Including Pump Pwll, Sgwd Gwladus, Horseshoe Falls, Sgwd Ddwli Isaf, Sgwd Ddwli (and optionally Sgwd Einion Gam). Disjointed route to Cwm Pwll-y-Rhyd.
From Cardiff, take the A470 to the end of Merthyr Tydfil. From Merthyr Tydfil, take the A465 to Hirwaun, follow it over the hill, and down to the next roundabout. Take second exit to the next roundabout. Take the second exit onto the dual carriageway. Take the first exit off the road after about 4.5 miles. Turn right at the traffic lights (the start of Pontneddfechan). Take the first proper left, and follow it to the Angel pub (which does great pub food). Park in one of the small car parks. SN 9007 0766.
Just behind the pub is a gate marked "Sgwd Gwladus". Go through the gate, and follow the path all the way up (quite a way) to a bridge over the river, where another river joins from the right. Stay on the left, and continue upstream past a small cascade (Pump Pwll) to the first big waterfall (Sgwd Gwladus). Go back to the bridge, and cross it. Go up the other river, along a somewhat exposed path (take care), past some cascades, to a set of cascades with a horseshoe-shaped rim at the top (Horseshoe Falls). Continue past it to the top of another two-step waterfall (Sgwd Ddwli Isaf), and beyond that to another waterfall (Sgwd Ddwli). Continue past this to another cascade, and a picnic site with a car park at Pont Melin-fach.
Optionally, experienced river walkers may want to continue beyond Sgwd Gwladus to the next waterfall upstream. Either walk behind Sgwd Gwladus, or use the first bridge to cross over to the path running up the right bank, then take the path climbing above the right side of Sgwd Gwladus. Follow a poorly defined path by the river bank, fording the river when needed (medium-low water levels are needed - take care), to reach the base of a small cascade below the huge Sgwd Einion Gam. To get to the base of the waterfall, there is a narrow path skirting the right side of the cascade's plunge pool, requiring a small scramble. Ford the river one last time at the top of the cascade, and enjoy Sgwd Einion Gam.
Also optionally, a path continues upstream on the other side of the river at Pont Melin-fach. At the next bridge over the river, Pont Rhyd-y-cnau, a track to the right can be followed to some narrow lanes, where a variety of routes can be used to get to the start point for the Four Waterfalls walk. This provides some options for creating a lengthy looping route taking in both sets of waterfalls. If you plan on taking this route, take a map, and choose the best route for you.
In high flood, there is another cascade a long distance further upstream at Cwm Pwll-y-Rhyd, where the river disappears temporarily into a cave system. This is dry in normal conditions, as the river sinks into other caves. Walking up the river from Pont Rhyd-y-cnau is not advised, as there is no good path for a large part of the route. The easiest access point is to walk down the river from the nearby Pont Cwm Pwll-y-rhyd, near the Blaen-nedd Isaf farm, but great care must be taken due to the nature of the river. Only walkers with experience in such conditions should attempt to visit this site. This route is accessed by continuing along the road through Pontneddfechan, and taking the lane to Blaen-nedd Isaf. SN 9122 1402.
Whilst every care has been taken in the compilation of this description, neither the author nor his fellow walkers can accept responsibility for loss or injury arising from any errors, omissions or inaccuracies in this description. You follow this description at your own risk.