Geo-Trips :: Exploring Garth Wood and Lesser Garth Hill

Lesser Garth Hill

A walk from Taffs Well, Tue, 6 Apr 2021 by Gareth James

An exploration of Cardiff's not-that-well-known 'hollow mountain'.

The Little or Lesser Garth Hill lies to the south of its more well-known and popular larger brother, Garth Hill, and is covered on its tops and edges by Garth Wood.

But the interior of the hill has been removed by the huge Taffs Well Quarry, and excellent views of the quarry can be found from the quarry-edge footpath on its north-east corner, which includes a viewing platform.

Elsewhere on the hill can be found remains of iron mines, old tramways and railways.

On the map below, the grey line is the GPS track from this trip. Click the blue circles to see a photograph taken from that spot and read further information about the location. The blue lines indicate the direction of view. There is also a slideshow of this trip. ( )

↓ Scroll down here ↓

ST1282 : Track through Garth Wood by Gareth James
Track through Garth Wood
Track, a possible former quarry road, on the side of Lesser/Little Garth Hill.

ST1282 : Track through Garth Wood by Gareth James
Track through Garth Wood
Track, a possible former quarry road, on the side of Lesser/Little Garth Hill.

ST1282 : Path through Garth Wood by Gareth James
Path through Garth Wood
In the distance, on the left, can be seen the abutment of the former Walnut Tree... more

ST1282 : Remains of Walnut Tree Viaduct by Gareth James
Remains of Walnut Tree Viaduct
On the remaining brick-built viaduct abutment, looking out where iron girders once... more

ST1282 : Parapet of Walnut Tree Viaduct in Garth Wood by Gareth James
Parapet of Walnut Tree Viaduct in Garth Wood

ST1282 : Trackbed of Barry Railway in Garth Wood by Gareth James
Trackbed of Barry Railway in Garth Wood
On the trackbed of the former Barry Railway between Walnut Tree Viaduct and Walnut... more

ST1282 : Lineside building near Walnut Tree Tunnel by Gareth James
Lineside building near Walnut Tree Tunnel
Remains of a brick-built building beside the former railway trackbed, likely those... more

ST1282 : Trackbed of Barry Railway in Garth Wood by Gareth James
Trackbed of Barry Railway in Garth Wood
Looking north near site of Walnut Tree Signalbox and north of the tunnel.

ST1282 : Northern portal of Walnut Tree or Garth Tunnel by Gareth James
Northern portal of Walnut Tree or Garth Tunnel

ST1282 : Steep path connecting two levels on Little/Lesser Garth Hill by Gareth James
Steep path connecting two levels on Little/Lesser Garth Hill

ST1282 : In former quarry workings on Lesser Garth Hill by Gareth James
In former quarry workings on Lesser Garth Hill
A new drainage channel has been cut on the left, the former quarry face is on the... more

ST1282 : Path on Little/Lesser Garth Hill by Gareth James
Path on Little/Lesser Garth Hill

ST1282 : View west over Taffs Well Quarry by Gareth James
View west over Taffs Well Quarry

ST1282 : View south-west over Taffs Well Quarry by Gareth James
View south-west over Taffs Well Quarry

ST1282 : Terraces on northern face of Taffs Well Quarry by Gareth James
Terraces on northern face of Taffs Well Quarry

ST1282 : Taffs Well Quarry by Gareth James
Taffs Well Quarry
View down from the path along the quarry edge.

ST1282 : Taffs Well Quarry by Gareth James
Taffs Well Quarry
View down from the path along the quarry edge.

ST1282 : Footpath along northern edge of Taffs Well Quarry by Gareth James
Footpath along northern edge of Taffs Well Quarry

ST1282 : Viewing platform and path beside Taffs Well Quarry by Gareth James
Viewing platform and path beside Taffs Well Quarry

ST1282 : Viewing platform for Taffs Well Quarry by Gareth James
Viewing platform for Taffs Well Quarry

ST1282 : View south-east over Taffs Well Quarry by Gareth James
View south-east over Taffs Well Quarry

ST1282 : View south over Taffs Well Quarry by Gareth James
View south over Taffs Well Quarry

ST1282 : Taffs Well Quarry by Gareth James
Taffs Well Quarry
Looking down from the viewing platform.

ST1282 : Taffs Well Quarry access tunnel by Gareth James
Taffs Well Quarry access tunnel
Note the quarry access tunnel has breached the former Walnut Tree/Garth railway... more

ST1282 : Taffs Well Quarry by Gareth James
Taffs Well Quarry
View over the quarry from the viewing platform.

ST1282 : Rock crusher at Taffs Well Quarry by Gareth James
Rock crusher at Taffs Well Quarry

ST1282 : Viewing platform and path beside Taffs Well Quarry by Gareth James
Viewing platform and path beside Taffs Well Quarry

ST1282 : Footpath along northern edge of Taffs Well Quarry by Gareth James
Footpath along northern edge of Taffs Well Quarry

ST1182 : Trees in Garth Wood by Gareth James
Trees in Garth Wood

ST1182 : Mine adit on Lesser Garth Hill by Gareth James
Mine adit on Lesser Garth Hill

ST1182 : Trees in Garth Wood by Gareth James
Trees in Garth Wood

ST1182 : Gates near Ton Mawr Quarry by Gareth James
Gates near Ton Mawr Quarry

ST1182 : Entrance gates to Ton Mawr Quarry by Gareth James
Entrance gates to Ton Mawr Quarry

ST1182 : Tree-lined footpath near Ton-mawr by Gareth James
Tree-lined footpath near Ton-mawr

ST1182 : Footpath across fields near Ton-mawr by Gareth James
Footpath across fields near Ton-mawr

ST1182 : Footpath near Ton Mawr Quarry by Gareth James
Footpath near Ton Mawr Quarry

ST1182 : Height-restriction barriers on access road from Ton Mawr Quarry by Gareth James
Height-restriction barriers on access road from Ton Mawr Quarry

ST1182 : Footpath near Ton Mawr Quarry by Gareth James
Footpath near Ton Mawr Quarry

ST1281 : Southern hillside of Lesser Garth Hill by Gareth James
Southern hillside of Lesser Garth Hill

ST1281 : Derelict electricity pole in Garth Wood by Gareth James
Derelict electricity pole in Garth Wood

ST1281 : Path through Garth Wood by Gareth James
Path through Garth Wood
Approaching the abandoned electricity sub-station.

ST1281 : Derelict electricity sub-station in Garth Wood by Gareth James
Derelict electricity sub-station in Garth Wood

ST1281 : Derelict electricity sub-station in Garth Wood by Gareth James
Derelict electricity sub-station in Garth Wood

ST1281 : Derelict electricity sub-station in Garth Wood by Gareth James
Derelict electricity sub-station in Garth Wood

ST1281 : Derelict electricity sub-station in Garth Wood by Gareth James
Derelict electricity sub-station in Garth Wood

ST1281 : Trees in Garth Wood by Gareth James
Trees in Garth Wood
Looking up the southern slope of Little/Lesser Garth Hill.

ST1281 : Footbridge over the trackbed of the Barry Railway in Garth Wood by Gareth James
Footbridge over the trackbed of the Barry Railway in Garth Wood

ST1281 : Footbridge over the trackbed of the Barry Railway in Garth Wood by Gareth James
Footbridge over the trackbed of the Barry Railway in Garth Wood
The southern portal of Walnut Tree / Garth Tunnel lies beyond.

ST1281 : Southern portal of Walnut Tree or Garth Tunnel by Gareth James
Southern portal of Walnut Tree or Garth Tunnel

ST1281 : Abutment of footbridge over trackbed of the Barry Railway by Gareth James
Abutment of footbridge over trackbed of the Barry Railway

ST1181 : Grazing land south of Lesser Garth Hill by Gareth James
Grazing land south of Lesser Garth Hill

ST1181 : Footpath to Lesser Garth Hill by Gareth James
Footpath to Lesser Garth Hill

ST1181 : Footpath climbing through Garth Wood by Gareth James
Footpath climbing through Garth Wood

ST1181 : Footpath on Lesser Garth Hill by Gareth James
Footpath on Lesser Garth Hill

ST1181 : Abandoned quarry equipment by Gareth James
Abandoned quarry equipment

ST1181 : Ton Mawr Quarry, seen through the trees by Gareth James
Ton Mawr Quarry, seen through the trees

ST1181 : Path between the quarries by Gareth James
Path between the quarries
This path runs on a narrow strip of land between Ton Mawr Quarry and Taffs Well... more

ST1182 : Footpath near Ton Mawr Quarry by Gareth James
Footpath near Ton Mawr Quarry

ST1182 : Access road to Ton Mawr Quarry by Gareth James
Access road to Ton Mawr Quarry

ST1182 : Path Junction in Garth Woods by Gareth James
Path Junction in Garth Woods

ST1182 : Mine adit on Lesser Garth Hill by Gareth James
Mine adit on Lesser Garth Hill

ST1182 : Mine adit on Lesser Garth Hill by Gareth James
Mine adit on Lesser Garth Hill

ST1282 : Track through Garth Wood by Gareth James
Track through Garth Wood

ST1282 : Abandoned quarry face on Lesser Garth Hill by Gareth James
Abandoned quarry face on Lesser Garth Hill

ST1282 : View north-east from Lesser Garth Hill by Gareth James
View north-east from Lesser Garth Hill

ST1282 : Track through Garth Wood by Gareth James
Track through Garth Wood

All images © Gareth James and available under a Creative Commons licence external link.

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