Aberdare Travel Guide

Tourist Guide

Photo by Gareth Bickerton
Photo by John Lewis
Photo by John Lewis
Photo by Brian71
Photo by Matt Packer
Aberdare is a bustling town in the Cynon Valley, South Wales, and the most populous in the Rhondda Cynon Taf county borough. The town has a history that goes back to the Middle Ages, when it was just a small village in an agricultural zone. The village grew rapidly in the early 19th century thanks to the plentiful presence of coal and iron ore in the region, and the population of the parish grew tenfold in the first half of the century.

Aberdare today is a popular tourist destination, its once scarred industrial landscape replanted and returned to nature. The town is conveniently located around 20 miles from Cardiff and 22 miles from Swansea, and on the doorstep of Merthyr Tydfil and the Brecon Beacons.

Shopping in Aberdare

As the biggest town in the Rhondda Cynon Taf county borough, Aberdare has a large selection of shops, with many high street chain stores, a good number of independent traders and an indoor market.

Food and Drink in Aberdare

There are lots of restaurants, cafes, takeaways and pubs in Aberdare, whether you’re after traditional Welsh or English food, fish and chips, international cuisine or fine dining. If you’re eating in one of the pubs you might like to try one of the beers produced by Aberdare’s own brewery with your meal.

Sport in Aberdare

Aberdare has its own rugby union team, Aberdare RFC, formed in 1890, who play at the Ynys Stadium, and also its own football team, Aberdare Town FC.

Places to Visit in and Around Aberdare

Dare Valley Country Park is less than a mile from Aberdare, and is a public park covering 500 acres of countryside, with a network of walks and trails, a visitor centre, a camping and caravan site, and a wide range of flora and fauna. The park is situated on land formerly used for coal mining, that was reclaimed and landscaped in the 1970s.

Aberdare sits just outside the Brecon Beacons National Park, which offers an incredible range of outdoor leisure activities and has a long history and many ancient monuments, including cairns and standing stones, as well as an abundance of wildlife.

Cynon Valley Museum and Gallery is located on the outskirts of Aberdare, on the site of the old Gadlys Ironworks. The museum offers a glimpse into life in the Cynon Valley over the last 200 years, and houses collections revealing the history of humans in the valley over the past eight millennia, while the gallery shows exhibitions of contemporary Welsh art, crafts and design.

Penderyn distillery, in the nearby village of Penderyn, is the only distillery in Wales and the first to legally distil whisky in the country for more than 100 years. It produces a selection of single malt whiskies, as well as vodka, gin and a Welsh cream liqueur. The distillery is a very popular tourist attraction, with a visitor centre, an exhibition about the history of Welsh whisky, tours of the distillery, a tasting room and a retail shop.

Where to stay in Aberdare

Pen-y-Waun

When in Pen-y-Waun, you can plan a visit to Aberdare Park and Dare Valley Country Park, some noteworthy sights in the nearby area.

Pen-y-Waun
The Angel Hotel

The Angel Hotel

3 out of 5
Castle Street, Cardiff, Wales
Fully refundableReserve now, pay when you stay
The price is £64 per night from 10 Aug to 11 Aug
£64
10 Aug - 11 Aug
includes taxes & fees
Stay at this 3-star eco-certified hotel in Cardiff. Enjoy free Wi-Fi, breakfast (surcharge) and 24-hour room service. Our guests praise the breakfast and the ...
8.4/10 Very Good! (2,547 reviews)
Could be amazing - few niggles
"Lovely hotel, a little faded and no longer as luxurious as it clearly once was. Sadly the bed was far too soft for me, so i lay on the divet on the floor. Had to prop a window open to getvsome air in. Very good breakfast. Slightly overenthusiadtic staff cleared my plate before i finished my laet ..."

Reviewed on 29 Jul 2025

The Angel Hotel
Hotel Indigo Cardiff by IHG

Hotel Indigo Cardiff by IHG

4 out of 5
Dominions Arcade Queen Street, Glamorgan, Cardiff, Wales
The price is £76 per night from 3 Aug to 4 Aug
£76
3 Aug - 4 Aug
includes taxes & fees
Stay at this 4-star eco-certified hotel in Cardiff. Enjoy free Wi-Fi, 2 bars/lounges and a rooftop terrace. Our guests praise the breakfast and the helpful staff ...
9.2/10 Wonderful! (1,419 reviews)
"Celebrating 45th anniversary Staff went the extra mile to make sure we had a great time. Room was exceptional ,very clean and had everything needed for a relaxing break.Bed was very comfortable 😌 and breakfast delicious."

Reviewed on 29 Jul 2025

Hotel Indigo Cardiff by IHG
Holland House Hotel Cardiff By Sunday

Holland House Hotel Cardiff By Sunday

4 out of 5
24-26 Newport Road, Cardiff, Wales
The price is £57 per night from 3 Aug to 4 Aug
£57
3 Aug - 4 Aug
includes taxes & fees
Stay at this 4-star spa hotel in Cardiff. Enjoy free Wi-Fi, a full-service spa and breakfast (surcharge). Our guests praise the helpful staff and the clean rooms ...
8/10 Very Good! (1,003 reviews)
"Excellent service free upgrade for partners bday"

Reviewed on 28 Jul 2025

Holland House Hotel Cardiff By Sunday
Lowest nightly price found within the past 24 hours based on a 1 night stay for 2 adults. Prices and availability subject to change. Additional terms may apply.
The Spires Serviced Apartments Cardiff

The Spires Serviced Apartments Cardiff

3 out of 5
10 Cathedral Rd, Cardiff, Wales
Stay at this 3-star apartment in Cardiff. Enjoy free Wi-Fi, parking (surcharge) and laundry facilities. Our guests praise the helpful staff and the clean rooms ...
9/10 Wonderful! (266 reviews)
Spires 2 Bed Apartment in Cardiff.
"Easy hassle-free access to building in a great area ( just past Cardiff Castle near Sophie Gardens nearby). The 2 bed apartment ( with en-suites) was very clean with good decor. Very comfortable beds. Good sized rooms. We had a very quiet and chilled stay. Kitchen/community room was very well equipped. ..."

Reviewed on 25 Jul 2025

The Spires Serviced Apartments Cardiff
Inn Cardiff

Inn Cardiff

3.5 out of 5
17 Lower Cathedral Road, Cardiff, Wales
Stay at this apartment in Cardiff. Enjoy free Wi-Fi, free parking and cable TV channels. Popular attractions Principality Stadium and Cardiff Castle are located ...
9/10 Wonderful! (100 reviews)
10/10 BEST STAY EVER
"we were staying here as we were attending cardiff pride on the Saturday. it was last minute booking for us and omg i could not have been happier. the stay was absolutely perfect. comfiest sleep my family have had in a long time. it was clean, communication was spot on and instructions were clear. ..."

Reviewed on 24 Jun 2025

Inn Cardiff
Quay Apartments Clarence House

Quay Apartments Clarence House

3.5 out of 5
Clarence Place, Newport, Wales
Stay at this 3.5-star apartment in Newport. Enjoy free Wi-Fi, parking (surcharge) and a 24-hour front desk. Popular attractions Friars Walk Newport and Newport ...
8.4/10 Very Good! (137 reviews)
"I payed for 2 adults 1 child but when we got into the apartment there was only a double bed and a small sofa not suitable for sleeping"

Reviewed on 7 Apr 2025

Quay Apartments Clarence House
Lowest nightly price found within the past 24 hours based on a 1 night stay for 2 adults. Prices and availability subject to change. Additional terms may apply.

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