waterfall
Sgwd yr Eira
Spectacular waterfall in the Brecon Beacons where you can walk behind the curtain of water on a natural rock ledge, a truly unique experience.
13 km · about 25 min drive
EuropeUnited KingdomWales
Maerdy
Wales, United Kingdom · Europe
About Maerdy
Maerdy works well as a base: 10 minutes from Aberdare, 13km from Nedd Fechan Gorge.
Maerdy is in Wales, United Kingdom. You drive on the left here. The nearest town is Aberdare, about 5 km away.
Maerdy (English: , Welsh: Y Maerdy) is a village and community (and electoral ward) in the county borough of Rhondda Cynon Taf, and within the historic county boundaries of Glamorgan, Wales, lying at the head of the Rhondda Fach Valley.
The village developed around Mardy Colliery, established in 1875, which becameRead more
central to the community until its closure in 1990. Maerdy gained national prominence during the early 20th century as a centre of miners' militancy and communist politics, earning the nickname "Little Moscow" due to the radical stance of its miners' lodge. The community was home to the Maerdy Workingmen's Hall and Institute, built in 1905, which served as the social, cultural, and educational heart of the village for over a century until its demolition in 2008.
Today, with a population of 3,160, Maerdy is a post-industrial community that commemorates its mining heritage through several memorials whilst facing the challenges of economic regeneration.
Where to Stay in Maerdy
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Explore the Area
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Frequently Asked Questions
What is there to see near Maerdy?
Within an hour or so of Maerdy: Sgwd yr Eira (13 km), Sgwd Gwladys (Lady Falls) (13 km), Nedd Fechan Gorge (13 km), Sgwd Clun-Gwyn (14 km).
Are there any good drives near Maerdy?
The nearest famous roads are Black Mountain Pass (A4069), Gospel Pass and Porlock Hill.
Where is Maerdy?
Maerdy is in Wales, United Kingdom, about 5 km from Aberdare.
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Quick Information
- Population
- 0
- Continent
- Europe
- Country
- United Kingdom
- Region
- Wales
- Timezone
- Europe/London
- Coordinates
- 51.6753, -3.4867
Emergency & Services
Essential numbers in United Kingdom
112 also works. NHS non-emergency medical advice: 111. National Highways breakdown assistance on motorways: 0300 123 5000.
Full driving guide for United KingdomTags
Worth the detour from Maerdy
8 notable places within an hour's drive.
waterfall
Sgwd Gwladys (Lady Falls)
A graceful fall on the Afon Pyrddin near Pontneddfechan, also walkable behind, in the heart of Waterfall Country.
13 km · about 25 min drive
natural wonder
Nedd Fechan Gorge
A limestone river gorge threaded with falls and caves between Pontneddfechan and Ystradfellte, the spine of Waterfall Country.
13 km · about 25 min drive
waterfall
Sgwd Clun-Gwyn
The first of the Four Waterfalls on the Afon Mellte, a wide stepped fall in the limestone gorge near Ystradfellte.
14 km · about 25 min drive
waterfall
Melincourt Falls
An 24m fall in the Neath Valley painted by Turner in 1795, reached by a short riverside path.
16 km · about 30 min drive
natural wonder
Pontsticill Reservoir
A long reservoir beneath Pen y Fan served by the Brecon Mountain Railway, with forest trails along its eastern shore.
18 km · about 20 min drive
waterfall
Henrhyd Falls
At 27m the highest waterfall in south Wales, and the Batcave entrance in The Dark Knight Rises; reached by a steep wooded path.
18 km · about 20 min drive
cafe
Rattlesnake Biker Cafe
A characterful biker cafe in the Brecon Beacons serving as a popular pit stop for riders exploring the stunning Welsh mountain roads.
22 km · about 25 min drive
Driving roads near Maerdy
- 23 kmPen y FanThe highest peak in southern Britain at 886 metres, the flat-topped summit of the Brecon Beacons offering sweeping views across Wales.
- 23 kmCorn DuPen y Fan's twin summit at 873m, with a Bronze Age cairn and the finest view over the Beacons' north escarpment.
- 31 kmBlack Mountain Pass (A4069)Top Gear's favourite British road, a smooth, empty ribbon of hairpins and open bends over the western Brecon Beacons between Llangadog and Brynamman.
- 36 kmSugar Loaf (Y Fal)A 596m conical hill above Abergavenny with a 360-degree view over the Usk valley and the Black Mountains; easy from the car park.
- 40 kmWaun FachThe highest point of the Black Mountains at 811m, a broad peaty summit above the Vale of Ewyas and the Gospel Pass.
- 41 kmSkirrid Fawr (Ysgyryd Fawr)A landslipped 486m ridge above Abergavenny whose split profile gave rise to the legend it cracked at the Crucifixion.
Driving in United Kingdom
- Drives on
- the left
- Petrol
- ~€1.73/litre
- Motorway tolls
- None
When to drive here
April to October
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