Rhondda Cynon Taf
RHONDDA CYNON TAF (RCT) sits just north-west of Cardiff, where three famous south Wales valleys meet. Once the coal-mining powerhouse of Britain, it’s now a green, welcoming county borough where mountain skylines, riverside trails and proud industrial heritage shape memorable days out. Expect friendly towns like Pontypridd, Aberdare and Treorchy, striking ‘tabletop’ hills, and a calendar of community events that make visitors feel like locals.
For a vivid dive into the past, begin at A Welsh Coal Mining Experience at Rhondda Heritage Park in Trehafod. Guided by former miners, you’ll ride the DRAM! and head underground to hear first-hand stories of life at the coalface – a powerful, award-winning tour that brings the Rhondda’s history to life.
A different kind of minting marvel lies to the south-east at The Royal Mint Experience in Llantrisant. Go behind the scenes of over 1,100 years of coin-making, explore interactive exhibitions and even strike your own coin on select tours – an engaging stop for families and history fans alike.
RCT also does adrenaline in style. Zip World Tower has transformed the old Tower Colliery above Hirwaun into one of the UK’s standout adventure hubs. Fly the Phoenix, billed as the world’s fastest seated zip line, add Europe’s only two-seater Tower Coaster, or tackle the towering aerial course – all with sweeping views across the Rhigos.
Prefer to power yourself? Head to Dare Valley Country Park on Aberdare’s edge, where the Gravity Family Bike Park serves up graded trails, pump tracks and an uplift service – ideal for beginners through to confident riders. Waymarked walks, lakes and a café round out an easy full day.
Pontypridd is the borough’s lively hub. In Ynysangharad War Memorial Park you’ll find acres of lawns, riverside paths and the National Lido of Wales (Lido Ponty) – a beautifully restored, Grade II-listed outdoor pool complex with three heated pools and plenty for families. It’s a summer magnet and a piece of living heritage.
Walkers and cyclists love the Taff Trail, the 55-mile route between Cardiff Bay and Brecon that threads right through Pontypridd. Use it for scenic half-day sections or as a gentle way to link cafés, parks and viewpoints across the valleys.
For big valley vistas, try the Bwlch Mountain Walk from Treorchy – one of south Wales’s classic viewpoints – or head to the cirque lakes of Llyn Fawr and Llyn Fach beneath Craig-y-Llyn. Llyn Fawr is famous for a remarkable Bronze-to-Iron Age hoard that even lends its name to a prehistoric period; today the area is prized for wild, wide-angle views.
Taste-wise, RCT punches above its weight. Penderyn Distillery – Wales’s trailblazing whisky maker – offers tours and tastings at its original distillery in the village of Penderyn on the edge of the national park. It’s a flavour-rich way to end a day of walking or zip-lining.
Two bonus gems: Nantgarw China Works Museum, celebrating some of the world’s finest early 19th Century porcelain with tours and workshops; and Barry Sidings Countryside Park near Trehafod, a family-friendly green space with a bike pump track, lakes, playground and easy trails.
Compact yet varied, RCT makes an easy base for exploring south Wales – close to Cardiff’s culture but with its own mix of heritage, high-energy adventures and valley hospitality. Come for the stories; stay for the scenery, the smiles and a dram (or two) of Penderyn.
