The South Wales Travel Guide highlights interesting local attractions, places of interest and entertainment and offers useful tourist information for visitors. The region has a mix of areas with a long industrial history and heritage and a superb coastline that runs on the Gower peninsula. There are the two largest cities in Wales, Cardiff and Swansea in the vicinity along with some beautiful scenic countryside. This mix of town and country means visitors with varying interests and tastes are catered for.
Overview and Attractions
The Gower Peninsula is located to the south west of Swansea. The area is one of the most popular destinations for beach lovers, surfers, walkers and families in Wales. There is a tremendous coastline and great beaches that attract plenty of visitors. Oxley Bay is among the very best beaches in the whole of the UK, the Gower Peninsula was the first place in Britain to be designated an area of outstanding natural beauty (AONB) and has a rich history. There are a range of attractions here including castles, iron age fortifications, castles, medieval churches, caves, great beaches and hills. Shops, bars, restaurants and cafes are located at Mumbles, with the Mumbles Mile, having so many pubs, it is the scene of one the famous Wales pub crawls.
Swansea is the second city in Wales, it is a historic city too but unfortunately much of the evidence has been lost due to World War II and industrialisation. The docks were originally established sometime in the 1300s and were later used to export coal and copper among others. There are a range of attractions for visitors in and around the city, with Swansea Bay a short walk away. The city is known for its vibrant nightlife, visitors will find a range of bars, restaurants and clubs in the area. There are historic attractions such as Swansea Castle and the famous beaches of the Gower Peninsula are only a short distance away.
Porthcawl was once a coal port and later developed into a seaside resort when the coal industry began to wind down. It has three sheltered bays and has a large amusement park at Coney Beach. It is one of the most popular resorts in the region and has something for most tastes, including surfing and golf facilities. On clear days views extend all the way to Exmoor. The Grand Pavilion is the main entertainment venue that hosts music festivals, comedy evenings and theatre productions. Bridgend is an ancient market town and a favourite for history lovers. The 12th century ruin of the Newcastle Castle overlooking the River Ogmore, a Norman defensive monastery close by and the ruins of the 14th century Coity Castle. The town has a shopping centre, the Rhiw shopping centre.
The City of Cardiff is the capital of Wales, it displays a strong sense of identity and Welsh pride. This compact city is easy to explore and boasts some great attractions for visitors to see including historic sites, museums and galleries. The Millennium Stadium hosts a range of events including rugby something of a Welsh passion and many concerts. Cardiff Bay is located about a mile from the city centre, has enjoyed a renaissance in to a place that now contains public gardens, modern art sculptures and refreshments. It also hosts the National Assembly, the Welsh parliament, a significant step in devolution.
Newport is located in Gwent, set in the wonderful countryside of the Wye Valley that is a designated Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty (AONB). One of the popular walks is the Pilgrims’ Way, whilst nature lovers will be interested in the West Wales Eco Centre, who aim to encourage ecologically sustainable development among other things. Among the heritage sites in Newport are burial chamber Carreg Coetan Arthur at around 5,000 years old and St. Woolos cathedral.
Neath is a town that has a strong industrial heritage, while the Vale of Neath has some lovely scenery in its midst, the valley is also known as Waterfall Country. The South Wales industrial heartland includes places like Merthyr Tydfil, the Rhondda Valley and Pontypridd. The Rhondda Valley is known for its male choirs and its long mining heritage.
The Three Castles of Skenfrith, Grosmont and White are located on the agricultural lands of South Wales. They were built by the Normans, in 1260 they were refortified to guard against threat of invasion and became increasingly domesticated over the following centuries. The castles themselves have quite different characters, Skenfrith is a scenic border village and the castle reflects this fact. The contrast to this is Grosmont Castle that is the most ruined of the castles and sits high on a hill above the village. White Castle is perhaps the most impressive of the castles and benefits from rolling borders countryside across to the River Monnow.
Cardiff Castle was built by the third Marquess of Bute on medieval foundations within a Norman wall. Located in the city centre Cardiff Castle still sits on top of a small hill and provides views over Cardiff. Cardiff Castle's rooms are extravagantly themed with astrological and biblical themes found everywhere. The 15th century Great Hall is the oldest room in the castle, the Winter Smoking Room, located in the Clock Tower, is themed to time with its decor that represents the seasons of the year and the days of the week. The Arab room is adorned with gold, sandalwood and parrots. Whilst the nursery decorations are a representation of fairy tales and nursery rhymes.
The Cardiff Summer Festival is held around July/August time and is among the biggest free festivals in Europe and hailed as one of the best too. The festival presents a programme that ensures plenty of spectacular events for the whole family, attracting around half a million visitors to Cardiff. The Cardiff Festival is held annually usually during the last two weeks of July and the first week of August. The festival consists of the Welsh Proms, the Celtic Food and Drink Festival and a range of theatre, arts, music and comedy events that take place at a range of venues around the city.
One of the main highlights for many visitors is the Big Weekend. During the festival the city of Cardiff turns in to a party city and creates a wonderful street party atmosphere. The grand finale is a free music festival located on the lawns in the Civic Centre. There is much to see and do at the festival and it is best to check dates and details on the festival website.
The Brecon Beacons National Park caters for visitors with a variety of interests whether it is activity enthusiasts or those that like to take it easy with a rather gentle stroll. Visitors after the thrills and spills of mountain challenges and activities will be equally at home here as those wanting to enjoy the clear fresh air at a rather more leisurely pace. This spectacular area can be explored by a range of methods that include walking, by bike or horse.
The Brecon Beacons landscape makes the park an outdoor enthusiasts dream and mountain biking, caving, gliding, sailing and climbing are all catered for here. Add to that golf and fishing and it is easy to see why the park is so popular. The landscape is inspiring with the stunning mountain ranges, plentiful wildlife and renowned geology, the parks covers an area of some 520 square miles. In 2005, the Brecon Beacons National Park Authority was awarded membership of European Geopark Network and given UNESCO Global Geopark recognition for the Fforest Fawr Geopark, as recognition of its geological importance.
The Butetown History and Arts Centre is located in Cardiff Bay, it features exhibitions about Tiger Bay, Cardiff Bay and the multi-cultural UK. The exhibits extensively draw upon image and sound to engage with visitors to the exhibitions. The Centre also publishes books and runs an educational programme. The centre is used as a venue for poetry, music and other cultural events too.
Wales Millennium Centre is one of the leading arts venues in Wales and beyond, it is located within close proximity of the city centre and Cardiff Bay. The centre has gained a fine reputation and is considered to be among the finest arts venues and has an international reputation, it also hosts many corporate sporting events and exhibitions among others things. There are two theatres, a number of function rooms, galleries, shops and restaurants here. Among the entertainment provided here includes some big name west end shows and daily foyer performances that are free and much more.
Attic Gallery is a long established private gallery in Wales. Founded back in 1962, it aimed to highlight the work of contemporary artists working in Wales. Attic Gallery is located in the Old Maritime Quarter of Swansea and displays works of some of Wales's best artists. The gallery has a policy to actively seek out and encourage new and emerging artistic talent. There you will find a full exhibition programme of individual and mixed shows with a changing display of new paintings, sculptures and graphics. Artists with displays at the gallery include John Brunsdon and Glenys Cour and many others.
Oxwich Bay located on the Gower peninsular is a stunning beach, blessed with white sand that stretches for the full length of the bay. Oxwich Bay Beach has received critical acclaim as one of the best beaches in the UK, a visit to this location will confirm why. It has some wonderful unspoilt scenery with an abundance of natural beauty on show, the beach is also popular with not only bathers but jet skis and boats. The surroundings are beautiful presenting plenty of opportunity to explore the area further. Visitors after a great beach that combines wonderful surroundings need to look no further.
Elaine's Tearooms are traditional tearooms located in the historic town of Llantwit Major in the Vale of Glamorgan. There are two rooms that serve a range of homemade food from sandwiches to cakes and soup among others. There are a range of beverages available here including cappuccino, latte and hot chocolate, and children are catered for with children’s juices. In the evenings the tearooms transform in to a cosy, elegant restaurant that serves a range of homemade dishes including sirloin steak and vegetable lasagne among many others. The tearooms and restaurant have a nice relaxed feel in which diners can sit back and enjoy the cuisine.
When looking for a place to eat, visitors may wish to try the Darcy’s Restaurant situated in a great location in Swansea giving diners great views of the well maintained lawns and flower beds across the bay. You can also see the hills to the east of Swansea, this makes for an inspiring place to dine and enjoy the dishes on offer here. The restaurant is located a short drive from the centre of Swansea. There is an eclectic menu to suit many tastes, the restaurant is known for its relaxed atmosphere and ambience. There is a traditional range of food that also has modern elements mixed in and an inventive range of beverages on sale. Address: 698 Mumbles Road, Swansea, SA3 4EH, Wales & Telephone: +44 (0) 1792 361616.
South Wales has one of the best beaches in the UK in Oxwich bay, well worth seeing for those who enjoy the beach. The two main cities in Wales, Cardiff and Swansea are also in this locality meaning those that like the temptations of the cities are also catered for. The region is well connected by road, rail and air via Cardiff Airport making it convenient for visitors from the UK and abroad to enjoy a break in this historical region of Wales.
Disclaimer: The information given in on this website is given in good faith and to the best of our knowledge. If there are any discrepancies in no way do we intend to mislead. Important travel details and arrangements should be confirmed and verified with the relevant authorities.
