Caerphilly

Caerphilly's valleys bring together small towns shaped by the coal and iron industries, now settled into quieter, greener lives. Blackwood is the largest of the three, with a lively high street and a solid range of shops and pubs, making it a practical base for exploring the surrounding hills. Hengoed sits close by, a compact community with good transport links along the valley line, useful for those wanting easy access to Cardiff and beyond.

Crosskeys offers a more relaxed pace, its steep streets climbing away from the river towards open countryside and walking routes above the valley floor. Together these three places suit visitors who prefer valley scenery and everyday Welsh town life over crowds, with Blackwood best for amenities, Hengoed for connections, and Crosskeys for a calmer, more rural feel.

Caerphilly county sits within easy reach of Cardiff and the South Wales valleys, and its places to stay reflect that dual appeal, with options suited to castle visits, business trips and walking breaks into the surrounding hills. Caerphilly town itself has chain hotels such as Premier Inn Caerphilly Crossways and Travelodge Caerphilly, useful for straightforward overnight stops close to the castle and rail links into Cardiff.

Further into the valleys, towns like Blackwood, Bargoed, Crosskeys and Hengoed offer smaller inns and guest houses, including The Castle Inn and Lodge and Ty Castell Guest House, where the pace is quieter and rates tend to be lower. For a more country-house feel, Maes Manor Country Hotel and Bryn Meadows Golf Hotel And Spa combine grounds and leisure facilities with a base for exploring the wider area, while pub-style stays such as the Lord Nelson Hotel and Halfway House suit those wanting a simple bed alongside a local for dinner.

Caerphilly Castle dominates the county's list of days out, its moat and leaning tower giving Caerphilly town a genuine landmark worth building a visit around. Beyond the castle, the borough splits fairly neatly between indoor entertainment and outdoor space, so a wet afternoon or a sunny one both have obvious answers.

For fresh air, Cwmcarn Forest and Pen-y-fan Pond offer walking, cycling and water views away from the main roads, while Smugglers Riding School suits those wanting a more active outing. Families chasing indoor fun have options too, from the play at Rascals Club House and Funtastic Caerphilly to escape rooms at Escape Blackwood and an evening at Wonder Outdoor Cinema. Pencoed Organic Farm rounds things out for a slower, countryside pace, and Tenpin Cardiff sits handy for anyone extending the day towards the capital.

Caerphilly's dining scene runs from bakery counters and café fry-ups to proper sit-down evenings out, spread across Bargoed, Blackwood, Caerphilly and Hengoed. Town centres carry the bulk of it, with places like New Continental Cafe, Charlies Cafe and Square Café covering breakfasts and lunches, while quick-stop names such as Greggs and Subway suit anyone passing through rather than settling in.

For something with more of an evening feel, Amici Italian Ltd and Spirit & Soul offer a change of pace from the daytime cafés, and newer arrivals like Fuel & Feast and Tyfu Cafe show the range keeps growing. Caerphilly itself, with the castle nearby, tends to draw the steadier footfall, but Blackwood and Bargoed hold their own with local favourites worth seeking out.

Caerphilly's valleys and hillsides make for good, quiet camping away from the busier coastal sites further south. Cwmcarn Forest is the obvious base for anyone wanting waymarked trails and mountain biking straight from the tent, while sites near Bargoed and Blackwood put you closer to the smaller valley towns and their pubs and shops.

Glamping options such as Under the Oak Glamping and The Chicken House suit those after a bit more comfort without giving up the views, and Fferm Gelli Camping and Ty Draw offer a more traditional farm-based pitch. Parc Cwm Darran sits within its own country park, handy for lake walks, while Pen Y Fan Caravan and Leisure Park caters well for longer touring stays.

Self-catering cottages across Caerphilly county tend to favour a quiet, rural setting over town-centre convenience, with several clustered around Rudry, on the edge of the forest and within easy reach of the town itself. The Retreat Cottage and Casa BowWow at Rudry Retreat are useful examples of this, offering a base among trees and hills without straying far from the A468 corridor.

Elsewhere, Woodside Cottage, Cwmcarn Cottage and Parc House spread the choice further into the valleys, giving a feel for the wooded, hilly landscape that defines much of the county. Cwmcarn in particular suits those keen on walking or cycling the forest drive nearby, while Parc House works well as a straightforward family let closer to Caerphilly's amenities. Choosing between them is largely a question of how remote you want to be, and whether pets are travelling with you.