All walks › Caerphilly and the Eastern Valleys
Caerphilly and the Eastern ValleysThe Darran Valley Trail
A level route on the old railway from Bargoed up the Darran valley to the country park, entirely traffic-free.
- Distance
- 5.0 mi / 8 km
- Time
- 2 hr 40
- Ascent
- 180 m
- Difficulty
- Moderate
- Shape
- There and back
Where it is
The circle shows the general area, not the exact start. Use the directions link below to get to the car park itself. Contours and paths shown are OpenTopoMap, drawn from OpenStreetMap data.
The route
Follow the trail north from Bargoed along the old line to Deri and Parc Cwm Darran. Flat and surfaced, and the same way back.
Worth knowing
- Entirely traffic-free and level, so straightforward with a pushchair or a bike.
- The old line served the collieries up the valley and closed in the 1960s.
- Bargoed has a station, so this works without a car.
What you’ll see
The old railway formation, the Darran river, woodland and the country park at the top.
Background
The Rhymney Railway served a string of collieries up this valley, all closed by 1975, and the trackbed became a walking route.