| Other attractions in the area |
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There are so many attractions within easy driving distance of Dare Valley Country Park its difficult to know where to start. Cyfartha Castle - home of one of the most notorious iron masters of the industrial revolution? Beautiful Bedwellty? Ghostly Llancaiach Fawr? There is plenty of choice in store... Cyfartha CastleSet in 160 acres of parkland, this grand mansion dominates Merthyr Tydfil. Cyfartha Castle is home to a museum and art gallery which houses an extensive collection of fine art including Nantgarw, Wedgewood and Swansea porcelain. The museum tells the story of the industrial revolution and its focus in Merthyr, the Merthyr Riots and Dic Penderyn as well as Trevithick's Locomotive - the first locomotive to pull a load along rails.For more information about Cyfartha Castle click on to the Visit Merthyr website click here. Bedwellty House and ParkBedwellty House and Park is a fine example of an ironmaster's residence set within a 26 acre Victorian garden and park.Explore this fine example of an ironmaster's residence built in 1818, surrounded by a 26 acre Victorian garden and park. A Grade II listed building, home of the Homfray family the co-founders of the Tredegar Ironworks. Bedwellty House and Park is the finest example of an Ironmaster's residence in Gwent. For more information about Bedwellty House and Park visit their website click here. Blaenavon World Heritage SiteThe Blaenavon World Heritage Site was declared a World Heritage Site by UNESCO in 2000. The town hosts several interesting places to visit including the Blaenavon World Heritage Visitor Centre, Cordell Museum, Blaenavon Ironworks, Pontypool & Blaenavon Railway and Big Pit National Coal Museum. To explore the Blaenavon World Heritage Site further, click on the link to its website click here. Taff TrailThe Taff Trail links part of the historic transport network between Cardiff, Merthyr and Brecon on a continuous 55 mile / 93 km waymarked route. The route is primarily off road using canal paths and old railway lines and passes through a range of beautiful scenery and important heritage landscapes.Download a Taff Trail guide from the Sustrans website click here. Caerphilly CastleOne of the greatest medieval castles in western Europe, Caerphilly Castle was the first truly concentric castle in Britain. Building on the castle begain in 1268 at the behest of Gilbert de Clare and its rings of stone, moat system and famous 'leaning tower' are still impressive today.For more information about Caerphilly Castle visit their website click here. Llancaiach FawrLlancaiach Fawr Manor is a unique living history museum set in the rural south Wales valleys. The manor was built in 1530 and extended in 1628 under the ownership of the Pritchard Family. When Civil War broke out in 1642 the royalist Colonel Pritchard played host to King Charles I. The Manor House is restored and refurbished to represent that time. Llancaiach Fawr is also reputed to be haunted and regular tours and ghost watches are arranged. Visit the Llancaiach Fawr website click here if you dare! The Winding HouseThe Winding House in New Tredegar is a newly opened museum in the Rhymney valley. It tells the story of the Caerphilly area up to the present day including the history of the Celts, Romans, local Castles and the industrial revolution.Visit the Winding House website click here Parc Bryn BachParc Bryn Bach is set in 340 acres of mixed grass and woodland and has a 36-acre lake as its focal point. The park offers cycling, picnic and barbeque areas as well as several adventure activities.For more information about Parc Bryn Bach click here. |
