Dare Valley Country Park
Enjoy a cycle or walk around this large country park in Aberdare, Rhondda Cynon Taf. There are 500 acres of woodlands, pasture and moorland mountainside to explore on a number of different waymarked trails. There's some climbing involved but you are rewarded with some truly fabulous views of the surrounding countryside and mountains.
The Coed Morgannwg Way runs past the park so you could follow this trail if you'd like to continue your walk.
You could follow the trail west to visit Twyn y Bloedd, the Lluest Wen Reservoir and Rhigos Mountain. Here you'll find a splendid viewpoint with views over the Vale of Neath and the Cynon Valley.
Postcode
CF44 7RG - Please note: Postcode may be approximate for some rural locationsPlease click here for more information
Dare Valley Country Park Ordnance Survey Map 
- view and print off detailed OS map
Dare Valley Country Park Open Street Map 
- view and print off detailed map
Dare Valley Country Park OS Map 
- Mobile GPS OS Map with Location tracking
Dare Valley Country Park Open Street Map 
- Mobile GPS Map with Location tracking
Pubs/Cafes
There is a decent on site cafe with outdoor seating where you can enjoy refreshments after your exercise.
Dog Walking
The park is great for dog walking so you'll probably see plenty of other owners on your visit. The cafe mentioned above is also dog friendly.
Further Information and Other Local Ideas
Just to the west you will find a scenic river and two pretty lakes on the Maerdy Reservoir Walk. Near here there's also the hike to the lovely Pen Pych Waterfall.
Cycle Routes and Walking Routes Nearby
Photos
A footpath in the upper reaches of the Dare Valley Country Park, created from land that was originally occupied by a number of mines.
Lovely view over the park to the surrounding Welsh hills from one of the high points. The country park has been created on land that was once occupied by several coal pits. Today, many rare and not so rare birds regularly visit and there's an RSPB information board to help the bird watcher find out what's to see as well as regularly organised bird watching walks.
Waterfall cascade in the park. Water feeds down from the higher parts of the park to feed an artificial lake behind a weir in the river.
Lake view. The lake was created in the early 1970s as part of a land reclamation project.
Carved beaver in the park. This carving is beside a narrow track that branches off from the main road through the park.
Dismantled railway in the park. The course of a former railway is now a path running up the valley on the south bank of the river Dare.