A Visit to Capel Rhondda then Barry Sidings Country Park & Rhondda Heritage Park Circular Walk

Walk & Talk

Date:

Thu, 1st October, 2026

Meeting point: Barry Sidings Country Park, Pontypridd, CF37 2PP

Meeting time:

9:45 am

Start time:

10:00 am

End time:

1:00 pm

On the 1st October we have been kindly invited to Capel Rhondda. This grade II-listed chapel is an iconic Welsh heritage asset. It was closed in 2024 due to a dwindling congregation but now a board of directors has saved the Chapel. Rhian Hopkins is one of those directors and has asked us to come along to visit as it is now a community hub. She would also like us to help turn the graveyard into a new community garden. It will be great to visit and meet the volunteers. After this visit we then have our walk. Barry Sidings Country Park is a highly rated, family-friendly outdoor destination located near Trehafod, just a few minutes from Pontypridd. It features renowned cycling trails, flat walking paths, a duck pond, childrens playground and onsite cafe. The sidings takes it’s name from the railway sidings that once powered Barry’s industrial past. Our walk leads us on a flat path to Rhondda Heritage Park Mining Museum, a fantastic treasure that tells the story of mining families and culture 1800 to the present day. After a cuppa we make our return journey.

This is a Grade 2 Walk of 3 hours and 2 miles

Useful information

Meeting point
What3Words

Meeting point map

Leader information

Jeremy Sims

On the day

Arrival
We recommend arriving at least 15-20 minutes before the walk/event start time. It’s a great opportunity to meet the event leaders, register and catch up with your fellow Marauders before we start.

Parking
Parking is free on site at Barry Sidings car park

Registration
You will be asked for your name, your mobile telephone number along with an emergency contact name and number. If you have any relevant medical conditions or medication that may be relevant to declare, please pass this information to the event leader during registration.

If you already have your Marauders digital ID, great – we’ll just scan you in. If not, you can pre-register and get your very own QR code beforehand here –

Become a Marauder

Be Prepared – Health, Wellbeing & Weather
Participation in this event is entirely at your own risk, and it is your sole responsibility to ensure you are physically fit and well enough to take part. This includes being appropriately dressed for the event/weather and carrying any personal or emergency medication you may require during the activity.

Dogs
Well behaved dogs are welcome on this walk but must be carefully supervised at all times and kept on a lead when necessary. We may at times walk on/near to busy roads and/or in fields with livestock roaming free.

What to bring

Grade 1-2 Walk
Designed for 1–3 miles on mostly accessible or slightly uneven ground.

Footwear: Comfortable outdoor shoes or sturdy trainers with good grip.
Clothing: Comfortable, weather-appropriate layers to handle shifting conditions.
Refreshments: A small bottle of water and a light snack.
Social: A bit of money for the post-walk café visit

Photo album

We have set up a Google Album to store our photographs and capture our memories of the day:

Volunteering support

This event requires some volunteering support to make it run smoothly and we’d love to hear from you if you are able to lend a hand on the day. Thank you!

Walk & Talk Support Team
Our walk leaders will need help on the day to welcome and organise the attendees and to keep an eye on the group throughout the day. This may involve taking the register, being a walkie-talkie holder for the day, nominating yourself as a first aider or being a front or back-marker. If you can help, just turn up a little earlier and make yourself known to the walk leader on the day.

Befrienders
It’s natural for some guys to be anxious when they first turn up at a Marauders event and so we’d love to have some of our more regular guys to keep an eye out for new attendees and to make them feel welcome. If this is something that you can help us with, please make yourself known to the event leader either before or on the day.

Bring a mate with you

Our events are free and open to all men aged 18+. If you know of anyone that may enjoy this event, click to copy the page link, to paste and share with a friend.

Disclaimer

By participating in this event, you acknowledge and agree to the following:

Assumption of Risk: You are voluntarily participating in this activity and assume all risks associated with it, including but not limited to: falls, slips, trips, injuries, illness, or other accidents.
Medical Conditions: You are in good physical health and have no medical conditions that would prevent you from participating in this activity. Please ensure any essential medication is kept in an easily accessible pocket and that its location is shared with a walking buddy or leader for your safety.
Personal Responsibility: You are solely responsible for your own safety, equipment, and actions during the activity.
Waiver of Claims: You hereby waive any and all claims against the organisers, leaders, or participants of this group for any injuries or damages that may occur.