Merthyr Tydfil hotels

Hotels in Merthyr Tydfil

Merthyr Tydfil, about halfway between Swansea and Newport and 23 miles north of Cardiff, is perfectly positioned in South Wales to explore the astonishing Brecon Beacons National Park. Book a Merthyr Tydfil hotel with us and discover this land of peaks and valleys.

Iron capital of the world

Just under a mile north of the town takes you to Cyfarthfa Park which is home to one of South Wales' best visitor attractions. Here you'll have access to acres of stunning walks, a 9-hole golf course, a fishing lake, children's playgrounds and even a miniature steam railway. The centrepiece of the grounds is the striking early 19th-century castle which was once the home of the Crawshays, the great ironmasters of Cyfarthfa.

The great outdoors

Comprising six main peaks, the highest of which, Pen y Fan rises to nearly 900m, the Brecon Beacons is 835 miles2 of wide open spaces, fresh air and some of the best walking in the UK. A good place to start is at the Garwnant Visitor Centre which, in itself, is a great day out with its café and gift shop, play areas, forest walks and trails.

One of the best, and certainly the quickest, ways to explore the local terrain is with Bike Park Wales, located less than four miles south of Merthyr. Here you'll have access to a network of trails that wind through forests and up and down valleys and peaks. The park caters for everyone from absolute beginners to seasoned mountain bikers.

Full steam ahead

Make your way north west to Pant, less than three miles from Merthyr, and embark on a vintage steam rail journey into the Brecon Beacons National Park. Here you'll have incredible views of mountain peaks across the reservoir at Taf Fechan. The ride covers five miles in total to Torpantau via Pontsticill and Dolygaer Loop but you can alight at any stop. Pontsticill is home to a steam museum and is also ideal for a walk along the reservoir. Back in Pant, visit the workshop and see steam locomotives being repaired.

Eating and drinking

There's a great selection of restaurants, cafés and pubs in the area. The Old Barn Tea Room is a large timbered barn that has been converted into tea rooms and is located in the idyllic Brecon Beacons countryside. A popular restaurant in this part of the world, they serve traditional tea, scones and lunch. Less than eight miles south of Merthyr in Aberdare is The Red Cow Inn, a popular pub offering real ales, wine and homemade pub food. Travel a couple of miles north east to Cefn Coed and you'll discover The Mango House which has a good reputation for its Indian and Bengali dishes, and friendly, relaxed atmosphere.

Shopping in and around Merthyr Tydfil

St Tydfil shopping centre offers a range of outlets including bookshops, banks and health food stores. And Cyfarthfa Retail Park has variety of shops, a coffee house and places to eat.