Merthyr’s Hidden Valley: History, Woods & Waterfalls

Join me for a really special autumn walk discovering a completely different side to Merthyr Tydfil, a landscape where industry, nature and history are woven dramatically together.

Starting and finishing at beautiful Cyfarthfa Park, this roughly 6.5-mile circular route combines easy scenic trail walking with hidden woodland paths, river valleys, wildlife and some of the most fascinating industrial history in Wales.

We begin beside the remains of Merthyr’s world-famous blast furnaces, where in the early 1800s the town became the iron capital of the world, producing huge amounts of iron for the British Empire and helping drive the Industrial Revolution itself. From here, we cross the magnificent Cefn Viaduct, one of the largest viaducts in Wales, with its sweeping brick arches towering high above the valley below.

The walk then follows the easy-going Taff Trail northwards towards Trefechan and into the edge of the Bannau Brycheiniog National Park, with lovely…