Rhymney Brewery Visitor Centre

Hello… Shwmae…. Bonjour….. Guten Tag…. Hallo… Dia duit

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.

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.

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

Blaenau Gwent Group Travel Guide

Blaenavon Group Travel Guide

Bridgend County Group Travel Guide Rhondda Cynon Taf Group Travel Guide

Cardiff Group Travel Guide

www. visitsouthernwales .org e4438 Cardiff Council artwork for SW Guide v3.indd 1 18/09/2015 17:04 Caerphilly Cardiff Merthyr Tydfil Newport Rhondda Cynon Taf Vale of Glamorgan Monmouthshire Bridgend Blaenavon Blaenau Gwent www. visitsouthernwales .org Caerphilly Cardiff Merthyr Tydfil Newport Rhondda Cynon Taf Vale of Glamorgan Monmouthshire Bridgend Blaenavon Blaenau Gwent The Royal Mint Experience www. visitsouthernwales .org Caerphilly Cardiff Merthyr Tydfil Newport Rhondda Cynon Taf Vale of Glamorgan Monmouthshire Bridgend Blaenavon Blaenau Gwent www. visitsouthernwales .org Caerphilly Cardiff Merthyr Tydfil Newport Rhondda Cynon Taf Vale of Glamorgan Monmouthshire Bridgend Blaenavon Blaenau Gwent www. visitsouthernwales .org Caerphilly Cardiff Merthyr Tydfil Newport Rhondda Cynon Taf Vale of Glamorgan Monmouthshire Bridgend Blaenavon Blaenau Gwent Vale of Glamorgan Group Travel Guide www. visitsouthernwales .org Caerphilly Cardiff Merthyr Tydfil Newport Rhondda Cynon Taf Vale of Glamorgan Monmouthshire Bridgend Blaenavon Blaenau Gwent Caerphilly Group Travel Guide www. visitsouthernwales .org Caerphilly Cardiff Merthyr Tydfil Newport Rhondda Cynon Taf Vale of Glamorgan Monmouthshire Bridgend Blaenavon Blaenau Gwent Newport Group Travel Guide www. visitsouthernwales .org Caerphilly Cardiff Merthyr Tydfil Newport Rhondda Cynon Taf Vale of Glamorgan Monmouthshire Bridgend Blaenavon Blaenau Gwent Monmouthshire Group Travel Guide www. visitsouthernwales .org Caerphilly Cardiff Merthyr Tydfil Newport Rhondda Cynon Taf Vale of Glamorgan Monmouthshire Bridgend Blaenavon Blaenau Gwent Merthyr Tydfil Group Travel Guide www. visitsouthernwales .org Caerphilly Cardiff Merthyr Tydfil Newport Rhondda Cynon Taf Vale of Glamorgan Monmouthshire Bridgend Blaenavon Blaenau Gwent

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. Discover Blaenavon & Beyond

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.

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.

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.