On a rare dry and sunny day, 13 of us gathered at Dare Valley Country Park for a delightful walk titled “Around The Parks of Aberdare.” Led by the wonderful Jenny, we were thrilled to welcome four new walkers to our group: Andrea, Stuart, Catherine, and Ron. Our adventure began with a steady climb to the top of the Daren, where we were rewarded with breathtaking views over the park, Cynon Valley, and as far as Pen Y Fan. We couldn’t resist stopping for the obligatory photo at the Welsh flag high on the mountainside! We then retraced our steps and followed the path along the Dare River to the Tarren y Bwllfa viewpoint. This spot offers stunning views of the Brecon Beacons and is known for its 8,000-year-old glacial formation, one of Britain’s most southerly and spectacular glacial cwms. Next, we headed towards the beautiful Aberdare Park, which opened on July 27, 1869. The park was landscaped by William Barron and has been a cherished green space ever since. In the park, we admired the Gorsedd Stones, erected for the National Eisteddfod of Wales, which was held in Aberdare in 1956. These stones are an integral part of the druidic Gorsedd ceremonies. We also marvelled at the 3 Bears carving and the statue of Lord Merthyr before arriving at the bandstand, where we enjoyed a lovely lunch. To top it off, group member Alan treated us to a song! Suitably refreshed, we headed south and picked up the trail alongside the Dare River, which led us back to the country park. It was a fantastic 7-mile walk on a beautiful day with great company, as always.