Janathon 6 - A, what I call, 2 LP run

Last day of my holiday today and a lazy start meaning I didn't get out running until gone 10.  Given I'm on late shifts all next week and will be looking at short early morning runs for a bit, I decided with my new found slow pace control I could go a bit further today and planned out a rough 8 mile-ish route in my head.

Dropping down the valley into Twyn again I joined the River Amman path at Amman United FC, running behind the stand and adjacent to the ground associated with Welsh Rugby legend Shane Williams.  I followed this path for a mile or two until the bridge just before Cwmaman Football Club's ground where a left turn will take you took me into Glanaman's square.  Crossing the main road here and up a path near the Community Centre brings you out on the site of Gelli Ceidrim Colliery which 100 years ago looked like this...

...but today is a wooded area with a network of paths offering stunning views of Tair Cairn and the Black Mountain (which, given I was later getting out today I was able to enjoy!) and also a sadly decaying "Trim Trail" where monkey bars, balance beams etc and a small park of equipment and instruction boards once offered residents of the area the opportunity to exercise in the fresh air but now looks largely ignored and gradually falling into ruin.   A real shame.

Anyway, from here I rejoined the main road and trudged up the hill to Gwaun-Cae-Gurwen joining a footpath alongside the railway track to Tairgwaith.  Just outside this village, famous for it's trotting track, you can get on a path that crosses the common land before emerging in Lower Brynaman.  After that it's merely a mile or so climb back up into Upper Brynaman and home.

Janathon Day 6 stats...

Distance : 8.5 miles
Time : 1:28:57
Music : Jeff Lynne's 2012 reworking album "Best Of ELO" and early 80s Queen album "The Works".  Glad I put the ELO one on... not much sign of Mr. Blue Sky otherwise!