The Vale of Glamorgan

Understand

Glamorganshire is divided up into several administrative areas, which are:

Bridgend - including Bridgend, Maesteg, Pencoed, Porthcawl, Pyle and Ogmore Vale Caerphilly - including Blackwood, Caerphilly and Rhymney City of Cardiff Merthyr Tydfil Neath Port Talbot - including Neath, Pontardawe and Port Talbot Rhondda Cynon Taf - including Aberdare, Llantrisant, Pontypridd, Rhondda Swansea - including Gorseinon, Pontarddulais and Swansea Vale of Glamorgan - including Barry, Cowbridge, Llantwit Major and Penarth

Getting there

Glamorganshire has good rail and road links from destinations throughout Wales and England. Cardiff Airport lies in Glamorganshire with connections from international destinations.

By car The runs east-west through Glamorganshire, past Cardiff, Caerphilly, Llantrisant, Bridgend, Port Talbot, Neath and Swansea.

From the east, the connects the area with London, Heathrow Airport (), the motorway (from destinations such as Gatwick Airport and Stansted Airport), Reading, Swindon, Bath, Bristol, the motorway (from destinations such as Birmingham, Cornwall, Exeter, Gloucester and north-west England) and Newport. Also use and from destinations in West Wales including Carmarthen, Haverfordwest, Tenby and Fishguard (). Other major routes include:

from Newport, Carmarthen and (from destinations such as Haverfordwest and Fishguard) into Cardiff, Cowbridge, Bridgend, Port Talbot, Neath and Swansea from Hereford and Abergavenny past Merthyr Tydfil and Neath from Newport into Caerphilly from North Wales and Brecon past Merthyr Tydfil, Pontypridd, Caerphilly and Cardiff from Pontypool and Cwmbran into Blackwood and Abercynon from Llandeilo and (from destinations such as Llandovery and Brecon)

By train There are several long-distance trains between Glamorganshire and destinations across Wales and England.

To Cardiff Central CrossCountry from destinations in The Midlands and Gloucestershire including Nottingham, Derby, Burton upon Trent, Birmingham New Street, Cheltenham Spa, Gloucester, Chepstow and Newport Great Western Railway from London Paddington, Reading, Didcot Parkway, Swindon, Bristol Parkway, Newport, Bridgend, Port Talbot Parkway, Neath and Swansea Great Western Railway from destinations in southern England including Portsmouth Harbour, Portsmouth and Southsea, Southampton Central, Salisbury, Bath Spa and Bristol Temple Meads Great Western Railway (limited service) from destinations in West Wales including Carmarthen and Llanelli Transport for Wal

Getting around

The best means of transport for exploring the region is by private car.

By bus Buses depart from Swansea Bus Station to most of the suburbs and rural areas of Swansea, and to other towns in the region. Towns with central bus stations to their suburbs include Neath, Port Talbot, Llanelli and Carmarthen. Most services are operated by First Cymru.

By train Arriva trains operate suburban and rural train services from Swansea station to Llansamlet, Skewen, Baglan, Briton Ferry, Gowerton, Bynea, Llangennech, Pontarddulais, Pantyfynnon and Ammanford.

By car hire Avis, Orchard St, Swansea, SA1 5AS, ☏ +44 844 581-0014. Europcar, 187-189 Oxford St, Swansea, SA1 3JA, ☏ +44 1792 650526.

See

St Fagans National History Museum near Cardiff Caerphilly castle Heritage Coast near Southerndown

Do

Mountain biking in Afan Forest Park. Hiking part of the Wales Coast Path. Cricket: Glamorgan CCC play at Sophia Park in Cardiff.

Walking There are some good walks in the Vale, many from the Valeways Scheme. As a county on the coast, the Wales Coast Path runs the full length of the Glamorgan Coast, from Cardiff to Bridgend. The route then continues around Wales as a long-distance path. There is another long-distance trail in the Vale of Glamorgan, the 69 mile long Valeways Millennium Heritage Trail. This path goes to many destinations in the Vale, including Southerndown, Cowbridge, Rhoose, Barry, Cardiff, Llanharry and Colwinston. The trail runs in a circle, and is made up of mainly Bridleways. Most of its destinations are covered in this Wikivoyage article! It takes you from the sea, to near-sky heights, with some fabulous views across the Vale

Surfing Although not the most popular surfing resort in Wales, the Vale of Glamorgan hosts some great waves.

Southerndown Situated on the Bristol Channel, Southerndown becomes very popular in the height of summer when the sun is out. Even when it's raining, it's still pretty busy. A sandy, RNLI Lifeguarded beach with loads of space, makes Southerndown a great place to spend time on the beach and surf on the waves on the flooding tides. Southerndown is situated on the Glamorgan Heritage Coast. Other facilities on or near the beach also include public toilets and a shop.

Ogmore-By-Sea Further West than Southerndown, is Ogmore-By-Sea, also known simply as Ogmore. Although not as popular as Southerndown, and with fewer facilities, Ogmore does sometimes have surfers, especially East of the Beach. The mouth of the river Ogmore is on this beach, although entering the water is not advised at this point

Llantwit Major The town of Llantwit Major has an RNLI Lifeguarded beach. Sometimes popular with surfers

Go next

Bristol - Just over an hour away is Bristol, the bustling port on the River Avon Newport Swansea - Another city renowned for its spectacular Waterfront Monmouthshire Carmarthenshire Powys