Points of Interest

Formerly named the Oval Basin, this is the start or finish point of the Taff Trail and is located in Cardiff Bay, adjacent to the Wales Millennium Centre. It is named after the author, Roald Dahl, who is famed for children's books such as The Twits, James and the Giant Peach and Matilda.

The Oval Basin opened in April 2000 and was designed by William Pye, in conjunction with Nicholas Hare Architects. It was renamed in July 2002 and appears in Torchwood and Doctor Who, both of which are filmed in and around Cardiff.

Opened in 2004 by Queen Elizabeth II, the Wales Millennium Centre is one of the world's finest and most recognised arts and cultural destinations. It is used to host performances by international artists and groups. There are plenty of places to eat and drink both within the Centre and in the surrounding Cardiff Bay area.

You can find out more about the Wales Millennium Centre by visiting the official website.

Named after the Duke of Clarence, this modern crossing replaced the old swing-bridge that originally stood at this location. It joins the Grangetown and Butetown areas of Cardiff.

With over 2000 years of history, Cardiff Castle is one of Wales' oldest and most well-known castles. Over the centuries, the Castle has been a Roman Garrison, a Norman stronghold and, in Victorian times, was transformed into a gothic fairytale fantasy.

Cardiff Castle can be found in Cardiff City Centre alongside Bute Park and is just a stone's throw from the Taff Trail. You can find out more at the official Cardiff Castle website.

The Principality Stadium is Wales' national stadium and is situated on the east bank of the River Taff in Cardiff City Centre. Formerly known as the Wales Millenium Stadium, it is home of the Welsh Rugby Union Team and is also used to host football and music events including London 2012 Women's Football Olympic matches and concerts from the world's biggest pop and rock musicians. It has a capacity of 72,500.

You can find out more about the Principality Stadium by visiting the official website.

The River House is an independent backpackers hostel situated on the west bank of the River Taff in Riverside. The multi-award winning, family-run hostel offers bed and breakfast at reasonable rates.

You can find out more at the River House Backpackers website.

Blackweir Bridge connects the areas of Blackweir and Pontcanna. It is a white suspension bridge situated on the weir and fishpass.

Situated just a few minutes walk or cycle from Cardiff town centre, the Swalec Stadium is the home of Glamorgan Cricket Club. It has a capacity of around 2000 in the main seating area and the suites/boxes.

You can find more information on the Swalec Stadium website.

This is a great resting point along the Taff Trail as there is a small metal bench right on the weir. From here you'll be able to see the Rowing Club and watch rowers setting off or returning to shore.

Built in 1795, the Melingriffith Water Wheel was installed to pump water to the Melingriffith canal between Maindy and Cardiff Docks. It was used until the late 1920s and is now a significant landmark on the Taff Trail.

More information can be found here.

The weir in Radyr is a great place to stop and rest. Completely overhauled and improved in 2016. the weir is now home to a hydro-electricity plant that generates energy for the surrounding area by means of two giant turbines. There are plenty of places to sit and it is a lovely place to relax while watching the wildlife.

The Blue Bridge is a passageway from the Taff Trail across the river to Radyr train station. It is situated a little way south of Radyr Weir.

Castell Coch (Red Castle) was designed by William Burgess in 1871 and built between 1875 and 1891 for the third marquess of Bute, John Patrick Crichton-Stuart, whose main residence was Cardiff Castle.

The Gothic Revival castle is built on the remains of a thirteenth century fortification and is impressive in its medieval design and appearance. It has a working portcullis and drawbridge and interiors that rival those of Cardiff Castle. It has been stated that it is 'the most spectacular example of (Burgess') translation from High Gothic into High Victorian'.

Leading across the River Taff to Gelynis Farm and Radyr, the Iron Bridge offers great views across Tongwynlais and Castell Coch to the north. Gelynis Farm has a tea room that is open most days, although this is a slight diversion from the Taff Trail. Continuing a short distance further, safely crossing the railway and then either by means of the sports field or climbing the steep steps you can reach the Ty Nant pub which has larger beer garden than the Lewis Arms.

The Ty Nant is also a Brains pub and you can find more information here.

The Lewis Arms is a pub and restaurant on the corner of Merthyr Road, the main road running through Tongwynlais, and Mill Road which leads up to Castell Coch. It is a popular resting point for users of the Taff Trail and you will often see ramblers and cyclists sitting in the small beer garden.

You can find out more about the Lewis Arms on the Brains website.

The Bunch of Grapes is a pub and restaurant on Ynysangharad Road in Pontypridd and was built around 1800. You can find a large selection of cask ales and a great choice of food which combines locally sourced ingredients with top quality cooking.

Find out more at the Bunch of Grapes official website.

The Chain House is a simple but intimate space where great coffee, quality food and classic cocktails are their priority. You can find out more on The Chain House's Facebook page

Situated on Merthyr Road, just across from the A470, The Royal Oak is a great Chinese restaurant. It is slightly off the Taff Trail and if you are planning on stopping here you'll need to turn off Coedpenmaen Road onto Dodington Place (under the A470) and then follow the road round and turn left onto Merthyr Road.

This large park on the east side of Pontypridd has plenty of fun things for kids and adults alike. There is a splash zone and play area for the young ones and plenty of open space for picnics, football and other outdoor activities.

The park's open-air swimming pool closed in 1991 but was restored in 2016 as part of a £2.3million lottery funded programme. RCT Council expects 30,000 people a year to use the pool.

The community cafe has a light and airy space and bi-folding doors which lead to a raised deck overlooking the valley. Open from 8.00am to 5.00pm, the cafe serves a selection of tasty snacks as well as an all-day breakfast option.

This friendly pub is situated on Dan-y-Twyn, just a few yards from the Taff Trail. There is a beer garden at the rear of the pub which is suitable for children as it is fully enclosed.

This cosy pub and restaurant situated on Ash Road in Troed-y-Rhiw is an ideal stop off and is right on the Taff Trail as you pass through this village. Sky Sports is available as well as a pool table and an outside area. Wifi is available via The Cloud.

Situated on the Taff Trail in Pentrebach, Pentrebach House is a Whitbread pub and restaurant with friendly staff and hearty food. Pentrebach House is well presented with a warm interior.

You can find out more from their website.

The castle was designed by Richard Lugar for the Crawshay family and was built in 1824 at a cost of £30,000. Since 1910, the castle has been a museum and school.

The castle underwent an extensive refurbishment in 1992. For more information visit the official website.

Built in 1866, the Cefn Coed Railway Viaduct was used to take the Brecon and Merthyr Railway across the River Taff. It was designed by A Sutherland and built by Savel and Ward. The span consists of 15 openings, each at a height of just under 12m. The viaduct spans 221m.

An unusual feature of the viaduct is its curvature as opposed to the normal straight span. It is Wales' third largest viaduct and cost £25000 to build.

A very warm welcome awaits you at The Station Hotel - a traditional village pub with a modern hint as you enter located at the top of Cefn Coed (overlooking the historic Merthyr Tydfil viaduct).

Superb surroundings, friendly faces and a relaxed environment make this the perfect place to unwind and enjoy quality food and drink.

Visit The Station website

Situated right by the Talybont Reservoir, Danywenallt Hostel is surrounded by wooded slopes, high peaks, waterfalls and trails. There is ample opportunity to go walking, sailing, cycling and horse riding from this location.

Most rooms have private facilities, there’s a comfortable lounge and a fully-licensed catering service specialising in local produce and flavours. Take a look at the Danywenallt Hostel website for more information.

The Tipple 'n' Tiffin is a restaurant and bar at the Brecon Theatre. It is open for lunches and dinners and is featured in the Good Food Guide 2012.

You can find more information on the official website or by calling 01874 611866.