The Taff Bargoed Valley is a river valley near Pontypridd in South Wales, and lies off the Abercynon roundabout on the A470 road, and is approximately 14 miles from Cardiff. The main settlements are Nelson, Edwardsville, Quakers Yard, Treharris, Trelewis, and Bedlinog. The valley is situated where the three County Boroughs of Caerphilly, Rhondda Cynon Taff, and Merthyr Tydfil meet.
Originally a collection of farms, from the early 1800s the valley was industrialised through coal mining, developing a rich Industrial heritage. During the Industrial Revolution the area was home to the Trelewis Drift Mine, the Taff Merthyr and the Deep Navigation colleries.
Since the coal mines closed in the 1980s, the valley has been extensively redeveloped, becoming a haven for wildlife such as Red Kites and otters. At the heart of the valley is Parc Taf Bargoed which is popular with visitors and locals alike. As well as rugby and football facilities, there are a Trim Trail and heritage walks. The park also has a popular fishing lake, used by the Taff Bargoed Anglers and weir pools which are used by the Aberfan Canoe Club and rapidly becoming an internationally recognised venue for canoe polo and canoe slalom.