….. r u jo on B . … e a m w h S o… ll e H it u d ia D o… ll a H . … g a T Guten Welcome (or Croeso as we prefer to say) to Southern Wales You may already have an idea what to expect from a trip to Southern Wales. We are split into ten distinctive areas, each with their own character and charm. The areas of Blaenau Gwent, Blaenavon (Torfaen), Caerphilly, Merthyr and Rhondda Cynon Taf are well known for their history and heritage, whilst nearby Monmouthshire is more rural and famed for its fabulous food and drink. Newport and Cardiff are thriving cities with some world class attractions whilst along Bridgend and the Vale of Glamorgan is a mix of coastal resorts, market towns and fabulous countryside. We have plenty of castles and museums but we also have a National Park, the start of the Wales Coast Path and an Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty. We also have some things you may not associate with us. There are the remains of a Roman amphitheatre and barracks, vineyards producing award winning wine and a great big sculpture, soaring 20 metres into the sky and standing guard over the Valleys below.
Discover Blaenavon & Beyond Torfaen links the Valleys of South Wales with the rolling landscape of Monmouthshire and the Brecon Beacons, and is proud that the only World Heritage Site in Southern Wales is in our patch. For more information visit our website www.visitsouthernwales.org or contact the tourism team: tel - +44 (0)1495 742333 email - blaenavon.tic@torfaen.gov.uk To order the brochures for the other areas of Southern Wales please contact +44 (0)845 6002639 or e-mail brochure@southernwales.com
4
nty Bridgend Cou
von Blaena vel Guide
nt Gwe nau Blae avel Guide
Group Travel Guide
Group Tra
Group Tr
dfil yr Ty Merth avel Guide
thshire Monmou Guide end Bridg hilly Caerp ff Cardi
iff Card
l Tydfi hyr hire Mert uths mo Mon f ort wp n Ta no Ne a Cy dd Rhon
ent Gw
enau Bla on n orga Blaenav Glam
fil Tyd rthyr Me hire ouths nm Mo ort n Taf Newp Cyno dda n Rhon rga mo of Gla le Va
Group Travel Guide
Gwent Blaenau
Bridgend
Blaenavon
y Caerphill Cardiff Merthyr
Bridgend Caerphilly
Tydfil
Cardiff
thshire Monmou
nt Gwe Blaenau on Blaenav d Bridgen
e4438 Cardiff Council
ort f n Ta Newp Cyno dda n rga Rhon mo of Gla
Newp
Taf non a Cy ndd n Rho morga of Gla Vale
Group Travel Guideorgan
Gwent Blaenau n Blaenavo
Newport Rhondda Vale of
Taf Cynon
organ Glam
Tydfil Merthyr ire Monmouthsh Gwent Blaenau Blaenavon
www.visitsouthernwales.org www.visit of hernwales.org southernwales.orgBridgend end rg lly Vale Bridg s.o rphilly www.visitsout Caerphi Cae rnwaleerphilly Caerphilly iff southe Ca Card Cardiff s.org w.visit fil ff Tydfil Cardiff wale ww yr Tyd Cardi Merthyr dfil hern Merth ire Tydfil yr Ty sout rth uthshire Merthyr outhsh Me hire visit Monmo Monm ouths hshire www. nm t Monmout ort Mo
Vale of Glam
Group Travel Guide
ent u Gw Blaena von Blaena gend Brid illy Caerph Cardiff fil r Tyd Merthy ire outhsh Monm port New ent on Taf u Gw a Cyn ndd Blaena Rho n The Royal Mint Experience morga von of Gla Blaena Vale d gen Brid
Cardiff
Group Travel Guide
Caerphilly
Group Travel Guide
ent au Gw Blaen n avo Blaen
ent Gw enau Bla on enav Bla end Bridg hilly Caerp
Rhondda Cynon Taf
Newport
Group Travel
Group Tr
Each of our areas has its own guide. So have a flick through this one and then take a look at the companion brochures and before long you’ll be planning your trip to Southern Wales.
Blaenavon World Heritage Site is set in 33 square kilometres of a landscape that played a key part in the industrial revolution and which still carries the marks of the hard work of miners and ironworkers.
artwork for SW Guide
v3.indd 1
Newport Cynon Taf Rhondda rgan 18/09/2015 17:04 Glamo
Vale of
por New
on Taf a Cyn Rhondd n orga of Glam Vale
Newport Taf Cynon Rhondda Glamorgan
Vale of Vale www.visitsouthernwales.org rg itsouthernwales.org www.visitsouth ernwales.owww.vis ernwales.org .org .visitsouth wales www uthern isitso www.v
Blaenau Gwent Blaenavon
A visit should start with the Blaenavon World Heritage Centre to find out why the area was the perfect location for the Iron industry to thrive. Then you can venture 300 feet below ground at the Big Pit National Coal Museum, before seeing the remains of the blast furnaces at Blaenavon Ironworks. A trip on Blaenavon’s Heritage Railway will give you a unique view of the scarred landscape, or you can sample some of the local beer at Rhymney Brewery before exploring the heritage town.
Bridgend Caerphilly Cardiff Merthyr Tydfil Monmouthshire Newport Rhondda Cynon
Taf
an Vale of Glamorg
www.visitsouthernwales.org
Blaenavon - Torfaen
The area has much more to offer than just Blaenavon. As you travel south towards Newport the landscape opens up offering great walking country. A section of the Monmouthshire & Brecon canal sits next to Pontypool Park, former home of the Hanbury family and now a great place to visit with the Folly, the Tower, a ski slope and Torfaen Museum housed in the former stable block. Further south is the new town of Cwmbran, now celebrating its 70th anniversary. A great shopping centre, nearby you can to explore Llantarnam Grange Arts Centre, Greenmeadow Community Farm and Llanyrafon Manor, all of which offer facilities for groups. And for sporting groups Cwmbran Stadium has all the facilities you’ll need whilst Llandegfefdd Lake is ideal for water sports. We have a variety of accommodation for groups, including The Parkway Hotel & Spa in Cwmbran, good coach parking throughout the area and a guaranteed warm welcome. Contact us if you’d like help creating a bespoke itinerary for you and your group.
5
