A short visitor's guide to Pont Sticill, Merthyr Tydfil: things to do, places to eat and drink, and what's on through the year.
Pontsticill is a small village in the County Borough of Merthyr Tydfil, tucked into the valley of the Taf Fechan on the southern edge of the Brecon Beacons National Park. The village forms part of the wider community of Vaynor and was, until the 1974 local government re-organisation, in the historic county of Brecknockshire.
For visitors this is the appeal: a quiet upland setting on the very edge of the National Park, with reservoir and forest scenery on the doorstep and the rest of the Beacons rising to the north. It is a base for walkers, cyclists and anyone after a peaceful spot away from the Heads of the Valleys, with the town of Merthyr Tydfil less than ten minutes south for shops and services.
The headline outdoor draw at Pontsticill is the reservoir at the heart of the village.
Cronfa Ddŵr Pontsticill (Pontsticill Reservoir) is a long, narrow upland reservoir on the southern edge of the Brecon Beacons, with a 4.7-star Google rating across over two hundred reviews and reliably big views down the valley. There are walking tracks along the shore, scenic stops for a quick photo and easy access from the road through the village. Pair it with a walk into the Taf Fechan Forest just to the south, or use it as the start point for longer Beacons routes heading uphill.
After a wet day on the reservoir paths, a hot tub holiday cottage in Pontsticill is a good way to thaw out.
Pontsticill is a small village, but the local pub punches well above its weight.
The Red Cow Inn on the Main Road is the village's all-purpose stop: a 4.5-star rating across more than a thousand Google reviews makes it one of the better-loved country pubs in the wider Merthyr Tydfil area, and it works equally well for a walker's pint after a circuit of the reservoir or for an evening meal during a stay nearby. If you're travelling with a dog, look out for our dog-friendly holiday cottages in Pontsticill.