Moel Penderyn

At 371m, Moel Penderyn is less a mountain and more a prominent limestone bump guarding the entrance to the Cynon Valley. It is the perfect spot for hikers who like their summits with a side of industrial heritage and perhaps a celebratory single malt from the distillery below.

• •The name translates literally to 'Bird's Head', which is quite apt given the soaring views over the Vale of Neath and the village below. Its limestone bedrock is part of a significant Carboniferous belt that has historically attracted heavy quarrying and geological interest.
• •This fell marks the strategic southern boundary of the Brecon Beacons National Park. It historically served as a vital landmark for travelers transitioning from the industrialised coal valleys into the high, rugged wilderness of the Fforest Fawr.
• •The village at its base is home to the world-renowned Penderyn Distillery, the first to produce whisky in Wales for over a century. It is arguably the only fell where the promise of a golden dram is more motivating than the actual summit cairn.
• •From the top, the contrast is startling: look one way for the vast Hirwaun industrial landscape and the other for the pristine peaks of the central Beacons. It is a perfect spot for contemplating the contrast between South Wales' industrial muscle and its natural beauty.
• •The climb is brief enough that you might consider it a 'stroll', until the southern winds attempt to redistribute your hat across the Rhondda. If you find yourself being judged by a local sheep, just remember they have four-wheel drive and significantly fewer regrets about their life choices.