Things to do in Caerphilly County and the Rhymney Valley

The Borough of Caerffli (Caerphilly) is a long, narrow, tear-drop-shaped county running from the edge of Bannau Brycheiniog National Park in the north down to the suburbs of Caerdydd (Cardiff) in the south, much centring on the Rhymney Valley. Caerffili with its marvellous castle is the main town at the southwestern edge, with other towns including Ystrad Mynach, Coed Duon (Blackwood), Tredegar Newydd (New Tredegar) and Bedwas, scattered around the Rhymney river.

Hemming in the borough to the south is Mynydd Caerffili (Caerphilly Mountain), and a stroll to the top gives you views down over Caerdydd and its docks, Ynys Echni (Flat Holm) and Ynys Rhonech (Steep Holm) islands in the Bristol Channel, Penarth Head and England beyond. Caerphilly Mountain Snack bar at the top offers sustenance to fuel exploration of the many paths around the mountain which wind in and out of ancient woodland.

In the heart of the town, you can't miss Castell Caerffili (Caerphilly Castle) with its sheer size and Norman might. The build began in 1268 and throughout the 20th century was meticulously restored, so it’s a great example of 13th century military architecture. Huge wooden replica siege engines and intricate moats give a chilling idea of what it must have felt like to be part of the medieval masses, as the Welsh prince Llywelyn ap Gruffydd and the Marcher lord Gilbert de Clare sparred above their heads.

The much-loved leaning tower, is famously at an even jauntier angle than Pisa, thanks either to natural subsidence or Civil War gunpowder – no one is quite certain.

The castle hosts special events throughout the year including crafts, trails and workshops for mini knights-in-training, so check the 'What's on' listings on the Cadw website for upcoming dates.

The famous Caerphilly Cheese Festival has been going for over twenty years; a celebration of culture, heritage, history... and cheese! Caws Caerffili (Caerphilly cheese) is Cymru's only true native cheese, a tart white crumbly number created especially for miners. Sure enough, the festival has a huge dedicated travelling cheese market (Caerffili and other varieties!) and food court, with craft stalls along the moat and re-enactments of various battles keeping visitors on their toes. Music, dancers, street entertainers, choirs, and fairground rides all create a lively cheerful atmosphere and thousands of people flock in from all over.

If it's not festival time, a hankering for cheese can be satisfied at the Castle Court Craft and Food Market, held once a month in Castle Court Shopping Centre just next to the castle. The market sells mostly produce from the county, and is a good bet for a truckle or two of the crumbly white cheese. A recent addition near the iconic castle is the lively new market of Ffos Caerffili; a vibrant community hub constructed from repurposed shipping containers of 20 independent traders, offering a variety of street food and handcrafted goods.

In the summer months take the kids to the Wetter is Better aqua splash pad in Caerffili town’s Morgan Jones Park in Nantgarw Road, and let them run wild through the jets. This Green Flag award-winning park began as a 1930s' recreation ground, and these days has a wildflower meadow, outdoor gym equipment, skate park, bowling green, social enterprise café and more.

Just ten minutes from the town centre is The Meadows Farm Village, an interactive animal experience. Enjoy animal petting and exploring the 21 acres of countryside.

Blackwood Miner’s Institute has a long history at the heart of the borough. Born as a snooker hall paid for out of miners’ wages, it grew a dance floor and library and was used for performances, tea dances and union meetings. These days it’s a much-loved arts centre where you can catch all sorts of music, comedy, art and theatre, all in the iconic listed building.

For a moving glimpse of mining life visit the Aber Valley Heritage Museum in the former mining town of Senghenydd. The museum and the nearby Welsh National and Universal Memorial Garden are run by a local group of volunteers driven to honour the region’s mining history, and tell the stories of the two terrible mine explosions in the Universal Colliery that killed hundreds of men and boys, and dozens of pit ponies too. The memorial garden is a poignant place to visit.

Cwmcarn Forest on the border with Casnewydd (Newport) and Blaenau Gwent is a draw for many different types of leisure-lovers. It's a model of conservation - they've been planting trees here since 1922! - and one of the highlights of the Valleys Regional Park. Perhaps most famous is its mountain-biking: it sports two red-graded ‘difficult’ trails and one ‘extreme’ black-graded trail. Walkers can also get their hearts pumping, with a bunch of good walks including the two-hour bash to the 414m summit of the excellently named Silurian hillfort of Twmbarlwm, with views of Bae Caerdydd (Cardiff Bay) in one direction and Bannau Brycheiniog National Park in the other.

Alternatively, you can opt to take it rather easier with a stroll along the Monmouthshire & Brecon Canal, a beautiful stretch of which passes through the forest. Then there is the gentle 1.23-mile Bluebell Walk, or a riverside walk to the lake. There’s a café and play area, and you can stay a night in the Cwmcarn Forest glamping pods, lodges or campsite too. Another highlight is one of Wales' few dedicated Forest Drives, a 7-mile motorised (or people-powered, should you so wish!) meander through the trees full of inviting picnic spot stop-offs and a storytelling zone.

Besides Cwmcarn Forest, several other of the most distinctive Valleys Regional Parks sit right here in Caerphilly County.

The best-known is Parc Penallta, literally carved from a coal tip only thirty years ago. Sultan the Pit Pony is the most memorable feature – a 200m-long, 15m-high earthwork of a leaping horse that stands in as one of the UK's largest raised-earth sculptures, The audacious artwork is full of character, paying homage to the pit ponies of the past, and nicknamed after a particularly well-loved pony from Penallta Colliery. You can walk all over him, sit in his ear, find the dome at his eye, and then head for the observatory to get an elevated view of the impressive sculpture.

Another impressive park lies further north up the Rhymney Valley in the shape of little-known Parc Cwm Darran. It boasts cyclocross trails, wildflower meadows, the tree-flanked Ogilvie Lake, a lovely network of easy trails and the 'Ogilvie Olympics' kid-oriented assault course.

Sirhowy Valley Country Park offers a gentle walk or wheel along the former railway track that linked Tredegar to the Dociau Casnewydd (Newport Docks). Mooch around the woodlands and riverbank and you’ll come across several heritage structures, including Babell Chapel where the 19th-century Welsh bard Islwyn lies, and the 50ft high Penllwyn Tramroad Bridge. Follow the Celtic Trail – route 47 of the National Cycle Network – and you’ll find yourself on the breathtaking 16-arch Hengoed Viaduct.

Walkers have a treat in store with a range of long trails in the borough. The Rhymney Riverside Walk is a 32-mile walk along the valley floor, all the way from the Rhymney’s headwaters near the north of the borough, to Caerdydd in the south. The 28-mile circular Rhymney Valley Ridgeway Walk makes a loop along ridgeway tracks and woodland paths along the top of the Caerffili basin, with excellent views throughout.

Sunny Bank Equestrian Centre, near Bedwas, is a riding school and 300-seat arena where visitors can watch competitions in dressage, showjumping and cross-country.

Caerffili region is also a paradise for cyclists. In addition to the trails of Cwmcarn, Van Road Trails is a community-run dirt jump park close to Caerffili town, with jumps for all ages and abilities and a dual slalom track. It's free to turn up and ride, and feel free to muck in with a shovel! Enjoy the great supportive atmosphere at club nights and race days.

If your passion is more for road racing than dirt jumps, epic climbs such as those over Mynydd Caerffili, with its far-reaching views to Cerdydd and Bannau Brycheiniog, the steep hillsides of Hengoed and Gelligaer Common with its Roman fort will get special attention from biking enthusiasts when they host the final three heart-in-mouth climbs of Stage Three of the 2027 Tour de France.

Read more: Things to do on the 2027 Tour de France Route through Wales

Caerphilly borough goes in for some diverse golf experiences inundated with exceptional views.

Four-star Bryn Meadows golf and spa resort is one of Caerffili's best-kept (and most reasonably priced) secrets. Come for the varied 18-hole championship course that demands accuracy, the luxurious spa with its treatments and mud room ceremonies, or afternoon tea with a view at Blas Restaurant.

Mynydd Caerffili itself has a golf course – the 18-hole Caerphilly Golf Club dates back to 1905, and what better than conquering the green while looking down at the majestic views of the castle and town.

Caerphilly borough goes in for some diverse golf experiences inundated with exceptional views.

Four-star Bryn Meadows golf and spa resort is one of Caerffili's best-kept (and most reasonably priced) secrets. Come for the varied 18-hole championship course that demands accuracy, the luxurious spa with its treatments and mud room ceremonies, or afternoon tea with a view at Blas Restaurant.

Mynydd Caerffili itself has a golf course – the 18-hole Caerphilly Golf Club dates back to 1905, and what better than conquering the green while looking down at the majestic views of the castle and town.

Bargoed also has an 18-hole mountain course with greens that are small and fast, and beautiful vistas up the Darren Valley to Bannau Brycheiniog. Not far from each other are two pay-and-play nine-hole courses: challenging Blackwood Golf Club and Oakdale Golf Club which is good for building confidence.

For a helping of the paranormal, the Morbitorium in Pontywaun is a one-off. It’s a 19th-century house by the canal, stuffed full with curiosities from folklore, witchcraft and early medicine. Nose around the occult bric-a-brac, carved skulls, two-headed ducks and Ouija boards, many of which are for sale. If you feel like learning an unusual skill, the Morbitorium offers taxidermy classes.

And if you spot a wild-eyed statue near the castle that appears to be wearing a fez, you’ve found your way to much-loved funny man Tommy Cooper, one of Caerffili’s most famous sons, just like that!

For a memorable place to stay, Under the Oak offers top-notch glamping, from safari tents and cabins to railway goods wagons in wildflower meadows, with wood-fired hot tubs, fire pits to cook over, and mud kitchens for the kids!

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Read more: Explore the South Wales Valleys