Valleys 100 Section 7 - Gelligaer to Deri
Section 7 of The Valleys Hundred will see the route continue into the night as it leaves Gelligaer and heads to the village of Deri.
Leaving the comfort of St. Catwg’s Village Hall in Gelligaer, the route follows a footpath that passes through the churchyard of the 13th century church. A series of field paths are followed next and they bring the route to Gelligaer Common, and the first navigational test of the 100 mile route.
Gelligaer Common has been used by man for many centuries and there is evidence of a 4000 year old megalithic tomb at Cam Bugail as well as inscribed stones that date to the Roman period. The route skirts the south east edge in order to make the crossing as easy as possible.
Due to the fact that it is recognised that this will be a tricky place to navigate after dark, the organisers will flag the route to ensure that you get across safely!
From the common, the route descends into the Bargoed Rhymney Valley. A delightful path sees the route arrive at another disused railway line, and this is followed north, passing a memorial to another pit disaster that claimed the lives of 27 men in 1909. After a mile the route arrives at checkpoint 7 at Deri Community Hall.