activities going on so please leave the gates open or closed as you find them.
Go through the gate and turn right, then uphill keeping the hedge on your right. When you reach the road, turn right and continue past the entrance to the Coed y Mwstwr Hotel and golf course to Shelf to return to Coychurch.
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