Clydach Vale Countryside Park is the latest beauty spot to benefit from Rhondda Cynon Taf Council’s Countryside investment scheme, benefitting residents and visitors alike.
By the end of the investment programme, some £300,000 will have been invested over two years to clear spaces, manage weeds and overgrowth, erect fences and boundaries, create or protect pathways, install seating and picnic areas and ensure our beautiful open spaces can be enjoyed by all.
Clydach Vale plus Barry Sidings Country Park and Dare Valley Countryside Parks – plus their visitors – will all benefit from the improvements and investment.
The latest work planned for the ongoing investment will see:
The removal of willow and other scrub/small trees that are overgrowing along Nant Clydach, which runs from the bottom lake (with the café) to the top lake (with the waterfall). Works will concentrate on the section from the ford to the bottom lake.
Work began on Monday, September 8 and contractors estimate it will take two weeks to complete (working all day, weekdays only). Access will be maintained throughout this time, but contractors may have to fence off areas to the side of the pathway in order to complete their work.
Visitors to the countryside park during this period are urged to remain aware there are works in progress, especially when dog-walking or horse-riding on the pathway.
Further work will see the removal of weeds from the bottom lake at the end of September. This work will not require any closures of the path that circles the lake, or the opening of the café and community facilities.
Two further picnic benches are also set to be installed within the countryside park, in addition to the four that have already been installed in recent months.
The latest phase of improvement works follows earlier schemes to improve drainage on the pathway that runs between the two lakes, replace the stepping stones at the top lake and improve/repair the pathway around the bottom lake.
Clydach Vale Countryside Park is a significant attraction for those who live nearby and also visitors from across the UK, who visit to enjoy the lakes, wildlife, open spaces and walks in the stunning surrounding landscape.
The Lakeside Café, which serves a range of hot and cold meals, snacks and drinks – served on a terrace with lovely views over the lake, as well as mountain bike hire, guided walks and more have cemented the countryside park’s position as an attraction for all.
As with all countryside parks in Rhondda Cynon Taf – read more about them here – it is vital they are maintained and improved wherever possible, to ensure the best possible experience for visitors.
The Countryside Investment Programme has also enabled significant improvements at Dare Valley Countryside Park in Aberdare. Work has been completed there to:
- Install fencing and gates for the caravan site and visitor centre Resurfacing of the top lake car park
- Improvements to the tarmac outside Green Meadow Riding Centre to improve safety for pedestrians
- Creation of a dog run
- Removal of weeds in the top lake
- Completion of hedge walls
- New flooring in the toilet area, corridors, conference room, residents’ lounge, oval room and conservatory area.
- New furniture for the conservatory, conference room and outdoor courtyard
- New laundry facilities for the caravan site.
At Barry Sidings Countryside Park, following completed works to improve the car park and weed cutting in the pond, further work is planned this year to improve the bike pump track, improve the car park to allow additional parking capacity and pond restoration work to desilt them and improve the banks and drainage.
Cllr Ann Crimmings, Rhondda Cynon Taf Council’s Cabinet Member for Environment and Leisure, said: “We are rightly proud of our lovely countryside parks. Each of them has their own offer which makes them a magnet for visitors, who come from near and far to enjoy fresh air, beautiful open spaces, delicious food in the cafes, mountain biking walks, adventure play areas and more.
“That is why it is important the Council continues to commit investment that not only maintains these open spaces for the benefit of everyone, but actually improves and extends their offer. “
Posted on 18/09/2025