GPS Cycle and Walking Routes

Craig-y-Nos Country Park

2 miles (3.6 km)

This delightful 40-acre Victorian garden is perfect for a peaceful stroll. There are well laid out walking paths taking you through woodlands, meadows, wide lawns and along the River Tawe which runs through the park.
Craig-y-Nos Country Park is located in the Brecon Beacons National Park so the surrounding scenery is spectacular. Within the park you will find the historic Craig-y-nos Castle surrounded by beautiful landscaped gardens and two pretty lakes which attract a wide variety of wildlife. There is also a visitor centre and tea room with benches and picnic areas.
The park is located near Aberdare, Merthyr Tydfil and Swansea.

Postcode

SA9 1GL - Please note: Postcode may be approximate for some rural locations

Craig-y-Nos Country Park OS Map - Mobile GPS OS Map with Location tracking

Craig-y-Nos Country Park Open Street Map - Mobile GPS Map with Location tracking

Pubs/Cafes

There's an on site cafe selling a good range of meals and snacks. You can sit outside and enjoy views over the park with your meal.

Dog Walking

The park is an excellent place to bring your dog for a walk so you'll probably see other owners on your walk. They will love the parkland, woodland and streams. The cafe mentioned above is also dog friendly.

Further Information and Other Local Ideas

Head a few miles north of the park and you can enjoy a waterside walk along the Cray Reservoir. There's nice trails along the River Crai and lovely lush countryside and woodland in this area. To the south of the reservoir there's the climb to Fan Gyhirych which affords splendid views down to the lake below.
To the north west of the park there's two more lovely lakes in the shape of Llyn y Fan Fach and Llyn Y Fan Fawr. There's more peaceful waterside trails here.
To the south there's the climb to Rhigos Mountain, Aberdare's lovely Dare Valley Country Park and the picturesque Maerdy Reservoirs to visit.
For more walking ideas in the area see the Brecon Beacons Walks page.

Photos

Bridle path adjacent to Craig-y-nos Country Park - geograph.org.uk - 421976

Bridle path adjacent to Craig-y-nos Country Park. This is the point where this public right of way in Glyntawe deviates from the park boundary on its way toward Penwyllt.

View over the lake at Craig-y-nos Country Park towards a wintry Fan Gyhirych - geograph.org.uk - 1134930

View over the lake at Craig-y-nos Country Park towards a wintry Fan Gyhirych. This view is a delight in all seasons but the blue sky above a snowy hill and the rich colours of the vegetation on the island do catch the eye when gazing out from the Geoterrace at the visitor centre

Craig y nos - geograph.org.uk - 769687

The view down the upper swansea valley towards Craig y nos from Dan yr ogof caravan and camping park

River confluence at Craig-y-nos Country Park - geograph.org.uk - 425192

River confluence at the Country Park. Just under the bridge that leads from the car park into the main park, these two rivers join. The one on the right is the Tawe on its way from Llyn-y-Fan Fawr to Swansea. A local map in the car park names the one on the left as the river Llynfell. This is where it ends after a very short run out from below Dan-yr-Ogof caves across the road. Curiously there is a whole different valley called Cwm Llynfell with a separate Nant Llynfell about 10km west of here, also starting in the national park.

Craig-y-nos

Craig-y-nos Castle. A fine view of the 19th century Gothic revival style castle in Wales.

Stepping stones and bridge across Tawe - geograph.org.uk - 421971

Stepping stones and bridge across Tawe. Just outside the boundary the park a public right of way crosses the River Tawe. Marked as "Ford" on the map there is actually a footbridge and some large stepping stones. One of the stones has shifted, requiring a leap of faith to make the crossing.

Video

GPS Files

GPX File

Craig-y-Nos Country Park.gpx (On Desktop:Right Click>'Save As. On Ipad/Iphone:Click and hold>Share>Save to Files')

Memory Map Route

Craig-y-Nos Country Park.mmo (On Desktop:Right Click>'Save As. On Ipad/Iphone:Click and hold >Share>Save to Files)