Dare Valley Country Park

Within a mile of Aberdare, you’ll find Dare Valley Country Park, over 500 acres of walks, trails and family fun set in woodlands, pasture and moorland — which is home to an abundance of wildlife including wild birds and waterfowl.

In our visitor centre you’ll find all you need to make the most of the Park, including trail maps and information on our range of guided walks, talks and events throughout the year.

The Park boasts three waymarked trails for walkers to explore: the Bwllfa Trail is a shorter tarmacked route suitable for pushchairs and wheelchairs; the Cae Mawr Trail goes off the beaten track, uphill on countryside paths; while the Penrhiwllech Trail goes around Tarren y Bwllfa and climbs high to the plateau over rough terrain.

The Gravity Family Bike Park also resides here, where all members of the family can enjoy activities such as mountain biking and trying out the pump tracks. Don’t have a bike of your own? No worries, bikes of all sizes are available to hire on-site. All of the tracks are free to use and there’s an uplift service available for a small charge, to take you and your bike up to the top of the trail. The Bike Park also features events throughout the year including bike training courses and guided rides.

Other things to see and do include:

• The Black Rock Café — which offers a wide range of meals, snacks, ice cream, cakes, hot and cold drinks. You can eat in or take away to enjoy as you wander through the park.

• Two playgrounds — one right outside the Black Rock Café and a larger, adventure playground just a short walk from the Visitor Centre. This larger playground has been recently revamped and features a zip wire, inground trampoline, lots of climbing activities and picnic benches.

• The caravan park — which has recently been refurbished and offers electric hook ups and a brand-new shower block with accessible facilities.

• The on-site hotel — which has again been recently refurbished and offers family rooms for up to 5 people.

Proudly funded by Welsh Government as part of Valleys Regional Park, the brand-new Gravity Bike Park, pump tracks and fresh play area is a great addition to Dare Valley Country Park. With over 500 acres of Country Park at discover, there’s something for everyone. Parking is free so why not visit to bike, walk, play and explore.