All walks › Rhondda and the Western Valleys
Rhondda and the Western ValleysDare Valley Country Park
A country park built on two collieries at the head of a valley, with waterfalls, lakes and ridge paths climbing to the tops.
- Distance
- 3.7 mi / 6 km
- Time
- 2 hr 10
- Ascent
- 250 m
- Difficulty
- Demanding
- Shape
- Circular
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
Trails climb from the visitor centre to the ridges on both sides, with a lower circuit round the lakes and falls.
Worth knowing
- The park was one of the first in Britain created on reclaimed colliery land, opening in 1973.
- The ridge paths link to the Coed Morgannwg Way for a much longer walk.
- The waterfalls are best after rain.
What you’ll see
Lakes and waterfalls, colliery remains, and the valley from the ridge.
Background
Bwllfa and Nantmelyn collieries worked here until the 1960s. The park opened in 1973 and was a model for later reclamation schemes.