Your New Year Bucket List in Rhondda Cynon Taf
Rhondda Cynon Taf is home to many unique experiences to add to your bucket list, from tabletop mountains to nationally recognised eateries, there is something for everyone!
World class landscapes you won’t want to miss
Penpych is Rhondda’s hidden gem – one of only two tabletop spur mountains in Europe, this walk is definitely one to add to your bucket list. Discover waterfalls and fairy pools, ancient forestry and a trek to what feels like the top of the world!
Dare Valley Country Park is a local favourite, for families and nature buffs alike. Here, in the 500 acres of outstanding natural beauty, you will find the most southerly Glacial Cwms in the British Isles. You'd have to travel thousands of miles further South, to the Pyrenees and Alps mountain ranges, before you found other such examples. Much easier to come to Dare Valley Country Park instead.
Experience stunning landscapes and walk in the footsteps of history by following the route of the Penrhys Pilgrimage. Follow the beautiful 21-mile route to a site that has attracted those seeking healing since pre-Christian days. The statue of Our Lady is a stone replica of the wooden statue of Mary, holding an infant Jesus, that is said to have mysteriously appeared in bushes at the site.
One-of-a-kind attractions
You won’t find another destination in Wales like The National Lido of Wales, Lido Ponty. It lies in the heart of historic Pontypridd, where the Welsh National anthem was written and Sir Tom Jones began his crooning. It’s a stunning restoration of the Art Deco Lido that first opened in the 1920s and retains many of its original features.
The Royal Mint Experience is worthy of a place on your bucket list, being the only one of its kind in the UK. You can discover 1,100 years of history right here in Rhondda Cynon Taf, with the mint moving to call Llantrisant home after spending centuries located in the Tower of London.
You can’t visit Rhondda Cynon Taf without visiting A Welsh Coal Mining Experience at Rhondda Heritage Park Museum. Join former miners as they take you underground and back in time. Hear about the life of miners and their communities, and how Rhondda coal was so well known, it was used to power the Titanic!
Don’t just see the landscape, experience it
Rhondda Cynon Taf offers many ways to get involved in the landscape, more than just hiking. Zip World Tower offers a different view of our scenery. Marvel at the stunning Rhigos Mountain range while ziplining on Pheonix, the fastest seated zipline in the world, soaring at up to 70mph! After ziplining you can tackle a number of other attractions on site, such as the Tower Climber, the UK’s largest adventure course of its kind.
Tick several things off your bucket list at once at Taff Valley Activity Centre. Here, you can quad bike through 360 acres of wild farmland including woodlands, bumpy tracks, and stretches of fields. Once you’ve ticked quad biking off your list, you can also book on to clay pigeon shooting, archery, axe throwing, an assault course, and more! Winners of a Trip Adviser Travellers Choice Award 2025, visitors here always want to go back for more.
Take a relaxing walk through Garth Hall Farm, with an alpaca in hand. Garth Hall Farm is a working farm, offering experiences including alpaca walking and visits. This includes a private guided tour of the farm through stunning scenery, with your very own fluffy alpaca to walk. Who doesn’t have alpaca walking on their bucket list?
Restaurants with a difference
Rhondda Cynon Taf is home to culinary experiences you won’t find anywhere else – home to Welsh and British award-winning eateries guaranteed to tickle your tastebuds.
If you are looking for luxury, then look no further than BLOK based in Lanelay Hall Hotel and Spa. Expect to dine in style surrounded by their award-winning interior. Steak is their speciality, earning them 55th position in the list of the Worlds 101 Best Steak Restaurants of 2025, and making it a perfect addition to your bucket list.
Janets Authentic Northern Chinese, winners at the British Street Food Awards, should be on any foodies list. Their menu features dishes from South East Asia, with a particular concentration on the Yanbian area of China and Korea. Janet and her restaurant have even appeared on TV, with celebrity chefs Matt Tebbutt and Andi Oliver visiting!
Stepping into The Prince’s isn’t just a step into a bakery and café, it’s a step back in time. The Prince’s cafe has been a staple in Pontypridd town centre for almost 80 years, still run by the same family. Apart from the freshly baked bread and treats that will make your mouth water, the décor is what makes this café feel like a time machine. The art deco design has largely been untouched since it opened and earns it a place on many people’s bucket lists.
