Tredegar

Tredegar is a small industrial town in Monmouthshire, South Wales. It is by no means a major tourist destination, but it does have a certain off-the-beaten-path charm and is located on the edge of Brecon Beacons National Park, making it a fine base for hiking.

Bedwellty House

From the M4 (south) take A467 at junction 28 and then follow signs for Tredegar to A4048, from which the town centre is well signed. From the north, take the A40 to A465 towards Merthyr Tydfil. Turn left onto A4048 from the roundabout signed for Tredegar and then look for signs for the town centre.

There is a public parking lot on Morgan Street in the town centre. From there, the Town Clock and Bedwellty House are within easy walking distance. Ask at the local hostel or one of the bed and breakfast about bus options for travel into Brecon Beacons.

• 🌍 Bedwellty House and Park (south of the Town Clock along Morgan Street), ☏ +44 1495 355937, fax: +44 1495 355908, alyson.tippings@blaenau-gwent.gov.uk. A manor and public Victorian park built in 1818 for the then ironmaster of the Tredegar Iron Company. Well worth strolling around to admire, among other things, its arboretum and the world's largest lump of coal. The bandstand in the park stages various performances during the summer. Rooms in the manor may be rented out for meetings/events. 
• Town Clock, Morgan Street. A landmark hard to overlook, as it looms large over the town centre, the Tredegar Town Clock is 72 feet tall, wholly made cast-iron from the Tredegar iron works, and was erected in 1958. In fact, it is the tallest tower made solely of cast-iron in the world. 
• 🌍 Elliot Colliery Museum, Cross St, Elliott's Town, New Tredegar NP24 6EG. Tu-F 10:00-17:00, Sa 11:00-16:00. Huge winding engine built 1891. (updated Jul 2021)

Hiking is the activity of choice around Tredegar. For more details about hikes in Brecon Beacons, ask at the Hobo Backpackers Hostel or check the guide. Hiking (or mountain biking) is also possible closer to town in the Sirhowy Valley, directly to the east or west of town.

• Tafarn Ty-Uchaf (The Top House), Trefil Road (Head north from Tredegar along the A4048 until you reach the roundabout with A465, drive around to the opposite end to head towards Trefil), ☏ +44 1495 717690. It's a small pub, outside of Tredegar, but the food enjoys a high reputation among locals. 

• Bush Hotel, Park Row (Walk down Market Street from the Town Clock to the end, then turn left on Park Row), ☏ +44 1495 724145. A nice town pub offering live entertainment (free) on Saturday nights. 

• The Tredegar Arms (The Coach House), Morgan St. An old pub offering accommodation just down the main street from the Town Clock. 

There is plenty to see in the area around Tredegar, beyond the obvious Brecon Beacons National Park. Be sure to visit one of Europe's largest castles at Caerphilly, and the UNESCO World Heritage designated site of the historic Iron Pits at Blaenavon. A more off-the-beaten-path attraction can be found in the Cyfarther Castle at Merthyr Tydfil, just to the north along the A465.