Merthyr Tydfil, Wales, open daily, free admisison
Details
Accessibility:
Level roads and footpaths with off-road parking, including disability parking, dogs welcome.
For further accessibility information contact a venue directly
Brief description:
Merthyr Tydfil is situated North of Cardiff and is home to Cyfarthfa Castle and the Prince Charles Hospital
https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/cdxd52e7yr9o
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Merthyr_Tydfil
2026: "Merthyr Tydfil[a] (Welsh: Merthyr Tudful)[b] is the main town in Merthyr Tydfil County Borough, Wales, administered by Merthyr Tydfil County Borough Council. It is about 23 miles (37 km) north of Cardiff. Often called just Merthyr, it is said to be named after Tydfil, daughter of King Brychan of Brycheiniog, who according to legend was slain at Merthyr by pagans about 480 CE.[4]Merthyr generally means "martyr" in modern Welsh, but here closer to the Latin martyrium: a place of worship built over a martyr's relics. Similar place names in south Wales are Merthyr Cynog, Merthyr Dyfan and Merthyr Mawr.
Noted for its industrial past, Merthyr was known as the 'Iron Capital of the World' in the early 19th century, due to the scale of its iron production.[5][6][7] The world's first steam-powered railway journey happened in Merthyr in 1804, travelling 9 mi (14 km) from the ironworks at Penydarren to the Glamorganshire Canal on the Merthyr Tramroad.[8][9] The 1851 census found Wales to be the world's first industrialised nation, as more people were employed in industry than agriculture, with Merthyr the biggest town in Wales at that time.[10][11] The city of Donetsk in Ukraine (then in the Russian Empire), originally 'Hughesovka', was founded by John Hughes of Merthyr in 1870, when he took iron working to the area.[12] Iron production declined in Merthyr from 1860 on, though Merthyr's population continued to rise due to the emergence of coal mining in the area, peaking with around 81,000 people in 1911.[13]
The area is currently known for its industrial heritage and adventure tourism. Merthyr and the surrounding areas boast the Grade-I listed Cyfarthfa Castle, the world’s fastest seated zip line, the UK's largest mountain bike park, the largest indoor climbing wall in Wales, national cycle routes and plans for the UK's longest indoor ski slope.[14][15] "
Address:
Email:
mailto:customer.care@merthyr.gov.uk
Phone:
01685 725000
Website:
https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/c4gx7ygn73yo
https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/c9q0zwlwrl3o
https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/c62vzw30y0qo
https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/ckgvyvp1rrzo
Directions:
Follow A470 North from Cardiff, A465 East from Neath, A465 West from Abergavenny, A470 South from Brecon
OS SO 047064
Opening Times:
Open Daily
Transport:
Bus: 38/35: Mountain Hare/ Rhydybedd- Merthyr Tydfil
Closest train station is Merthyr Tydfil
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Merthyr_Tydfil#Transport
2026: "Railway
Transport for Wales (TfW) operates a regular service on the Merthyr Line from Merthyr Tydfil to Cardiff Queen Street and Cardiff Central.[84]
A new railway station will be built by 2024 as part of the South Wales Metro upgrades to the area. The provision of a new gateway railway station building at Merthyr Tydfil is a key strategic aspiration of the new emerging Town Centre Masterplan, providing a significant regeneration impact within the Borough, increasing connectivity and accessibility to the wider region.[85] New overhead lines have been installed to the Merthyr tracks, powering new tram-trains. These will reduce journey times between Merthyr Tydfil and Cardiff city centre and allow TfW to increase the frequency of services to four every hour.[86]
Buses
Merthyr Tydfil bus station is located in Swan Street, to the south of the town centre. It opened in June 2021, replacing a previous one in Castle Street. Its new location is closer to the railway station to facilitate interchange as part of the South Wales Metro network.[87]
Stagecoach South Wales operates services in the area, with routes connecting Merthyr to Aberdare, Brecon, Bridgend, Cardiff, Newport and Porthcawl.[88]"
For more travel information visit https://www.traveline.cymru or call 0800 464 00 00
Amenities:
Merthyr Tydfil has public toilets, banks, public transport, shops, eating establishments, public park, post office, hotels.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Merthyr_Tydfil#Tourism
2026 "The town lies the southern edge of the Brecon Beacons National Park and is also well-placed for visitors to the South Wales Valleys. The remains of Morlais Castle are on the northern edge of Merthyr Tydfil, the Norman castle was reportedly never completed.[82][better source needed] The Brecon Mountain Railway is a narrow-gauge tourist railway that runs up the Taf Fechan valley from Pant on the outskirts of Merthyr Tydfil, using five miles of trackbed of the abandoned Brecon & Merthyr Railway.[83]"
Travel Information
For further travel information in Wales please see: www.traveline.cymru/travel-info
Or call Traveline Cymru on 0800 464 0000
Location
Nearest Venues
72 metres*
Tesco Extra Supermarket, Merthyr Tydfil
90 metres*
105 metres*
Beacons Place Shopping Centre, Merthyr Tydfil
111 metres*
*Distances are calculated in a straight line from the current venue, please allow extra time/distance based on available paths or roads.