A short visitor's guide to Penderyn, Rhondda Cynon Taf: things to do, places to eat and drink, and what's on through the year.
Penderyn is a rural village in the Cynon Valley, Rhondda Cynon Taf, tucked into the southern foothills of the Brecon Beacons near Hirwaun. The Welsh name combines two words, pen (head or end) and a contracted form of aderyn (bird), giving the village a character as individual as its setting: open moorland above, valley communities below.
The one draw that puts Penderyn on the map for visitors is its distillery. The Penderyn Brecon Beacons Distillery has been producing award-winning Welsh single malt whisky and spirits here since 2000, exporting to over fifty countries and collecting more than 120 international awards. A day trip to the visitor centre, with a distillery tour and tasting, is the main reason most people make the journey up into these hills.
The centrepiece attraction in Penderyn is the Penderyn Brecon Beacons Distillery on Pontbren Llwyd, the only whisky distillery in Wales to carry a Brecon Beacons address. The distillery shop opens Wednesday to Sunday; guided tours run Thursday to Sunday and masterclasses can be booked online. On the hills above the village, Voel Penderyn is a viewpoint and walking destination that rewards the climb with panoramic views across the Cynon Valley and into the national park.
Penderyn has two excellent pubs to choose from, both with strong local character. The Red Lion Inn, Penderyn on Church Road is a 12th-century drover's inn perched on a hillside with views over the village and the Brecon Beacons National Park. Run by the James family since 1978, it has flagstone floors, log fires in winter, real ales and ciders served straight from the cask, and a seasonal food menu built from locally sourced ingredients. A short walk away, The Lamb Inn on Lamb Road is the straightforward village local.
For a sit-down meal near Penderyn, Caradog's Restaurant on Penderyn Road in nearby Hirwaun is the closest option, a short drive from the village.