Ystrad Mynach

‘Ystrad’ means a wide flat-bottomed valley and ‘Mynach’ is Welsh for monk. The reason for the name is not known, as currently there is no evidence of a monastery existing in the area.

There is however a curious folktale about the place name. A monk was forced to flee from Caerphilly Castle after it became known that he was having a relationship with the daughter of the French family living at the castle at the time. He was captured, sentenced to death and hung from a tree in the valley, the area becoming known as ‘Monks Valley’ or in Welsh ‘Ystrad Mynach’.

Did you know?

Ystrad Mynach railway station was a location for one of Ronnie Barker’s Porridge episodes.

What to see

The bustling retail town of Ystrad Mynach is located centrally within Caerphilly County Borough. The town offers a wide variety of shops with good bus/rail links to Cardiff. It also boasts a number of vibrant and imaginative pieces of public artwork including the attractive Siloh Square area, which is an interesting focal meeting place.

Carved from a former coal tip, the nearby Parc Penallta has spectacular views across the county borough from the high point observatory as well as a variety of wildlife including Skylarks and Lapwings. A number of waymarked trails guide you through the park and you won’t be able to miss ‘Sultan’ the pit pony, the UK’s largest figurative earth sculpture.

Where to stay

Caerphilly County Borough has a wide range of accommodation for visitors including hotels, inns, B & Bs, guesthouses and self-catering cottages. For further information please go to the Visit Caerphilly website.

How to get there

To find how to get to this village, click here. Supported by Google™ MapsUK.

Facilities

	Toilets		Church of historic or architectural interest		Light refreshment
	Public houses		Shops		Post office
	Accommodation		Bus station		Train station

Loops and Link Information

There is one distinct link from the National Cycle route into the bustling town centre. The link provides a downhill municipal route from the main Route 47 to the village and its numerous facilities.

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