Photo of Bannau Brycheiniog, a National Park in Wales.

Bannau BrycheiniogPhoto guo fengrui / Pexels

Places to explore in Rhondda Cynon TafWales · South East Wales

Deep coal-mining valleys define Rhondda Cynon Taf, where the Rhondda, Cynon and Taff rivers cut steep-sided troughs through the sandstone of the South Wales coalfield, terraced towns clinging to their slopes. The pits that made the Rhondda famous are recalled at Rhondda Heritage Park, and the former Tower Colliery is now the zip-line centre of Zip World Tower. Above the valleys the moorland breaks into waterfall country, where Penpych Waterfall drops into the Rhondda Fawr and Dinas Rock marks the limestone gorges near Pontneddfechan. At Pontypridd, William Edwards' graceful Old Bridge arcs over the Taff.

The best of Rhondda Cynon Tafworth the trip

Photo of Bannau Brycheiniog, a National Park in Wales.

Bannau Brycheiniog

National Park near Libanus

Flat-topped sandstone summits, waterfall gorges and dark skies along the roof of south Wales.

1,350 km²

Photo of Lido Ponty, a lido near Pontypridd, Rhondda Cynon Taf, south east Wales.

Lido Ponty

Lido near Pontypridd

The National Lido of Wales, a 1927 pool in Pontypridd's war memorial park, derelict for years and reopened in 2015.

Photo of Dinas Rock, a rock formation near Pontneddfechan in Bannau Brycheiniog, Rhondda Cynon Taf, south east Wales.

Dinas Rock

Rock formation near Pontneddfechan

Towering limestone crag at Pontneddfechan, a landmark and climbing site at the edge of Waterfall Country.

Photo of Old Bridge, Pontypridd, a landmark in Rhondda Cynon Taf, south east Wales.

Old Bridge, Pontypridd

Landmark near Pontypridd

William Edwards's elegant single-span stone bridge of 1756 over the River Taff.

Photo of Rhondda Heritage Park, a visitor attraction near Pontypridd, Rhondda Cynon Taf, south east Wales.

Rhondda Heritage Park

Attraction near Pontypridd

Former Lewis Merthyr colliery at Trehafod, now a museum with underground tours of the mining Rhondda.

Photo of Ynysangharad War Memorial Park, a landmark near Pontypridd, Rhondda Cynon Taf, south east Wales.

Ynysangharad War Memorial Park

Landmark near Pontypridd

Riverside park in Pontypridd, home to the restored National Lido of Wales.

Other sights in Rhondda Cynon Taf 6

Beaches & swimming in Rhondda Cynon Taf 1

Lido Ponty

Protected landscapes in Rhondda Cynon Taf 1

Bannau Brycheiniog1,350 km²

Hills & peaks in Rhondda Cynon Taf 3

Pubs & restaurants in Rhondda Cynon Taf 2

Villages & towns in Rhondda Cynon Taf 2

Waterfalls in Rhondda Cynon Taf 2

Castles & strongholds in Rhondda Cynon Taf 1

Llantrisant Castleruin

Churches in Rhondda Cynon Taf 1

Capel Rhondda, Hopkinstown

Farms, vineyards & producers in Rhondda Cynon Taf 1

Penderyn Distillery

Lakes & lochs in Rhondda Cynon Taf 1

Llyn Fawr

Roman sites in Rhondda Cynon Taf 1

Miskin Roman fortearthworks

Trails in Rhondda Cynon Taf 1

Taff Trail88 km