bargoed-woodland-park | Your Green Spaces

Set in heart of the Rhymney Valley with easy access from the neighbouring communities, Bargoed Woodland Park is an unusual place. It’s like the countryside but this obscures it's industrial past. It is also being shaped; shaped by the people who lived and worked here years ago and still shaped by those living here today. Created on the site of three collieries and surrounded by the communities that worked in them, Bargoed Woodland Park is now a place to walk and play.

Enter the park through one of 11 sculpted gateways and you'll find it hard to believe that this quiet and natural place was once the site of the highest coal tip in Europe. Walk along the River Rhymney and you will have to imagine how the river was once trapped in a huge tunnel. It's now alive with dippers, herons, kingfishers and (if you're lucky) otters.

If you look at the precise angled slopes with neat flat terraces, you’ll see that these aren’t hillside paths worn flat by the hooves of sheep and cows over hundreds of years but slices carved by engineers to stop mountains of coal waste trickling away down-hill. After the closure of the last colliery in 1985, the park was shaped and shifted, cut and filled to reclaim it back for nature. Now this vital green lung is a great place for you to explore.

What to see and do

Art features

As soon as you arrive at one of the many entrances to the park you'll notice the many art features within this park. These range from stone carvings, carved poles, artistic fencing, ceramics and the 3 Miners sculpture. There's even a footballer! All celebrate the history of the three collieries, Gilfach, Bargoed and Britannia, that once dominated the valley and the contribution of the local communities.

Walks and Trails

There are plenty of paths that criss cross the park giving you a variety of walking routes, hidden corners to explore and views to see. The main paths are marked on the p ark le aflet but there are many others you can make use of.

For those wishing to explore further afield, Route 468 of the National Cycle Network starts from the Pengam car park and takes you all the way to Butetown; or branch off onto Route 469 and walk or cycle in safety to Parc Cwm Darran for a well earnt cup of tea.

Walkers can use the park as a base to follow the 32 mile Rhymney Riverside Walk. Further information about this walk can be found on the Walking Trails page.

Planning your visit

Where it is Bargoed Woodland Park is situated in between the communities of Aberbargoed, Bargoed, Britannia, Gilfach and Pengam. NP12 3SY

How to get there By car - The A469 bisects the park from north to south. By bus - Bargoed is well served by bus services. By Bike - NCN Routes 468 & 469. Nearest train station - Bargoed & Gilfach Fargoed. (5 minute walk)

Park hours The park is open all year round. It is also free to access the park.

Car parks There is a small car park at the southern end of the park at High Street, Pengam.

Other access points Access can be gained on foot or by bike at several entrances serving the local communities. Pengam - High St (2); Gilfach - Angel Lane; Britannia - Angel Lane\ Farm View; Aberbargoed - Commercial St, Chapel St & Bedwellty Rd; Bargoed - Ambulance Station & Station Rd.

Toilets There are no toilets on site.

Accessibility Designated bays for blue badge holders are available in the car park at High Street, Pengam. The main paths through the woodland park are predominately tarmac. Mobility scooter friendly access barriers are located at most of the entrance points into the park but a few of smaller entrances may be a little more restrictive. There are plenty of benches by the side of the main paths. Away from the tarmac routes the other paths are made up of stone dust or are natural surfaces.