Merthyr Tydfil Group Travel Guide 2018
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Merthyr Tydfil Group Travel Guide Blaenau Gwent Blaenavon Bridgend Caerphilly Cardiff Merthyr Tydfil Monmouthshire www.visitsouthernwales.org Newport Rhondda Cynon Taf Vale of Glamorgan Contents 04 06 Regional Overview Attractions 08 10 12 Activities Accommodation Refreshment Stops 13 15 Explore Merthyr Tydfil Event Highlights 16 17 18 Maps & Travel Coach Parking Tour Guides Information Llys Janice Rowlands - Merthyr Tydfil Town Centre Merthyr Tydfil 3 Hello… Shwmae…. Bonjour….. Guten Tag…. Hallo… Dia duit Welcome (or Croeso as we prefer to say) to Southern Wales You may already have an idea what to expect from a trip to Southern Wales. We are split into ten distinctive areas, each with their own character and charm. The areas of Blaenau Gwent, Blaenavon, Caerphilly, Merthyr and Rhondda Cynon Taf are well known for their history and heritage, whilst Discover Merthyr Tydfil nearby Monmouthshire is more rural and famed for its fabulous food Merthyr Tydfil, one of the most For the more adventurous amongst and drink. Newport and Cardiff are historically fascinating and beautiful you, take part in some downhill thriving cities with some world class regions of Wales is ideally placed mountain biking at UK’s premier attractions whilst along Bridgend between Brecon Beacons National mountain biking destination, BikePark and the Vale of Glamorgan is a mix Park and Cardiff the Welsh capital. Wales, climbing at Rock UK Summit Centre, or kayaking at Parkwood of coastal resorts, market towns and For more information visit our website With a fifth of the County Borough Outdoors Dolygaer. fabulous countryside. www.visitsouthernwales.org lying within the Brecon Beacons National Park, Merthyr Tydfil boasts For those who want to relax and We have plenty of castles and museums or contact the tourism team: some dramatic and breathtaking absorb the more tranquil aspects of but we also have a National Park, the tel - +44 (0)1685 727492 scenery. Merthyr Tydfil, there are numerous start of the Wales Coast Path and an email - [email protected] parks for you explore such as Parc Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty. As one of the towns forming the Heads To order the brochures for the other areas Taf Bargoed and Taf Fechan Nature of Southern Wales please contact of the Valleys, Merthyr Tydfil is rich in We also have some things you may Reserve. +44 (0)845 6002639 or e-mail culture, landscape and scenery. Once not associate with us. There are the [email protected] the Iron capital of the world, Merthyr Look out for some hidden gems remains of a Roman amphitheatre and Tydfil breathes life into its history with too, including Pontygwaith Farm, a barracks, vineyards producing award attractions such as Cyfarthfa Park welcoming 4½ acre garden adjacent Rhondda Cynon Taf winning wine and a great big sculpture, Bridgend County Cardiff Blaenavon Group Travel Guide Group Travel Guide Group Travel Guide (which is home to Cyfarthfa Castle to the Taff Trail near Treharris. Blaenau Gwent Group Travel Guide soaring 20 metres into the sky and Group Travel Guide Museum & Art Gallery), Joseph Parry’s Newport Caerphilly Whatever you plan on doing, we’re Monmouthshire standing guard over the Valleys below. Group Travel Guide Group Travel Guide Vale of Glamorgan Merthyr Tydfil Group Travel Guide Group Travel Guide Cottage and Brecon Mountain Railway Blaenau Gwent Group Travel Guide Blaenau Gwent Blaenavon certain that you’re stay will be an Blaenau Gwent Blaenavon Blaenau Gwent Bridgend Blaenavon Bridgend Blaenavon Caerphilly to name but a few. Bridgend Caerphilly Bridgend Cardiff Blaenau Gwent Caerphilly Caerphilly Cardiff Each of our areas has its own guide. Merthyr Tydfil enjoyable one! Bridgend Cardiff Merthyr Tydfil Cardiff Monmouthshire Caerphilly Merthyr Tydfil Merthyr Tydfil Monmouthshire Newport Monmouthshire Monmouthshire Newport Monmouthshire Blaenau Gwent Blaenau Gwent Rhondda Cynon Taf Newport Blaenau Gwent Newport Newport Rhondda Cynon Taf So have a flick through this one and Blaenau Gwent Blaenavon Blaenavon You can’t visit us without sampling Vale of Glamorgan e4438 Cardiff Council artwork for SW RhonddaGuide v3.indd Cynon 1 Taf Rhondda Cynon Taf Rhondda Cynon Taf Vale of Glamorgan Blaenavon Blaenavon Bridgend Blaenau Gwent Bridgendwww.visitsouthernwales.orgwww.visitsouthernwales.org 18/09/2015 17:04 Vale of Glamorgan Bridgend Vale of Glamorgan Bridgend visitsouthernwales www. Caerphilly.org Caerphilly Blaenavon Caerphilly Caerphilly Cardiff Cardiff Bridgend www.visitsouthernwales.org Cardiff then take a look at the companion Cardiff Merthyr Tydfil the outdoor activities on offer here in Merthyr Tydfil Caerphilly Merthyr Tydfil Merthyr Tydfil www.visitsouthernwales.org Monmouthshire Monmouthshire Cardiff Monmouthshire Monmouthshire Newport Newport Merthyr Tydfil Newport Newport Rhondda Cynon Taf Rhondda Cynon Taf Monmouthshire brochures and before long you’ll be Rhondda Cynon Taf Rhondda Cynon Taf Merthyr Tydfil! Take a leisurely walk or Vale of Glamorgan Vale of Glamorgan Newport Vale of Glamorgan www.visitsouthernwales.org Vale of Glamorgan www.visitsouthernwales.org www.visitsouthernwales.org Rhondda Cynon Taf planning your trip to Southern Wales. www.visitsouthernwales.org Vale of Glamorgan bike ride along the famous Taff Trail. www.visitsouthernwales.org 4 www.visitsouthernwales.org Merthyr Tydfil 5 Attractions Merthyr Tydfil has many attractions in the town, and on its doorstep. Spending a weekend exploring will have you hooked and we hope you will agree that it’s worth a longer visit! Brecon Mountain Railway Cyfarthfa Park & Museum Redhouse Cymru Theatr Soar Travel in a Vintage Steam Cyfarthfa Castle Museum & Art Redhouse Cymru is an arts and In Pontmorlais, at the Northern Locomotive along the beautiful Gallery is home to a fantastic creative industries centre in the end of the High Street you’ll find scenery high in the Brecon collection of artefacts spanning Old Town Hall, a late Victorian Canolfan Soar which is the hub Beacons. Visit the steam 2000 years of Merthyr Tydfil’s Grade II* listed building in the of Welsh language activities, museum, restaurant, gift shop, history. heart of Merhyr Tydfil. The Old hosts drama productions and picnic area or go for a ramble. Town Hall was built to house concerts in both English and Trains run from February to end the Public Offices, courts and Welsh. of October and at Christmas. holding cells. tel: +44 (0)1685 722988 tel: +44 (0)1685 727371 tel: +44 (0)1685 384111 tel: +44 (0)1685 722176 email: [email protected] email: [email protected] email: [email protected] email: [email protected] web: www.breconmountainrailway.co.uk web: www.cyfarthfa.com web: redhousecymru.com web: www.theatrsoar.co.uk Joseph Parry’s Cottage Merthyr Tydfil Leisure Village Trago Merthyr Tydfil Built in the 1820s for the workers Catch the latest films in the 8 Shopping and more, at one of of the Cyfarthfa Ironworks, the screen cinema or stop off at one the largest discount retailers in cottage was the birthplace in of the larger chain restaurants the UK! 200,000 products, across 1841 of Joseph Parry, Wales’ best here including Frankie & Benny’s, 38 departments, plus a fantastic known composer. The interior of Nandos and Dragonfly (Marstons soft play area (Play-Zone@ the cottage is set in the 1840s, Tavern). Trago), restaurants, cafés and For further information and shows the living condition of more! the ironworkers during this period. about what to see and do in Merthyr Tydfil visit tel: +44 (0)1685 727371 tel: +44 (0)1685 725467 tel: +44 (0)1685 707500 email: [email protected] web: www.visitmerthyr.co.uk web: www.trago.co.uk/stores/merthyr-tydfil web: www.visitmerthyr.co.uk/attractions www.visitmerthyr.co.uk Parc Taf Bargoed Pontygwaith Farm The park has facilities for all A 4 1/2 acre garden adjacent to abilities and can be used for the Taff Trail Trail near Treharris. fishing, cycling, walking, horse Enjoy the perennial borders, rose riding and is easily accessed from garden and Japanese Garden the Taff Trail, Trevithick Trail and that surround this 17th Century Celtic Trail, which runs through Farmhouse. the site. tel: +44 (0)1685 727474 tel: +44 (0)7784 871502 email: [email protected] email: [email protected] web: www.visitmerthyr.co.uk/attractions/ web: www.ngs.org.uk/gardens/find-a-garden/ parc-taf-bargoed.aspx garden.aspx?id=19736 6 www.visitsouthernwales.org Merthyr Tydfil Parkwood Outdoors Dolygaer7 Activities No matter whether you are interested in a gentle stroll around some of our tracks and trails or whether you are keen on the more extreme activities that Merthyr Tydfil has to offer you will find something to suit you! BikePark Wales Parkwood Outdoors Dolygaer BikePark Wales is the UK’s first Parkwood Outdoors Dolygaer is full scale commercial mountain based in the Brecon Beacons, bike park. There are a variety of just a ten minute drive from tracks from Blue and Black runs the heart of Merthyr Tydfil. The to more family orientated trails. centre offers a fantastic range of The venue includes a visitor activities such as sailing, hiking and centre, cafe, bike shop and bike gorge adventures with activities rental. suitable for all ages and abilities. tel: +44 (0)7730 382501 tel: +44 (0)1685 848309 email: [email protected] email: [email protected] web: www.bikeparkwales.com web: parkwoodoutdoors.co.uk/centre/dolygaer Rock UK Summit Centre The Trails Network Following a £4M redevelopment Merthyr Tydfil has an array of project, the new centre offers trails that run the breadth and over 20 instructed adventure depth of the County Borough activities, a new café and which interlinks villages and sites outdoor play area and the of interest, including the original largest indoor climbing centre Trevithick Tunnel. in south Wales. Perfect for families of all ages. tel: +44 (0)1443 710090 tel: +44 (0)1685 727492 email: [email protected] email: [email protected] web: rockuk.org/summit web: www.visitmerthyr.co.uk 8 www.visitsouthernwales.org Merthyr Tydfil Cefn Coed Viaduct9 Accommodation Merthyr Tydfil has a range of quality accommodation to suit every taste and budget.