The Valleys of South Wales

The Valleys of South Wales are known the world over for their culture, heritage and warmth of welcome. They are a special part of Wales, with many qualities not found elsewhere - their unexpected beauty, their country parks and forests, their attractions, scenic footpaths and cycle trails and the largest castle in Wales.

Heritage and Culture - Rich in culture, history and heritage, attractions within the valleys cater for a broad range of interests.

The Rhondda Heritage Park, housed in the buildings of the former Lewis Merthyr Colliery, Trehafod, provides ex-miner tour guides, an underground experience, "Black Gold" audio visual presentation, recreated village street, gift shop, children's adventure play area and restaurant, making this an attraction not to be missed.

Incorporating the only permanent exhibition on "Chapels of Wales" in the Principality, the Pontypridd Museum also depicts the social, military, sporting and cultural history of the town and its people.

At the heart of the ancient hill town of Llantrisant the Model House Craft & Design Centre, affords an insight into many areas of craft production plus exhibitions gallery and craft shop.

Other attractions within the area include Nantgarw China Works, the historic street market at Pontypridd, Glyncornel Environmental Study Centre, the last working deep mine in Wales at Tower Colliery, near Aberdare and a wealth of renowned choirs, bands and theatrical/operatic companies.

In the eastern valley you will find the Blaenavon World Heritage Site, one of the best preserved landscapes of the early formative years of the Industrial Revolution. The miseries of the coal and iron industries are gone but not forgotten. Here, in the heart of this historic landscape you will find the best preserved 18th century ironworks in Western Europe, where during the 1860s Sidney Gilchrist Thomas developed a process for converting iron into steel, enabling world-wide use of the Bessemere Converter. Nearby is the Pontypool & Blaenavon Steam Railway - the steepest standard gauge preserved passenger-carrying line in Britain. It has the highest station in England and Wales at 1,300 feet, next to the Whistle Inn, which is famous for its collection of miners lamps. Garn Lakes with their resident duck population provides an ideal spot for picnics and walking. Big Pit - The National Mining Museum, closed as an operational pit in 1980, now offers the country's only authentic underground tour guided by ex-miners.

The surrounding countryside - part of the Brecon Beacons National Park is outstanding, with hills, mountains, valleys and vales and some spectacular views. The canal was the method of transportation of the products of the old industries into markets all over the world - the Visitor Centre at Goytre Wharf tells the story.

The Iron Capital of the World - Merthyr Tydfil - the cradle of the Industrial Revolution remembers its past at Cyfarthfa Castle Museum and Art Gallery. This grand Regency mansion was built by the all powerful Ironmaster William Crawshay and features period restoration, social history galleries and an impressive fine art collection.

The splendour of Cyfarthfa with its 160 acre public park is in sharp contrast to the charmingly simple construction of Joseph Parry's Ironworkers Cottage. Birthplace of one of Wales' best loved composers, the cottage depicts working class life in the 1840's and also contains some interesting musical memorabilia.

There are a host of other sites of interest including Ynysfach Furnaces and Blast Engine House, Trevithick's Tunnel and Memorial, Lucy Thomas Memorial Fountain, Dowlais Stables and Engine House.

Merthyr Tydfil also has South East Wales' only great Little Train, the narrow-gauge Brecon Mountain Railway. While for the adventurous, Europe's largest indoor climbing centre at Taff Bargoed must not be missed. You'll also discover many unexpected delights in the Valleys, for example Drenewydd Museum and the Big Pit Mining Museum.

Britain's best-kept secret, Caerphilly Castle - Caerphilly is home to one of Britain's best-kept secrets, Caerphilly Castle, a truly massive medieval castle which experts rank amongst Europe's finest. Begun in 1268, the Castle covers a huge 30 acre site with its ingenious fortifications and massive water defences.

Restored after centuries of neglect, the castle has two claims to fame: the ghost of the Green Lady and the castle's famous leaning tower which now outleans the tower at Pisa!

Caerphilly town plays host to a summer festival each year, the "Big Cheese" offering a variety of entertainment to visitors. The town also has a new Visitor Centre located on the site of the former cheese market where, at the turn of the century, up to 21/2 tons of Caerphilly Cheese was sold at the weekly cheese market.