While driving to the National Park, make a short stop at Cyfarthfa Castle Museum and Art Gallery, a home to an eclectic range of artworks, historical archives and fascinating artefacts. It was built in 1824 for the Ironmaster, William Crawshay II. After the Crawshay family vacated the castle in the late nineteenth century, it was converted into a museum, which first opened its doors in 1910.

Park your car at this car park before embarking on the 1.5km walk to Sgwd Clun-Gwyn Waterfall.

After a short hike, stop for a picnic lunch at the first waterfall along the route, Sgwd Clun-Gwyn. From the bird’s eye viewpoint here, you can admire the waterfall tumbling over the rocks below. It makes a tranquil and scenic spot for a lunch break, offering a calm moment of respite amid the hike.

Sgwd Yr Eira, meaning 'fall of snow' in Welsh, is one of the best-known waterfalls in the Brecon Beacons. While it's a marvellous place to visit all year round, it's said to look especially beautiful in the spring or after rainfall. There’s even a footpath behind the vail of cascading water here, enabling you to stand under the falls and look out.
Found in the heart of the Waterfall Country, Sgwd Yr Eira is a central part of the Four Waterfalls walking route running from Pontneddfechan to Afon Sychryd.

Follow the trail to the next waterfall, Sgwd Isaf Clun-Gwyn. This waterfall drops down over 30 metres downhill in four or five stages. Pay attention to the Sgwd y Pannwr waterfall, which you will meet along the way.
As you descend further into the gorge, look out for wild flowers such as cowslip and bell heather growing amongst heathers and bracken ferns.

Time to hop in the car after hiking and rest your legs for a few minutes before embarking on the next activity on the itinerary.

It’s not every day you get to experience zip wiring along the world’s fastest seated zip line. But it is the day when you’ll get to do just that! Situated in the Rhigos mountain range and boasting amazing panoramic views of the Cynon Valley, Zip World Tower is an outdoor adventure park located in the former Tower Colliery coal mining site. Wales has long been known for its coal mining history and the important role the nation played in the Industrial Revolution, making this rare experience at the historic site incredibly special and memorable.
You’ll find Zip World Tower, Aberdare on the south edge of the Brecon Beacons National Park. It’s home to the record-breaking ‘Phoenix’, a zip wire that’ll take you across the Llyn Fawr reservoir, flying above the trees at up to 70 mph and spanning over 1.5 km in total. It’ll be an adventure to say the least!
Visit the Zip World’s website to check availability and book activities.

The Rhigos Viewpoint, also known as Craig y Llyn, offers sweeping panoramic views of the Vale of Neath and the Cynon Valley. In fact, at just under 2,000 ft, the Rhigos Viewpoint is said to be the highest point in the historic county of Glamorgan. On a clear day, you can see the two highest peaks in the Brecon Beacons, ‘Pen y Fan’ and ‘Corn Du’ and across to the Mumbles in Swansea. Come evening, you can also see the stars in all their glory too. It’s a popular roadside stopping point for hikers and tourists, and you can either jump out here to stretch your legs and soak up the view, or stay in the car to enjoy it from there.

After the excitement of the day, it’s time to slow down, unwind and enjoy a lovely evening meal. The Red Lion, Aberdare is perched atop a hill overlooking the small village of Penderyn and the Brecon Beacons National Park. It’s a family-run, 12th century gastropub with homely log fires and a friendly, inviting feel. Here, you can look forward to traditional real ales and a carefully crafted food menu reflecting the best produce of the season.
You can book a table in advance on the website.