Cardiff Beaches and Castles Coastal Day Tour

You travel in a luxurious fully electric vehicle, limited to a maximum of seven passengers, in the company of your guide, Andy, who is a Mountain Leader and a Green Badged Tourist Guide.
This tour includes two or perhaps three guided tours at these attractions:

Penderyn Whisky
Rhondda Heritage Park
Castell Coch

South Wales is geologically 'lucky', having all elements required to fuel the industrial revolution, iron, coal, limestone and silica rock. From the 1750's iron boom through the 1850's to the 1980's when coal was king, South Wales was a hive of activity, smelting, mining and developing technologies to improve production.

We look at this history, its effects upon the landscape and people who laboured so hard and also at those who profited from that labour.

We'll also have a look at the scenic beauty of the Brecon Beacons which lie to the north, on the fringes of the coalfields, and how the mining communities are recovering, post the closure of the mines in the 1990's.

What's included:

• Driver/guide

What to expect:

Duration: 9 hours

Aberfan Disaster Memorial Garden

Moy Road and Station Hill Cemetery, Aberfan

The village of Aberfan is sadly known for its disaster and we'll visit the memorial gardens whilst learning a little about the tragic event and the village's long recovery from this. Includes travelling time.

15 minutes

Llwyn-on Reservoir

Merthyr Tydfil

We'll pass through the heartland of iron production during the industrial revolution and enter the glorious countryside of the Brecon Beacons National Park, stopping at Llwyn Onn Reservoir or Beacons Reservoir. for it'stheir beauty as the gatekeepers of rural Wales.

15 minutes

Pen y Fan

Pen y Fan, Brecon LD3 8NE, UK

We'll take the road to the highest point and get some spectacular views of the Central Brecon Beacons.

30 minutes

Penderyn Distillery Brecon Beacons

Rhondda Cynon Taff, Penderyn, CF44 0SX

Traveling now south we'll stop at the fine visitor attraction of Penderyn Whisky and have a guided tour here, including traveling time.

1 hour, 30 minutes • Admission Ticket Included

Rhondda Heritage Park - A Welsh Coal Mining Experience

Coedcae Road, Trehafod, Pontypridd, Cardiff, CF37 2NP

And then it is back into the industrial valleys and a visit to Rhondda Heritage Park where we will take a tour underground in a coal mine, including traveling time. This is sometimes switched to a visit to Big Pit when the Heritage Park is not available

2 hours • Admission Ticket Included

Castell Coch

Main road, Tongwynlais, CF15 7JS

Our final stop takes us to the fairy tale castle, Castell Coch. A fine end to the day and usually arriving when closed so a wander around the outside of the castle and the overhanging woods. Admission included if we arrive before closing otherwise its a wander around the outside of the castle.

30 minutes • Admission Ticket Included