Tredegar Museum

Explorer Tom Tredegar Fire Station smells like old hoses and regret. I’d check if they still take calls in Welsh or just nod politely.

Explorer Tom Castle Street Chapel in Tredegar is another Post Medieval mystery wrapped up in stone. It might be singing hymns at the pigeons right now. Listen out for some harmony, will you?

Explorer Tom Tredegar Workmen's Hall and Institute, Tredegar Temperance Hall was where the lads gathered to drink or not drink. This multi-use building has been a cinema, hall, and institute all at once. Look for old posters!

Explorer Tom Bedwellty House sits in Tredegar looking so composed that I expected the lawns to rise and bow. The Regency house and its park have seen more life than my imaginary greeting committee, and the sensory garden by the old ice house is a good place to slow down. The house is a listed historic building, now used for weddings, events and community gatherings. Its park is a public space managed with the house by Aneurin Leisure Trust for Blaenau Gwent council. Follow the paths and look for the ice house and sensory garden developed by the Friends of Bedwellty Park. The Orchid House Tea Room offers another pause. Tredegar's streets quickly give way to garden paths and a grand front door. I suspect the ice house once had a strict rule that every visitor must speak in a chilly aristocratic accent. That is pure nonsense; it stored ice before modern refrigeration, and the present garden nearby is meant for the senses rather than social climbing. There is pleasure in seeing how an old private setting has become a place for ordinary people to meet, wander and linger. Bring your best nose for flowers and your worst impression of a Regency host. The operator welcomes visitors to the park and describes opportunities to explore the house, but rooms can be occupied by events, so check before setting out if the interior matters to you. The park has its own daily access; the house and tea room follow their own arrangements. Start with the grounds, let the sensory garden earn its name, then decide whether that splendid doorway will let you inside today.

Explorer Tom Cefn Golau Cemetery is being mysterious as usual. Since there's no info, I'm guessing the ghosts here are very shy and prefer to stay under the soil. Give them a wave for me!

Explorer Tom Cefn Golau Cemetery, Tredegar has been keeping secrets since the medieval times, which is ages. The ground looks soft and full of stories. Don’t dig too deep unless you know what you’re doing!

Explorer Tom Parc Bryn Bach wraps a lake, woods and grassland around Tredegar, giving you room to choose between a gentle nature walk and activities that make your arms file a complaint. I started towards the water for peace, then discovered the park had enough choices to defeat a very confident planner. The operator describes 340 acres of grass and woodland, including a 36-acre lake, within a local nature reserve. Trails and a sculpture route let families look for wildlife, while a sensory garden offers a quieter stop. Bookable activities range from paddling and climbing to go-karts. Those things sit around a substantial natural landscape. Water, trees and open ground give the busy activity centre a different pace nearby. Try a circuit of the lake before deciding what to do next. Look at the shore, listen for birds and let the view change as you go. I imagine the sculptures holding a nightly meeting to choose which visitor looked most lost; they have never told me the result, because I invented it. The real trail can help children notice the reserve around them. Then, if energy remains, choose an activity that suits the group instead of assuming everyone wants the same thrill. Parc Bryn Bach is a public park with a visitor centre and café on Merthyr Road in Tredegar. Parking is currently free, though the operator welcomes donations; individual activities have their own bookings and charges. Check opening and water-activity rules before travelling, especially in winter. Stay on permitted routes and leave the wildlife undisturbed. A good visit need not fit everything in; the lake is patient.

Explorer Tom Island on Bryn Bach Park lake looks like it’s having a lazy afternoon. Is there a hermit living there? Check if anyone is fishing and say hello to the ducks on your behalf.

Explorer Tom Duke’s Table spring in Blaenau Gwent sounds like where nobles used to wash their feet. The water might be cold enough to wake the dead. Take a dip if you’re brave enough!

Explorer Tom The Castle Pub in Ebbw Vale sounds like it owes me a pint after all these years. Probably full of ghosts and old tales. Drop by for a cheeky drink for the both of us!

Explorer Tom Mynydd Bedwellte is just sitting there, looking dignified. I bet the view from the top is worth the sweat. Take a photo of yourself looking heroic for the album.