Aberdare

[leese]

Anyone help? My mum had always wanted to return to Aberdare for 'old times sake', as she was shipped off there to stay with her granny during the war - wants to wander round and reminisce. My Auntie, who lives in Blackwood has told her not to go, as it's changed too much and mum won't like it, but mum is adamant.
Anyway, for her b'day this yr, my sis and I plan to take her away, and thought that somewhere within this region would be a good idea. So, question is - does anyone know of any good hotels around and about (don't mind a drive to Aberdare, as long as it's not TOO far). any insight greatly appreciated - thanks.

I don't know Aberdare, but I am from the Rhondda, which is close. I could be wrong, but I doubt if there is more than a B & B in Aberdare itself. Merthyr is close and it may have a hotel, but I have never stayed there. There is a nice De Vere Hotel in Hensol, just off the M4 (Rhondda turing). It has some nice family rooms, and a super pool etc if you are there with children. It even has a creche if you wanted it. They do some good rates, if you bargin. It isn't a natural holiday destination, so there arn't many facilities. Failing that I'd try around Cardiff.....about half an hours drive.

If your Mum wants a trip to the past the Rhondda heritage museum is good, and the Welsh museum in St Fagen's is fantastic, great fun for kids and best of all totaly free!

HTH

Thanks hmb and Bron (never have guessed your heritage bron, with a name like that!)
Have checked out the Llechwen Hall site, and it looks great - how far is it from Aberdare Bron - any ideas? The hotel in Hensol sounds good too hmb - same question for you!
We won't be taking kids with us, so only ourselves to pander to. Didn't think there would be much in the way of tourist accomodation in this area to be honest, which is why I asked on here. Could think of better ways to spend a break than trawling round Aberdare (only driven past it before, which was enough for me!), but hey, it's me mum!

The Vale hotel is 5 minutes off J 34 on the M4, so I would guestimate 30 minutes to Aberdare. Have a google for the website (look under de vere hotels) phone them and haggle for the best rates. We did and it saved us quite a bit. There is a nice pool/fitness complex, as well as golf, if you are into that sort of thing. The Rhondda heritage site also has accomodation, now I come to think about it. Heritage Park Hotel
Coed Cae Road, Trehafod (blow, just lost the telephone number!). Never been there, but it looks quite good, and people use it for weddngs etc

Hey, my dad is from Aberdare. Fancy other people having heard of it! Still got family there. You could always stay in Cardiff (fine city - I was born there ...) as it's in easy reach by road or rail or somewhere more picturesque - Brecon Beacons?

hmb - how am I supposed to pronounce all those names?!! Can just about manage 'de vere'!! Will check out all the sites you lovely ladies sent me - and thanks again.
XAusted - we're probably distantly related!!!!

leese

Tree-have-vod = Trehafod
Coy-duh c'ah-yeh= Coed Cae
Ron-th-ah =Rhondda

Just be thankful I didn't suggest somewhere in Ynysybwl!!!

leese, we probably are!! Maybe your great grandparents knew mine in Trecynon. There are some useful guides to pronouncing Welsh place names on the internet, complete with audio. Try www.croeso-cynnes-wales.co.uk.

I grew up in the Merthyr valley, which is the next one over. I would strongly recommend finding somewhere north of Aberdare, in the Brecon Beacons, which would give your Mum some pretty scenery to look at after the joys of Aberdare (now very sad and run down, like most of the former mining valleys). The Good Hotel Guide lists 'Penpont', near Brecon (01874 636202) and the Bear Hotel, in Crickhowell. I don't know 'Penpont', but the Bear is a comfortable, former coaching inn in a pretty town on the Usk.
Have a good trip.

Bear Hotel is 01873 810408.

Thanks ever so much Oldiemum - some good ideas I'll pursue. My Aunty has been trying to discourage mum from going back, as said she'll be upset as it's not very nice there now, but mum insists!
hmb - I'm struggling, even with the 'hmb phonetic guide'!!!!!!!
XAusted - won't even ASK how you stumbled across that website! Are you a contributor hmb?!

Sadly not! I can't say that much in Welsh, just the hello, goodbye stuff. But living there for the first 18 years of life has left me with the right accent and pronounciation

Better to get your mum prepared . The valleys are very run down these days. A trip to the Rhondda Heritage Park might help to provide some more pleasent memories, and it has a nice tea shop to boot.

A cousin of mine, who grew up in the Rhondda, says that a trip to the Rhondda Heritage Park is a must, not just because it's interesting, but also because the guides are extremely friendly and hilariously funny.

Big Pit, at Blaenavon, is also worth a visit - a mining museum where you can go underground.

Oldiemum, I also grew up in the Rhondda, and I agree with your cousin. I've done Big Pit, but that is a bit more difficult to get around, and not good if you are claustrophobic. St Fagan's is fantastic. They have a row of miners houses, an old school, a tannery, farm houses, a working man's hall, a number of different old shops, goacers, bakers etc, a church, a cock pit, as well as the old manor house. As well as all that there is the museum, with some wonderful old toys, clothes an lots of other things. And best of all it is free. There is more than enough there to spent the whole day. My kids love it, and it is a wonderful trip down memory lane for older people.

My dad was a miner once so he took the family to Big Pit to experience it!

Awful to think that people had to go through that every day isn't it? (and still do) My father was a miner during the war. The seam that he worked in was a little over a foot and a half high. I don't like to think what that must have been like. Horrific!

I agree about how terrible it was to work underground. Both grandfathers did this (one until he was 70). But the Welsh mining valleys are heartbreaking now - high unemployment, an ageing population and drug problems. It's hard to think what can be done, as this area is so far from markets for other products and skill levels are so low.

My mum is from the Ebbw Vale area, which I think may be near Aberdare (geography of Wales not my strong point, sorry!) but hasn't been back for more than 40 years. I take it that a nostalgic visit wouldn't be a good idea? She still has family there.

Re the mines. The one arguement in the 80's coal miners strike I could never fathom was that people wanted the mines to stay open so their sons could follow in their footsteps. Why would anyone possibly want their child to work down a coal mine?? A good book that offers a vivid picture of the coal industry, albeit in America, is 'October Sky' by Homer Hickam. It's also a film, 'Rocket Boys'.

Don't know Aberdare very well, but would agree, there is proberbly not alot left to see, and would second staying in a more picturesque, area.
The heritage sites mentioned are good especially, St Fagans. Have stayed at the Bear Hotel in Crickhowell with DH, it's very "Olde Worlde", lots of oak panneling and slopeing floors, the food is very good as well !!
I grew up in the Welsh vallies in a place called Ystrad Mynach, would love to see you pronounce that !!!
What was it Edmund Blackadder said, "Don't ask for directions in Wales, you'll be cleaning spit out of your hair for a fortnight".
Would recomend a visit to Cardiff, wonderful city !!! Where I now live !!

Oh !! Sorry, ment to say, there is a site called
www.outandabout.com this has all the heritage sites on it, plus castles and country houses etc. Might provide useful links !!