Aberdare, Wales
Aberdare-n't Go Out Without a Coat
"Where the valley echoes and the chip shops never close"
Official Coat of Arms
A shield bearing a crossed pickaxe and tram rail in memory of the coal and iron works long since closed, set above a rippling depiction of the River Cynon, with a bandstand rampant in the centre representing the one genuinely nice thing left in town. The motto beneath reads, roughly translated, 'We Used To Matter Enormously'.
TripAdvisor Review
★★★☆☆ 3/5
"Visited Aberdare Park which was genuinely lovely, the lake and the bandstand have real charm and the leisure centre is surprisingly good. However I got hopelessly lost trying to find parking in town and the high street has more empty shops than open ones these days. The Dare Valley Country Park redeemed the trip somewhat with a decent walk. Would come back for the park alone but wouldn't rush for the shopping."— Barry_Weekender, Newport
Property Listing
Charming terraced property in the heart of the historic Cynon Valley, mere minutes from the award-winning Aberdare Park and within striking distance of the stunning Brecon Beacons! Excellent transport links to Cardiff for those who, understandably, need to leave occasionally.
Twinned With
Merthyr Tydfil — Both towns spent the industrial revolution making the coal that built everyone else's cities and got left holding the empty pits.
Supporting Evidence
Aberdare was once so industrially significant that in the 19th century it had more pubs per head than almost anywhere else in Wales, fuelled by thousands of ironworkers and colliers.