Feel Rested Other Trails in Merthyr Tydfil Aberfan Community Centre Merthyr has plenty of other trails on offer, Located in the centre of the village. so why not try one of these? The Open: 8am-8pm Mon - Fri and 9am – 4pm Sat & Sun. P Key Taff Trail (Route 8) Taff Trail Merthyr Tydfil Leisure Centre Trevithick Trail Located in Merthyr’s Leisure Village, just (Route 477) Merthyr Tydfil a short walk from the town centre. Celtic Trail (Route 4) Open: 8am-8pm Mon - Fri and 9am – 4pm Sat & Sun. Heads of the Valley Trail (Route 46) Steam Train Merthyr Town Centre St Tydfil’s Shopping centre provides a modern semi-covered pedestrian area with a diverse range of places to eat and drink. Various opening times. P Cyfarthfa Retail Park Various retail outlets including eateries. Open 9am – 8pm Mon – Sat, 11am -4pm Sun. MERTHYR TYDFIL M4 Cefn Coed Village A small car park is found on the High Street. Just look for the Church spire as it’s next door to it. The village has places to eat and drink. Looking for more? Open at various times. P visitmerthyr.co.uk Parkwood Outdoors Dolygaer Café For further information contact us at: A great stop at a stunning location for anyone visiting the National Park. You can also pick up needed repair tubes for your bikes. Email: [email protected] Open 9.30 – 5.30. Phone: 01685 725000 Merthyr Section 14 miles P Mail: VisitMerthyr, MerthyrTydfilCounty Borough Council, Tourism Dept. Largely TRAFFIC FREE There’s ample parking throughout the Borough with designated Civic Centre, Castle Street, National Cycle Route 8 car parks. Owners park at their one risk. Merthyr Tydfil CF47 8AN Suitable for: Parc Taf Cyfarthfa Castle, Feel Exhilarated Bargoed Park & Museum A green flag status park with Set in 160 acres of 140-hectares of exquisite natural Grade II* registered Introduction beauty and wildlife haven. There’s 3.6 parklands Cyfarthfa Park The 55-mile (88km) Taff Trail (National Cycle Network Route 8 hectares of pristine lakes filtered overlooks the town of & 46) is a multi-purpose route for walkers, cyclists and horse through one of Europe’s largest Merthyr Tydfil and the riders. It runs between Cardiff (Wales’s Capital City) in the reedbeds. Parc Taf Bargoed boasts a range of activities for all historic site of the south, to the pretty market town of Brecon in the north. abilities such as, Fishing, Walking, Cycling, Horse-Riding, Canoeing, Cyfarthfa Ironworks. The route runs right through Merthyr Tydfil, once the iron Kayaking and Skateboarding with a Park Warden on site for tips The Park provides a beautiful capital of the world. Using the former tramways, railways, canals on wildlife exploration. backdrop to the Grade I listed and towpaths you can enjoy all that Merthyr has to offer with Cyfarthfa Castle, former home large sections being designated traffic free. Bike Park Wales to the illustrious Crawshay Travelling north through Merthyr Town takes you across family, and is recognised as being the best example of the spectacular Grade II listed Cefn Coed Viaduct. You’ll pass BikePark Wales is home to the a 19th century Ironmaster’s residence to have survived in through woodlands and nature reserves crossing the historic UK’s greatest and most diverse South Wales. Visitors can find hidden gems in the museum, Pontsarn Viaduct as you climb gently to Pontsticill Reservoir and selection of all-weather relax in the sensory gardens, walk the woodland trails, visit the onwards to Brecon. mountain bike trails. It was ponds and Ice house or ride the miniature railway. built by riders for riders and The Taff Trail is just one of a series of trails running right rivals the best in the world. through the county borough. So if you want to take time to stop at one of our amazing adventure attractions, learn about our Set in wooded terrain on the side Parkwood Dolygaer history, shop, eat, sleep or just take a moment to savour the of the valley overlooking Merthyr Parkwood Outdoors breath-taking scenery. Merthyr has it all. Tydfil, it’s a ski resort without the Dolygaer is a multi- snow, the pistes swapped for a broad mix of natural trails, activity centre set in the ribbons and jumps that descend the mountain. For beginner stunning scenery of Rock UK – Summit Centre mountain bikers through to seasoned downhill pros, Pontsticill Reservoir. One of the largest indoor It boasts a range of climbing facilities in South Brecon Mountain Railway activities with all Wales with over 120 indoor necessary equipment provided. climbing routes, 18-metre Weave through dramatic There’s SUP Boarding, Kayaking, high walls and an scenery to Pontsticill, Canoeing Sailing, Gorge Walking, impressive 8m overhang. where the train stops to Hiking, Climbing, Caving, Archery take in the stunning There’s also over 20 and the brand new Zip wire on offer. With a variety of panoramic views cross the instructed activities to explore so why not challenge yourself in accommodation options available it makes for a fun Taf Fechan Reservior, Before the man-made caving system or navigating the Aerial Adventure packed stay in the wilds of Wales. climbing to Torpantau pass course. Try Archery, Kayaking or learn new Bushcraft skills. high in the Brecon Beacons and Nestling in the stunning Taf Bargoed valley, the centre is set amongst the summit of the original line. woodland, lakes and hills, and with weekend and holiday activities it’s Enjoy one of The Great Little the perfect location for a short break in the Welsh countryside. Trains of Wales. The Taff Trail A multi-purpose route for walkers, cyclists and horse riders. Brecon and Mid/North 15 At Ffynnon Dwyn - Leave the 51.785772, -3.362937 Wales Trail via the red barriers at 8 Ffynnon Dwyn. Turn left on the 51.741099, -3.377600 Bridge behind the bowling Torpantau road, bearing right under the bridge. Continue to a fork, centre in Merthyr Tydfil - The take the right then left when trail passes under the road “It’s Wellbeing reaching the Reservoir and bridge and continues uphill over onwards towards Pontsticill. a small hump bridge heading A on wheels” 4 Turn right at the T-junction towards Merthyr College. 7 0 following the Trail signs towards Brecon. P Parkwood 14 7 Llwyn-on Dolygaer 51.762901, -3.403837 Top of the hill behind Vue 51.6599868,-3.3090099 Reservoir cinema in Merthyr Tydfil Brecon Beacons Pontsticill - The trail continues behind Reservoir Merthyr leisure village, National Park passing behind the leisure centre and bowls club. Up the narrow path at St John’s.- At the 6 TIP: Take nothing! church you access the Taff Trail via a N narrow, steep path on the left. The trail 51.7276193,-3.3712182 A Leave nothing! H C continues 5k until you reach Pontsticill. E F Vaynor F A T15 13 51.762098, -3.405003 Crossing in Cefn Coed, opposite Cefn Coed Brecon the car park - You are now facing the car park in Cefn high A46 Taf Fechan Nature Mountain 14 5 Railway Swansea and P 13 Reserve SSSI street. Cross over the road, go Road crossing in Abercanaid - The trail ahead then bear left up the hill continues straight ahead over the road, West Wales Cyfarthfa Castle, towards the church passing Continue on to Merthyr Tydfil. Park & Museum Cefn community centre. Cyfarthfa Retail Park 5 12 51°40’59.5”N 3°20’32.7”W 12 A 11 4102 51.750462, -3.388126 Merthyr Tydfil 0 A406 Town Centre St Tydfils Shopping Centre P 10 Merthyr Tydfil 9 Birmingham Merthyr Tydfil Leisure Centre 8 and Midlands 7 Junction after the A470 tunnel in Aberfan The trail Crossing outside the Church of the Latter Day travels through a tunnel under the dual carriageway Saints at Cyfarthfa - At the main road cross- TIP: Be courteous and continues downhill. Once through the red bike gate Bike ParkWales junction, cross at the lights and continue straight take a left. The trail flattens out and travels 6 of other users ahead uphill. Take the first right, the path leads straight ahead through Aberfan then Troedyrhiw and Pentrebach down to the old Blast furnaces, the trail then onto Abercanaid. travels uphill crossing over Cefn Viaduct. A 4 11 0 4 5 51.750238, -3.386430 4 Crossing by Red Spice restaurant 51.6692492,-3.3326042 Right hand turn after the steps - Cross the main road using the Once clear of the steps, turn traffic lights. Turn left after the T Troed-y-rhiw A lights passing by ‘Joseph Parry’s F right, the trail follows the dual F carriageway up the valley cottage’. Continue to the main road towards Aberfan. cross-junction. 10 3 Junction on TT towards Pontygwaith Aberfan 51.6704672,-3.3298851 51.746786, -3.382005 farm - Continue on the gravel trail, Aberfan A Bedlinog Community 4 7 alongside the railway line, reaching a 0 Centre P fork, take the left following the Trail Merthyr Vale signs. Go down the hill, which is also a 5 road, and over a steep hump bridge. The trail turns into steps that passes through the dual carriage tunnel. Rock UK Crossing by the fire station in Merthyr Tydfil - Summit Centre - Cross over the road at the traffic lights. 2 1 Follow the trail signs straight ahead following 51.648039, -3.316034 3 F 51.6599868,-3.3090099 4 A T the river, now on your left, until you meet a D O G road crossing. R A Treharris B Parc Taf 9 Quakers Bargoed 51.744968, -3.382207 Crossing outside the college Yard in Merthyr Tydfil - Cross over 2 at the traffic lights, and then A follow the trail alongside the Abercynon to Quakers yard Crossing the road in Quakers yard - The 4 7 river on your right towards trail continues through Quakers yard As the Taff Trail leaves Abercynon, 2 the fire station, passing over passing over the road continuing ahead the road follows the river up towards 1 the river bridge.