This is my second cache on the historic path. The first became vandalised a number of times and so it's been archived. Please take care of muggles for this reason! This cache is nearer the south end of the path, ie further away from McArthur-Glen!
The Black Path is a remnant of an early 19th century horse drawn tram road that was built to carry coal and iron ore from the Maesteg area to Bridgend. It is a footpath running from Wildmill northwards to an unnamed road connecting Tyn-y-Garn with the McArthur-Glen shopping precinct.
The path is accessible by car from either end, with room for a couple of cars at the north end and street parking at the south end in Wildmill.
The Black Path runs, for about half a mile, between National Cycle Route 885 (a field away) and the Bridgend to Maesteg railway line. It is a more interesting bike ride than the sterile tarmac alternative. I have marked the site as 'stroller' accessible, this is only true from the south access from Wildmill as there are a few muddy patches on the northern access.
The cache is accessible from the path and near to a burnt, fallen tree. A bit of scrambling required.
GPS may be a problem due to tree cover. It's very close to an entrance path from the adjoining football field.
Further along the path to the North is what is allegedly the site of an old blast furnace. Today all that remains is some stone/brickwork with a tree growing out of it and some of the base or bosch. This would have been a more worthy cache location but suffers from a lot of ‘attention’ from local youths as evidenced by the left overs of ‘barbecues’.
As further historical snippets, there is a plaque that commemorates the terminus of the tram road on a wall opposite the bus station in Bridgend town and the stone bridge over the River Ogmore which is now sheltered by the M4 viaduct was built to carry the dramroad.