Photo of Bannau Brycheiniog, a National Park in Wales.

Bannau BrycheiniogPhoto guo fengrui / Pexels

Places to explore near Aberdare StationAberdare

13 places within 10 km — the standouts first, nearest first within each group. 1 is a national icon.

Open the map here

Open in full map →Full map →

OpenFreeMap © OpenMapTiles · data from OpenStreetMap · terrain Mapzen/AWS

Worth the tripnational icons and local highlights within reach

Iconic

Bannau Brycheiniog

National Park near Libanus

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

3.7 km NW

Highlight

BikePark Wales

Attraction near Merthyr Tydfil

Major mountain-bike park above Merthyr Tydfil with graded trails from blue to pro.

4.6 km E

Highlight

Brecon Mountain Railway

Attraction near Merthyr Tydfil

Narrow-gauge steam railway running from Pant into the Beacons alongside the Pontsticill and Taf Fechan reservoirs.

8.9 km NE

Also nearbygood places nearby, nearest first

Taff Trail

Long-distance path

Cardiff Bay to Brecon on old tramways and towpaths up the Taff — shared with bikes, with Castell Coch on the way out of town.

5 km E · spans 4 counties

Cyfarthfa Park

Garden near Merthyr Tydfil

Historic parkland around Cyfarthfa Castle museum in Merthyr Tydfil, built for the ironmaster William Crawshay.

5.4 km NE

St Tydfil's Church, Merthyr Tydfil

Church near Merthyr Tydfil

Parish church named for the martyr Tydfil, whose name gave the town its identity.

5.4 km NE

Zip World Tower

Attraction near Penderyn

Adventure site on a reclaimed colliery at Hirwaun, home to one of the world's fastest seated zip lines.

6.7 km NW

Penderyn Distillery

Distillery near Penderyn

Welsh whisky distillery in the village of Penderyn on the edge of the Bannau Brycheiniog, with tours and tastings.

7.6 km NW

Penpych Waterfall

Waterfall near Pontneddfechan

One of the highest waterfalls in Wales, dropping around 21 metres at the head of the Rhondda Fawr.

8.3 km SW

Llyn Fawr

Llyn near Pontneddfechan

Bronze and Iron Age metalwork recovered from this Rhondda cwm lake gave its name to a period of prehistory.

8.6 km W

Everything else within 10 km (3) — reserves, earthworks & places to check before travelling

Merthyr TydfilVillage5.5 km NE
Morlais CastleCastleaccess unclear8.2 km NE
Craig y LlynMarilynaccess unclear9.7 km W

Ordered by how far each place is worth travelling for, then by distance. Distances are straight-line to the nearest edge of each place — paths wind, of course.