Rain was in the air as nine of us set off from Barry Siddings on the Pontypridd Circular , we were doing three quarters of the circle , missing out the north east segment. We crossed the Rhonnda and started climbing up onto the forested hills above Penygraigwen, the bluebells are starting to appear and the birds were in fine voice. We stopped for coffee in Coed Graig-yr-Hesg nature reserve and enjoyed the views over Pontypridd – the weather was improving all the time and the sun had appeared. We walked down to the river Taff which we followed all the way to the footbridge connecting Glyntaff to Treforest. It was time to climb again through Treforest up to Coed fforest-Uchaf were we stopped for lunch . We then walked on the hills above Graig, Maritime Industrial Estate and Maesycoed back to Barry Sidiings. Were some of us were very pleased that the café sold cold draught beer.