Dare Valley Country Park has been the focus of sustainable works to develop and deliver multi-user trails, with complementary interpretation and visitor infrastructure such as public benches and nature and ecology boards.
The new Tracks and Trails project is now complete and open to the public around the top lake area, reservoir and River Dare sections of the park.
The Council gained funding for the Tracks and Trails project from Welsh Government’s ‘Enabling Natural Resources and Well-Being in Wales’ grant scheme to deliver the project, with new interpretation and benches installed during the spring.
Councillor Ann Crimmings, Rhondda Cynon Taf Council’s Cabinet Member for Environment and Leisure, said: “I visit Dare Valley Country Park on a regular basis and never fail to be in awe of its natural beauty and surroundings. It is one of the many jewels in the Rhondda Cynon Taf crown.
“It attracts thousands of visitors each year and the completion of the new Tracks and Trails, along with the associated interpretation boards, add to the visitor experience.”
These improvements at Dare Valley Country Park have seen the creation of green infrastructure resulting in economic and community benefits through increased visitor numbers and usage.
The works has included the reinstatement and extension of existing sustainable paths within Dare Valley Country Park, with a hardcore compacted base. The original paths had completely eroded over time but have now been replaced to their former glory.
The re-established pathway’ widths have also been increased significantly where possible and have been delivered on terrain with a relatively flat gradient. All the works undertaken complement the surrounding natural environment and are accompanied by ecology-based interpretation.
The reinstatement works to this network of informal paths, in addition to the already established and extensive hard surface and informal nature-based networks throughout Dare Valley Country Park provide users with a mix of surfaces on which to explore the area.
Dare Valley Country Park, situated in Aberdare, is one of the most exciting and diverse destinations in South Wales, with over 200 acres of open space packed with things to do.
It is home to Gravity Family Bike Park, where riders can take on mountain-side trails with pump tracks to test their skills on along the way. Visitors can bring their own bikes or hire on site.
