Once the industrial heartland of south Wales, now Merthyr Tydfil and Rhondda Cynon Taff have plenty to offer visitors as KathrynWilliams finds out
Why would anyone want to spend 48 hours in Merthyr Tydfil and RCT, one might ask?
Apart from stunning scenery, there’s activities aplenty, great places to stay and food to suit even fussy and fancy eaters.
Our industrial heritage created the Valleys we see today and in many areas the drive to make them the best places they could possibly be chugs on. Where are they? Located within an hour’s drive of Cardiff, the Merthyr Tydfil and Rhondda Cynon Taf boroughs are bookended by the Afan and Neath valleys to the west and Gwent valleys to the east. North of both these areas are the Brecon Beacons. How do I get there? For freedom of movement around the Valleys, a car is your best bet, but all are easily accessible by public transport.
For the Rhondda there are the Stagecoach buses 132, which takes you all the way to Maerdy, while to get to Treorchy and Treherbert you have to catch a T4 to Pontypridd, where you change and jump on a 120 or 130.
Buses travel directly to Merthyr Tydfil and they are numbers T4 and X4. Also use these services to get to Pontypridd and for Aberdare jump on the 60 or 60A services. For more details on the service visit www.stagecoachbus.com
Trains are a little more straightforward, Arriva Trains Wales runs direct services to Treherbert, Aberdare and Merthyr Tydfil. For their timetables visit www.arrivatrainswales.co.uk Where to stay From whole terraced houses to studio apartments and country houses, this part of the Valleys offers cool, quirky and comfortable places to stay.
Visit Air BnB to snap up bargains ranging from a mid-terrace property in Ty Newydd Country House Blaencwm, Rhondda under walking destination Penpych or self-contained lets in Merthyr with their own kitchen area and bathrooms.
A little way up the A470 is the hotel and spa Nant Ddu Hotel while Arfryn House overlooks the stunning Llwyn Onn reservoir.
Over in Hirwaun the Ty Newydd Country Hotel brings a bit of Georgian glamour while if you’re planning on staying in the Rhondda or Pontypridd end then the Heritage Park Hotel or Llechwen Hall will have you covered for the luxury side of things.
And for basic hotels, where you’re just going to get your head down and get up and at ’em, both Merthyr and Aberdare have a Premier Inn, and there’s also a Travelodge in Merthyr too. If you thought McDonalds and KFC were your only dining options in the valleys you’d be wrong. We love our good grub too. And from the tons of cafes where you can grab a cuppa and decent brekkie, to the pubs and restaurants for a Jol’s duck filling evening meal we’ve had to whittle it down to a few tasty choices.
For high end dining with a Merthyr flair, pop along to Jol’s for excellent steaks, Sunday lunches and dishes like confit of duck and roast partridge.
The award-winning Bunch of Grapes is just on the cusp of Pontypridd and will definitely impress with its fresh and locally sourced produce which influences the menu daily, and a straightforward bar menu sits alongside the more artisan daily specials. For a more relaxed approach to dining try The Prince’s Cafe in Pontypridd town centre.
If pizza is more your style then Woodfired is the place to go, while over in Rhondda, High Street Social serves up perfect brunch fodder like smashed avocado and eggs benedict as well as Afternoon tea at Brynffynon an ever rotating weekend menu and specials.
For proper pub-grub around Aberdare there’s The Red Lion in Penderyn and in Rhondda The Greenfield does a nice line in home made mains and curries and has a beer garden for those summer evenings and weekends.
For a true, middle of nowhere Valleys pub, head to the Brynffynon in Llanwonno where they offer a full