Dare Valley Country Park

View prices & book 8.8 617 reviews
Beautiful
Beautiful
Rainbow days
The big lake at dare valley country park
View of the lake
On the site
Nice spacious site
One of the lakes in dare valley country park
The views from dare valley
1/401
Rainbow days
The big lake at dare valley country park
View of the lake

  • A scenic 500-acre site on an old colliery at the Brecon Beacons’ edge
  • A five-minute drive to Aberdare and 15 minutes to Penderyn Distillery
  • Playgrounds and cafeteria on site; walk to a family bike park
If you’re wanting a countryside Welsh holiday close to southern Wales’ mightiest mountain range, settle in for a few days or more at Dare Valley Country Park: this site in Mid Glamorgan sits on top of an old colliery a five-minute drive from the old mining town of Aberdare on the outskirts of the Brecon Beacons. The whopping 500 acres of space at the park means wanders (among lush valley views) are par for the course, with trails leading off into the countryside straight from the site too. Within the country park, make your way to the Dare Valley Gravity Family Bike Park, which has uplift services. You might also be hard-pressed luring kids away from the two playgrounds (the biggest has a sandpit, slides and swings) or partners from a cafeteria that opens daily for freshly prepped breakfast, lunch and snacks... If they’re really not keen to come away from this scenic place, bribe them with the mountain biking trails at BikePark Wales, about 20 minutes away. For grownups, golf at a parkland course with manicured meadow lawns and mature oaks is less than a 10-minute drive from the site. And if you really need to bring out the big guns (for the big folk, that is)? There’s always the lure of a tour and tasting session at Penderyn Distillery Visitor Centre (within 15 minutes)… This whisky making centre’s in the southern part of the Brecon Beacons; travelling a touch further (half an hour in all from the site) leads right into the middle of the national park for ambles around green hills.

Site type

Touring caravan pitches 16
Motorhome pitches 16
Open all year
Opens

Tourist board rating

Please note
  • No hen/stag parties permitted via Pitchup.com.
  • Commercial vehicles (vehicles used for work-related purposes, carrying goods or fare-paying passengers) and sign-written vehicles are not permitted on site.
  • Reception is unmanned after 5 p.m.. Please inform the site while on your way there should you expect to arrive after this time, so that the team can provide information about your unit/pitch.
  • At least one of the party members must be aged 18 or over.
  • Swimming in the lake is not allowed.

Languages spoken

English

No availability here for your search criteria

Pitch types & availability

Accommodation

Tent pitchesTouring caravan pitchesMotorhome pitchesLodges, cabins, pods or hutsCaravans for hireRent a tent
Choose your dates
2 adults
0 children

Reviews

8.8

Overall rating from 617 Pitchup.com customers

  • 57%
    10
  • 3%
    9
  • 25%
    8
  • 1%
    7
  • 7%
    6
  • 0%
    5
  • 1%
    4
  • 0%
    3
  • 1%
    2
  • 0%
    1
Location
 9
Value for money
 9
Accommodation
 9
Facilities / Activities
 9
Customer service
 9
Child friendliness
 9
Cleanliness
 9
Wifi
 5
Walkers' paradisePeaceful

90% would recommend this site to a friend

88% would stay here again

What customers say

Dare Valley Country Park: beautiful, tranquil spot. Spacious, level pitches & clean facilities praised. Lots of walks, cycling, cafe, playgrounds & dog-friendly. New management is improving things. Highly recommended for nature & outdoor fun.

Summary AI-generated from Pitchup.com customer reviews

Reviews page 1 of 62
Arrival date (latest first)

We had a very enjoyable stay.

Overall

8 out of 10
Location
 9
Value for money
 9
Accommodation
 No rating
Facilities / Activities
 9
Customer service
 No rating
Child friendliness
 No rating
Cleanliness
 9
Wifi
 No rating
Daryll C.

Electric hardstanding and grass motorhome pitch

Liked Superb location. Lots of walking and cycling routes.
The site was well laid out and the facilities were clean tidy, being relatively new.
There is a cafe on site which offers a range of meals and drinks.
Aberdare is a short walk, approx 25 minutes) away but you do need a torch if walking at night as there is no lighting on the drive into the Park.

Disliked There is no lighting on the site other than at the facilities. At this time of year (late October) it is extremely dark so torches are a must.

Recommend to friends Visit again

Very peaceful site

Overall

9 out of 10
Location
 9
Value for money
 8
Accommodation
 No rating
Facilities / Activities
 8
Customer service
 10
Child friendliness
 No rating
Cleanliness
 10
Wifi
 10
Carol N.

Electric hardstanding and grass motorhome pitch

Liked It was so easy to access and find our pitch. We had a very quiet night (apart from the wind). Nice big clean showers.

Disliked There was no seat in the shower.

Recommend to friends Visit again

Quiet site, clean facilities, flat pitches.Great…

Overall

7 out of 10
Location
 10
Value for money
 6
Accommodation
 No rating
Facilities / Activities
 8
Customer service
 8
Child friendliness
 No rating
Cleanliness
 8
Wifi
 6
Anonymous

Electric hardstanding and grass motorhome pitch

Liked Quiet site, clean facilities, flat pitches.Great location to explore Brecons, walking routes from the park.

Disliked No hot water. Facilities were clean but there were spider nests on the ceiling that would take seconds to get rid of.

Recommend to friends Visit again

Lovely campsite in a great location.…

Overall

10 out of 10
Location
 10
Value for money
 10
Accommodation
 No rating
Facilities / Activities
 10
Customer service
 10
Child friendliness
 No rating
Cleanliness
 10
Wifi
 No rating
Simon K.

Electric hardstanding and grass motorhome pitch

Liked Lovely campsite in a great location. Friendly and helpful staff. Site facilities clean and well looked after. Had a pleasant stay.

Recommend to friends Visit again

Loved it will return

Overall

10 out of 10
Location
 10
Value for money
 10
Accommodation
 No rating
Facilities / Activities
 10
Customer service
 No rating
Child friendliness
 No rating
Cleanliness
 No rating
Wifi
 No rating
Charlotte B.

Electric hardstanding and grass motorhome pitch

Liked Clean facilities. Great location. Lovely setting. Quiet overnight. No check in needed, codes sent for gate entry.

Disliked Difficulty contacting. We followed an incorrect postcode 1st leading us down a narrow road.

Recommend to friends Visit again

Nice welcome at reception. odern clean…

Overall

9 out of 10
Location
 8
Value for money
 8
Accommodation
 No rating
Facilities / Activities
 8
Customer service
 9
Child friendliness
 No rating
Cleanliness
 9
Wifi
 10
Jason B.

Electric hardstanding and grass motorhome pitch

Liked Nice welcome at reception. odern clean facilities.
Great location with nice walks. Nice play area for kids ( Have brought grandkids here just for the park).
Great cafe, reasonably priced and good cooked breakfast.

Disliked Nothing

Recommend to friends Visit again

Great site. Level pitches. Facilities immaculate…

Overall

10 out of 10
Location
 10
Value for money
 6
Accommodation
 No rating
Facilities / Activities
 9
Customer service
 9
Child friendliness
 No rating
Cleanliness
 10
Wifi
 No rating
Anonymous

Electric hardstanding and grass motorhome pitch

Liked Great site. Level pitches. Facilities immaculate and hot water and water pressure excellent.

Recommend to friends Visit again

Enjoyed stay on the whole & would return.It's in a lovely country park

Overall

8 out of 10
Location
 10
Value for money
 9
Accommodation
 No rating
Facilities / Activities
 10
Customer service
 2
Child friendliness
 No rating
Cleanliness
 5
Wifi
 1
Ruth B.

Electric hardstanding and grass motorhome pitch

Liked Lovely small site with level pitches. Surrounding countryside and views lovely. Close proximity to cafe which serves good food. Loads of walk opportunities ( and mountain biking but we didn't partake). Riding school nearby.... nearly went but they were fully booked. Fab area for hacking out.
- Super dog friendly.
- The disabled shower room is fabulously kitted out..... including a hoist!

Disliked - Security on gates broken.
- Little evidence of cleaning showers etc but they weren't too bad as it was quiet.
- Large public car park next door hosted ''car party'' on the Saturday with ''boom bass'' loud til 4am.
- Never saw any staff but did have a phone number given to us.

Recommend to friends Visit again

Really easy check in (we were…

Overall

8 out of 10
Location
 7
Value for money
 9
Accommodation
 No rating
Facilities / Activities
 9
Customer service
 10
Child friendliness
 10
Cleanliness
 10
Wifi
 No rating
Liz F.

Electric hardstanding and grass motorhome pitch

Liked Really easy check in (we were later but the codes etc were all easily obtained over the phone).

Excellent and clean facilities, good pitch and lovely location. Having the cafe onsite for a nice breakfast was good and we had a great walk the following morning.

Recommend to friends Visit again

Lovely one night stop. Will be back! Thank you!

Overall

9 out of 10
Location
 10
Value for money
 8
Accommodation
 No rating
Facilities / Activities
 10
Customer service
 9
Child friendliness
 No rating
Cleanliness
 10
Wifi
 3
Anonymous

Electric hardstanding and grass motorhome pitch

Liked It was quiet and relaxed in a beautiful setting. Clean roomy facilities.

Disliked It wasn’t quite clear where to go to check in. Just a small sign on the gate which was easily missed.

Recommend to friends Visit again

Features

Dogs allowed

Leisure on site

Bar or club house Cycle hire Evening entertainment Fishing Fitness centre Games room Indoor swimming pool Kids' club On-site restaurant/cafe Outdoor swimming pool Play area TV room Take away Tennis Watersports

Amenities on site

Baby-changing facilities Bath available Composting toilet Dog park Drying room Food shop Free wifi Ice pack freezing Internet access Launderette Parent & baby washroom Pick-up from public transport Portable toilet Pub toilets Public telephone Shower available Toilet block Washing-up area Wifi

Groups welcome

D. of E. welcome Family friendly Motorcycle friendly Rallies welcome Single-sex groups welcome Student groups welcome

Rules

Barbecue provided Barbecues allowed Campfires allowed Commercial vehicles allowed Dogs allowed Dogs allowed all year

Themes

Budget/backpacker Forest Lake and/or mountain Peaceful Spectacular scenery Walkers' paradise

Utilities

Charging facilities Chemical disposal Electric car charging point(s) Gas cylinders available Recycling available Renewable energy

Nearby amenities

Bar nearby Dog walk nearby

Type

Medium (26-50 pitches)

Accessibility

Accessible parking at pitch Bathrooms: Large spacious shower Bathrooms: Large spacious toilet Bathrooms: Step-free access Bathrooms: Wheelchair accessible shower Bathrooms: Wheelchair accessible toilet Level site, no steep slopes Pitch close to accessible bathrooms

Nearby leisure

Canoeing/kayaking nearby Climbing nearby Cycle hire nearby Cycling nearby Fishing nearby Golf nearby Horse riding nearby Mountain biking nearby Restaurant nearby

Touring and motorhomes

Water hook-up points for tourers

Location

Dare Valley Country Park

Aberdare

Glamorgan

Wales

CF44 7PS

Directions

Timezone

Europe/London GMT (GMT+00:00)

GPS

51.71267°N
3.46943°W

Route directions

If you are using a satnav, please use the postcode CF44 7PS.

Nearest transport

Coach
1.9 km Bus Station
7.2 km Bus Station
16.9 km Lidl
Rail
1.8 km Aberdare Rail Station
4 km Cwmbach Rail Station
5.9 km Fernhill Rail Station
Ferry
32.3 km Cardiff Castle Waterbus Stop
33.1 km Taffs Mead Waterbus Stop
33.5 km Swansea Queens Dock Ferry Terminal
Airport
36.1 km Cardiff International Airport
43.2 km Swansea Airport

Please note: All distances on this page are calculated "as the crow flies" - please check actual distance depending on your mode of travel using the Get directions button above.

Local attractions

Head about half an hour west of the site into the Brecon Beacons and get to the national park’s waterfall country, home to falls with nicely tongue-tripping names like Sgwd Gwladys (30 minutes’ drive) and Sgwd Yr Eira (35 minutes). The former’s just the place for wild swimming in a deep plunge pool surrounded by woodland... Drier times are to be had at stately piles about 35 minutes south of the park, including Caerphilly Castle with its massive moat and towers or smaller Castell Coch reconstructed in a fairytale style in the Victorian era by well-known architect William Burgess. Cardiff (40 minutes away) also has its own castle with renovations by Burgess – head to this swish city for cool concerts and sports events at the Principality Stadium or just check out the boutiques in the Victorian shopping arcades. For another architecturally intriguing manor home from a different era, the Tudor-style Tredegar House is 45 minutes away from the park.

Water quality at nearby bathing waters

Name Distance Type 2020201920182017
Aberafan 27.4 km Estuary N/AGoodGoodGood
Trecco Bay Porthcawl 30.1 km Sea ExcellentExcellentExcellentExcellent
Sandy Bay Porthcawl 30.3 km Sea ExcellentExcellentExcellentExcellent
Rest Bay Porthcawl 30.5 km Sea ExcellentExcellentExcellentExcellent
Southerndown 31.1 km Sea ExcellentExcellentExcellentExcellent

Data source: European Environment Agency

Must see

Penderyn Distillery Visitor Centre 6.8 km

Brecon Mountain Railway 11.9 km

National Showcaves of Wales 19.6 km

Aberdulais Falls 21.6 km

Caerphilly Castle 22.8 km

National Trust

Aberdulais Falls 21.7 km

Aberdeunant 41 km

Cycle routes

Find local routes on the National Cycle Network - over 12,000 miles of cycling routes.

Other

Treherbert to Aberdare 6.4 km

Pontneddfechan - Hepste Waterfalls - Pontneddfechan 9.1 km

Pontneddfechan - Scwd Einion Gam Waterfall 9.9 km

Porth-yr-ogof, Nedd and Mellte Waterfalls 11.4 km

Waterfall Circuit 11.4 km

Please note: All distances on this page are calculated "as the crow flies" - please check actual distance depending on your mode of travel using the Get directions button above.

Want to know more about camping in Glamorgan?

Frequently asked questions

  • Does Dare Valley Country Park have a swimming pool? No View all features
  • Is Dare Valley Country Park dog friendly? Yes View all features
  • What attractions are near Dare Valley Country Park? Head about half an hour west of the site into the Brecon Beacons and get to the national park’s waterfall country, home to falls with nicely tongue-tripping names like Sgwd Gwladys (30 … Read more
  • When can I check in and check out of Dare Valley Country Park?
    Camping and touring
    Arrive:  1 p.m. –  6:30 p.m.
    Depart by:  noon
    On-site accommodation
    Arrive:  1 p.m. –  6:30 p.m.
    Depart by:  noon
    Read more
  • How much does it cost to stay at Dare Valley Country Park? From R635,81 (for 1 night, 2 adults) - prices may change depending on your dates and party.