Dare Valley Country Park
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Dare Valley Country Park is a public park near the village of Cwmdare and the town of Aberdare, in Rhondda Cynon Taff, South Wales, United Kingdom.
It comprises 500 acres (2.0 km²) of woodlands, pasture and moorland mountainside.
It is maintained by the local Council, Rhondda Cynon Taf County Borough Council.
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[edit] History
The Park was opened in December 1973. It was built on land reclaimed from over a century of coal mining in the area. The land reclamation took two years and involved the clearing of coal tips and re-routing of the River Dare.
There are many historical remnants of the coal mining past to be seen in the Park, including colliery coal trams, and pit winding gear which forms part of a monument in the northern part of the Park. In 1985 a Visitor Centre was established at the Park.
Two separate railway lines operated in the area operated by rival companies. The Dare and Aman Branch of the Vale of Neath Railway reached the local Bwllfa Colliery in 1857. This railway reached Cwmdare from Gelli Tarw near Llwydcoed, crossing the Gamlyn Viaduct at Penywaun and Dare Viaduct. Both viaducts were designed by Isambard Kingdom Brunel[1]. The second line to Cwmdare was built by the Taff Vale Railway and followed a route near the River Dare from a junction close to Aberdare. This line was opened in 1866.[2]
[edit] Feature and Amenities
The Park features two artificial lakes (an upper and lower) with a cascade on the Dare down to the lower lake.
The Park is open all year round and offers free car parking.
