The weather’s not been great around here, so I’m keeping myself busy (and out of harms way) by updating OpenStreetMap – there are lots of missing buildings here and there, and a few missing pathways and trails.

I’ve been focusing on the Ely, Caeru, and St Fagans areas in Cardiff as I’ve a particular interest in their history (see my previous posts). My aim is to add more detail to the woodland areas, especially the locations of hidden historical sites and secluded trails.

There are lots of buildings throughout that also need re-aligning, with the last edit for many being sixteen years prior! I’ll continue to chip away until everything’s up to date – given the horrid weather, I shouldn’t run short on time!

1st January 2026

Happy New Year!

I went for a walk, today, to geo locate some benches. Given my physical challenges (not to mention my tendency to over do it all the time), benches are an absolute godsend — more often than not, a four-mile stroll feels like a ten-mile slog (and today, ironically, was no exception).

I got the job done, though, and bagged both benches at 51.4751546, -3.2752249 and 51.4742791, -3.2777702. There's a really cool MapComplete theme called Benches that I use a fair bit, so I've also got some photos ready.

I'll upload everything shortly — just as soon as my back stops hurting, my legs stop wobbling, and my ankle stops threatening an early retirement.

3rd January 2026

Locating a Quarry

I've decided to find and map the quarry in Plymouth Great Wood. According to Outdoor Cardiff's guide, it should be located somewhere around 51.483825, -3.257899.

The quarry was excavated in the late 1800s (starting around the 1860s) to provide ballast and building materials for the Great Western Railway (the main London to Swansea line).

The rock from the quarry (locally known as 'Radyr Stone') is a rare Triassic breccia that's famous for its deep red colour mixed with grey (limestone) and white (sandstone) clasts.

It was during the excavations that workers found a Bronze Age hoard in the quarry which consisted of two spearheads, five axes, and part of a sword blade.

After the woodland was gifted to the city by the Earl of Plymouth, ordinance survey maps from around the 1920s referenced the quarry as 'old' (which suggests that the site had since been decommissioned).

I'm not sure when I'll be heading out as steep muddy trails and wobbly old legs don't play nice, but I hope to at least get an eyeball of the place fairly soon.

7th January 2026

Around the Houses

… See full entry

It was a beautiful day for a hike, so I set out early at 8am sharp. I headed back to Ely, trekked some of the trails in Plymouth Great Wood, cut through the park in St Fagans, passed through Western Cemetery, then over to the iron-age hillfort in Caerau. All was going to plan — until, that is, it wasn’t. While taking some snapshots at the hillfort, I fell and sprained my ankle.

I’ve no idea what happened – I was taking my time, walking along, and then I was flat on my face. I remember hearing a squeaking sound, the kind of sound a gym shoe makes on a squash court (so I either slipped on a root or a rock, or I killed something cute and fluffy).

So there I was , stuck in the middle of field with nothing to help me up. Great. And I somehow had to get back down a very steep hill. Brilliant. And then I had to get home. Jolly-well fantastic.

After, looking up at the sky for an hour, I managed to get to my feet. I couldn’t put weight on my over-turned ankle, so the trip back down took an age. With the aid of my trusty hiking pole, I finally got to a bus stop.

At least I got what I wanted to get — a clearer picture of the woodland trails and the layout of the roads in the cemetery (all in the name of improving Open Street Map). I also now have the perfect excuse for buying a new pair of trail boots.

Although the sprain is quite bad, nothing seems to be broken — the swelling is fairly minor, and I’m not in a great deal of pain. I won’t be strolling about for a while, but I’m hoping that the ‘while’ is a short one.