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Parc Penallta

Mid Glamorgan  >  United Kingdom

180 hectare former colliery, relandscaped to include wildflower meadows, marsh, fishing lakes and 60,000 ton sculpture of 'Sultan the pit pony'.

Added* by Iain Crawford
Most recent update 1 joulukuu 2022
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Description

There are few birding locations in the mining valleys of South Wales so this one, Parc Penallta, begun 1996, is very welcome. Good habitat for warblers, tikli, isokoskelo, harmaahaikara, koskikara, kuningaskalastaja, käpytikka and vihertikka. Orchids in the meadows.

Details

Access

Just west of Ystrad Mynach, north of Cardiff. By car - Follow the brown tourist signs at Tredomen roundabout on the A472 at Ystrad Mynach. The main entrance and car park is located midway between Ystrad Mynach and Gelligaer on Penalltau Road. By bus - Services C16 Caerphilly to Nelson, Service C17 Bargoed to Caerphilly and Service 7 Blackwood to Pontypridd. By bike - NCN R47 runs through the lower part of the park. Nearest railway station - Ystrad Mynach (10 minute walk) & Hengoed (30 minute walk).

There are two car parks; the main car park (off Penalltau Road) is more handily located for the upper part of the site including Sultan the Pit Pony, the Events Arena and the High Point Observatory. Fforest car park, off the A472 offers easier access to the lower part of the site for the National Cycle Network, the Crannog Lake or the Fishing Lakes. Please note that the barrier to Fforest car park closes at 5:30pm (summer) and 4:30pm (winter). The park is open all year round. It is also free to access the park. The circular walk indicated on the map is about 4 km.

Terrain and Habitat

Scattered trees and bushes , Grassland , River , Reedbeds , Lake

Conditions

Open landscape , Hilly

Circular trail

Yes

Is a telescope useful?

Can be useful

Good birding season

Spring , Summer

Best time to visit

Spring

Route

Wide path

Difficulty walking trail

Easy

Accessible by

Bicycle

Birdwatching hide / platform

No

Links

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Map

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