Centuries-old churches, remains of a Norman castle, tangible reminders of history-making events and industrial and engineering firsts - and nature in all its glory, preserved and enhanced for today’s visitor… Merthyr Tydfil has an almost infinite number of places of interest.
Morlais Castle Aerial Image Credit: Paul R Davies www.ecastles.co.uk
Pontsticill Reservoir
The beautiful Pontsticill Reservoir, originally Taff Fechan Reservoir, was opened in 1927 to supply water to much of the South Wales Valleys.
Learn More
Cyfarthfa Iron and Steelworks
The Cyfarthfa Works were, for a generation at the beginning of the 19th century, the largest ironwork in the world and the source of great wealth to its owners, the Crawshays.
Learn More
Cyfarthfa Leat and Tramroad
Built in the 1790's to carry water from a weir across the Afon Taf to Cyfarthfa Ironworks.
Learn More
Cefn Viaduct
The viaduct is the third largest in Wales and is now a Grade II listed building.
Learn More
Pontsarn Viaduct
The Pontsarn Viaduct was built in the 1860’s to carry the Brecon and Merthyr Railway over the river was designed and built by Savin and Ward and their engineer Alexander Sunderland (as was the Cefn vi...
Learn More
Trevithick Tunnel
On the 21st February 1804, Merthyr witnessed the first ever steam locomotive journey on rails. Richard Trevithick’s ‘Pendydarren Locomotive’ travelled down through Pentrebach and on to Abercynon...
Learn More
Pont-Y-Cafnau Bridge
South Wales played an important part in the development of structural cast-iron. Here in Cyfarthfa one such cast-iron structure is significant, not only for its innovative design and that it carried b...
Learn More
Pontygwaith Bridge
This Grade II listed hump back bridge over the River Taff has links as far back as the 1540’s.
Learn More
Natural Reserves
Taf Fechan SSSI The nature reserve is a 2.5km stretch of dramatic wooded limestone gorge cut by the River Taf Fechan, between the bridges of Pontsarn and Cefn Coed to the North of Merthyr Tydfil.
Learn More
Parks & Playgrounds
Merthyr Tydfil County Borough Council is custodian to 619 hectares of publicly owned open space. We believe it is important to look after, protect, and develop our parks and public open spaces ranging...
Learn More
Morlais Castle
Overlooking Trefechan are the remains of Morlais Castle. It was originally built around 1270 by the Earl of Gloucester and Lord of Glamorgan, Gilbert de Clare, on land claimed by Humphrey de Bohun - T...
Learn More
St Gwynno’s & Old Vaynor Church
Travel to the remote hillside near Pontsticill to St Gwynno's Church (better known as Vaynor Church), and you’ll find the grave of Merthyr Tydfil ironmaster Robert Thompson Crawshay, who had the origi...
Learn More
Gelligaer & Merthyr Common
Despite at first glance appearing deserted there is more to Gelligaer than meets the eye – its complex history of fact and legend has left interesting Roman and Medieval remains.
Learn More
Dolygaer
Located in the south of the Brecon Beacons, this stunning landscape amongst the rolling hills frames both Pen-twyn (Dol-y-gaer) and Taf Fechan (Pontsticill) Reservoirs.
Learn More
Penywern Ponds
Penywern, built in 1839, was initially the main barracks for soldiers stationed to keep the peace in Merthyr Tydfil after the 1831 Merthyr Rising. It was owned by the Dowlais Iron Company which used t...
Learn More
Quakers Yard Viaduct
This viaduct, near Treharris, to the southeast of Quakers Yard Station, runs over the River Taff. Constructed as part of Isambard Kingdom Brunel’s single-track Taff Vale Railway it connected Merthyr T...
Learn More
Pandy Farm, Williamstown Cottages and Toll Houses
Immediately opposite the entrance gates to Cyfarthfa Castle, the farm was built in 1816 and then the clock tower was added in 1856. The original clock had three faces with one facing Cyfarthfa Ironwor...
Learn More
Llys Janice Rowlands Square, St Tydfil's Parish Church and Lucy Thomas Fountain
The lower end of Merthyr Tydfil High Street at Gilar Street was redeveloped in 2013 as an events space framing both St Tydfil’s Church and the Robert and Lucy Thomas Memorial Fountain.
Learn More
Giant's Bite
High above the A470 to the north of Quaker’s Yard, the Giant’s Bite is a dramatic gap in the skyline quarried from the ridge top at the former Cefn Glas mine and quarry.
Learn More
Rhydycar Skew Bridge
The Vale of Neath Railway was begun in 1847 to link Merthyr Tydfil with the ports of Neath and Swansea and was completed to Merthyr in 1853.
Learn More
Pontmorlais - The Heritage Quarter
The Heritage Quarter was once the town’s bustling focal point. “Pontmorlais has a rich built heritage which bears testimony to the town’s past industrial wealth. Created between the mid-1...
Learn More
The Blue Pool
The Taf Fechan Nature Reserve Circular walk is just one of a series of trails running right through the county borough that encapsulates the area's history complemented by miles and miles of natu...
Learn More
Garwnant Visitor Centre
Situated just off the A470, five miles north of Merthyr Tydfil, Garwnant Visitor Centre sits in the heart of the beautiful Fforest Fawr and is the starting point for walking trails, mountain biking ro...
Learn More
Rhydycar Houses @ St Fagans: National History Museum
The Rhydycar Houses in Merthyr Tydfil stand as enduring witnesses to the transformative period of the Industrial Revolution. As the neighbouring areas of Rhydycar and Caedraw experienced unprecedented...
Learn More
Morlais Castle
Overlooking Trefechan are the remains of Morlais Castle. It was originally built around 1270 by the Earl of Gloucester and Lord of Glamorgan, Gilbert de Clare, on land claimed by Humphrey de Bohun - T...
Learn More
St Gwynno’s & Old Vaynor Church
Travel to the remote hillside near Pontsticill to St Gwynno's Church (better known as Vaynor Church), and you’ll find the grave of Merthyr Tydfil ironmaster Robert Thompson Crawshay, who had the origi...
Learn More
Gelligaer & Merthyr Common
Despite at first glance appearing deserted there is more to Gelligaer than meets the eye – its complex history of fact and legend has left interesting Roman and Medieval remains.
Learn More
Dolygaer
Located in the south of the Brecon Beacons, this stunning landscape amongst the rolling hills frames both Pen-twyn (Dol-y-gaer) and Taf Fechan (Pontsticill) Reservoirs.
Learn More
Penywern Ponds
Penywern, built in 1839, was initially the main barracks for soldiers stationed to keep the peace in Merthyr Tydfil after the 1831 Merthyr Rising. It was owned by the Dowlais Iron Company which used t...
Learn More
Quakers Yard Viaduct
This viaduct, near Treharris, to the southeast of Quakers Yard Station, runs over the River Taff. Constructed as part of Isambard Kingdom Brunel’s single-track Taff Vale Railway it connected Merthyr T...
Learn More
Pandy Farm, Williamstown Cottages and Toll Houses
Immediately opposite the entrance gates to Cyfarthfa Castle, the farm was built in 1816 and then the clock tower was added in 1856. The original clock had three faces with one facing Cyfarthfa Ironwor...
Learn More
Llys Janice Rowlands Square, St Tydfil's Parish Church and Lucy Thomas Fountain
The lower end of Merthyr Tydfil High Street at Gilar Street was redeveloped in 2013 as an events space framing both St Tydfil’s Church and the Robert and Lucy Thomas Memorial Fountain.
Learn More
Giant's Bite
High above the A470 to the north of Quaker’s Yard, the Giant’s Bite is a dramatic gap in the skyline quarried from the ridge top at the former Cefn Glas mine and quarry.
Learn More
Rhydycar Skew Bridge
The Vale of Neath Railway was begun in 1847 to link Merthyr Tydfil with the ports of Neath and Swansea and was completed to Merthyr in 1853.
Learn More