South Wales is a region shaped by contrast and history, home to coastal cliffs, green valleys, medieval castles, and energetic cities. From the capital city of Cardiff to the book town of Hay-on-Wye, the area—covering Glamorgan, Monmouthshire, Carmarthenshire, and Pembrokeshire—offers a wide range of places and stories tied to its industrial past, natural geography, and cultural identity.
Defining South Wales
South Wales, or De Cymru, is a loosely defined region bordered by England to the east and Mid Wales to the north, generally including the historic counties of Glamorgan and Monmouthshire, and extending west to Carmarthenshire and Pembrokeshire. From Swansea westward, locals may identify with both South Wales and West Wales, reflecting the region’s fluid cultural boundaries.
The Brecon Beacons National Park, covering about a third of South Wales, features Pen y Fan, the highest British mountain south of Cadair Idris in Snowdonia, standing at 2,907 feet (886 meters).
Historical Context
Between the Statute of Rhuddlan in 1284 and the Laws in Wales Act 1535, South Wales formed part of the Principality of Wales, comprising Ceredigion and Carmarthenshire under the Justiciar of South Wales based in Carmarthen. The Laws in Wales Acts of 1542 established the Court of Great Sessions, with the Brecon circuit serving Brecknockshire, Radnorshire, and Glamorgan, and the Carmarthen circuit covering Cardiganshire, Carmarthenshire, and Pembrokeshire, while Monmouthshire joined the Oxford circuit.
These seven southern counties persisted until the Local Government Act 1972, which merged Breconshire and Radnorshire with Montgomeryshire to form Powys in 1974.
Natural Landscapes
South Wales boasts varied landscapes, including the romantic Wye Valley, a National Landscape with riversides and woodlands that inspired poets like William Wordsworth and JWM Turner. The Glamorgan Heritage Coast, a 14-mile (23km) stretch from Porthcawl to Aberthaw, features rugged cliffs, secluded coves, and long-range sea views. The Vale of Glamorgan offers lush countryside with pretty villages and farmlands fringed by this dramatic coast.
The Brecon Beacons National Park, established in 1957, spans 519 square miles of red sandstone peaks, moorland, and wild ponies, designated an International Dark Sky Reserve since 2013. Its peaks, often exceeding 1,000 feet, include Pen y Fan, named possibly for medieval warning fires. The park’s Waterfall Country includes Henryd Falls, the highest in Wales at 90 feet, accessible by trail, alongside Blaen-y-Glyn, Sgwd yr Eira, Sgwd Clun-Gwyn, and Sgwd y Pannwr, with the Four Falls walk showcasing the Blue Pool.
The River Wye and River Usk wind through tree-lined valleys, ideal for canoeing, with options for white-water rapids or calm waters. The Vale of Neath, carved by the River Neath to a depth of 1,313 feet, features Aberdulais Falls, home to Europe’s largest electricity-generating waterwheel, and Neath Abbey, a 12th-century Cistercian abbey later converted into an Elizabethan mansion.
The South Wales Valleys, once industrial, are now green with country parks like Dare Valley Country Park in Aberdare, featuring lakes, waterfalls, and trails on former colliery sites. Many areas, including the upper Neath Valley, Vale of Glamorgan, and valleys of the River Usk and River Wye, are designated Sites of Special Scientific Interest.
Cities and Towns
Cardiff, the Welsh capital, is a vibrant hub with Cardiff Castle, a well-preserved fortress, and Cardiff Bay, a redeveloped 2,700-acre former port with luxury housing, offices, restaurants, shops, a theater, Techniquest science center, a white-water rafting center, parks, and a nature preserve. The National Museum Cardiff offers free entry to exhibits like Van Gogh paintings and an Apollo 12 moon rock.
Cardiff’s Victorian-era shopping arcades serve fresh Welsh cakes in cozy cafés and are a cultural highlight. Newport, 10 miles east, features the renovated Newport Market with quirky eateries under a domed glass ceiling and the Caerleon Roman Fortress and Baths, one of Britain’s three permanent Roman fortresses.
Merthyr Tydfil, once the “iron capital of the world,” is now a mountain biking hub with Bike Park Wales, offering downhill trails and bike hire.. Hay-on-Wye, the “town of books,” hosts the Hay Festival and How the Light Gets In festival in late May to early June.
Hay Castle blends medieval fortress and 17th-century manor elements, drawing literary enthusiasts.. Neath’s market town includes the 12th-century Neath Castle ruins, and Blaenavon, a late 1780s iron and coal town, is part of the UNESCO World Heritage Site.
Industrial Heritage
South Wales’ coal and iron industries shaped its valleys, defining its historical landscape. Merthyr Tydfil’s Dowlais Ironworks made it the world’s largest iron-producing town by 1831, with a population of 60,000. Joseph Parry, composer of Myfanwy, was born in Merthyr Tydfil. The Rhondda Valleys’ population grew from 3,000 in 1860 to 160,000 by 1910, driven by coal mining.
The 1896 Tylorstown Colliery explosion killed 57 due to inadequate inspections. Ebbw Vale’s mining towns worked 900-foot-deep coal seams, facing frequent explosions. The 1966 Aberfan disaster killed 116 children and 28 adults when a coal tip collapsed. The Marquess of Bute’s steam railway from Cardiff charged fees per ton of coal.
By the 1870s, Newport Docks were the world’s largest coal exporters. Coal exports from Barry began in the 1880s. The 1930s Great Depression reduced coal pits to 31 by 1985. Tower Colliery, the last deep-shaft mine, closed in 2008. Big Pit National Coal Museum offers 300-foot underground tours and showcases mining workshops.
Rhondda Heritage Park recreates the 1950s Lewis Merthyr Colliery with underground tours. Cyfarthfa Castle, built by William Crawshay II, houses a museum and gallery. Merthyr Tydfil’s Old Town Hall is now the Red House arts center.
Castles and Historic Sites
South Wales is renowned for Caerphilly Castle, the UK’s second largest, and Raglan Castle, built for display. Chepstow Castle, Wales’ oldest masonry fortress, overlooks the River Wye. Carreg Cennen Castle, privately owned, features a cave and hiking trails. Turner painted Carreg Cennen, which includes a tearoom and gift shop.
Llancaiach Fawr Manor, a 16th-century living history museum, offers ghost tours. Llancaiach Fawr includes historic gardens and a tea room. St Fagans National Museum spans 100 acres with 40 re-erected buildings. St Fagans features Stone Age homes and Iron Age farms. Caerleon near Newport is a preserved Roman town.
Outdoor Activities
Brecon Beacons National Park offers hiking and biking trails. Afan Forest Park has six world-class mountain biking trails. Glamorgan Heritage Coast supports hiking and fossil hunting at Nash Point. Aberthaw on the coast is ideal for fishing and surfing. Cwm Col-huw’s nature reserve is popular for birdwatching.
Glamorgan Heritage Coast Centre in Dunraven Park provides history displays. Dunraven Bay features dramatic cliffs and limestone formations. Wye Valley’s 45-mile stretch includes limestone gorges and forests. Wye Valley wildlife, like falcons, attracts birdwatchers. Devil’s Pulpit offers views of Tintern Abbey’s ruins. Brecon Mountain Railway travels five miles into the Brecon Beacons. Merthyr Tydfil is on the National Cycle Route.
Cultural and Literary Heritage
Hay-on-Wye’s 20 bookstores host the Hay Festival, started in 1988. How the Light Gets In festival draws global audiences. 19th-century eisteddfodau fostered literary and musical culture. Dylan Thomas connected with the Welsh landscape. Welsh Factor talent competition highlights modern culture. Wenglish dialect, featured in Gavin & Stacey, is used in Barry.
Modern Industry and Economy
South Wales’ service sector replaced heavy industries, with companies like Admiral Insurance. Legal & General and Principality Building Society operate along the M4. T-Mobile’s main UK call center is in Merthyr Tydfil. Port Talbot Steelworks is the UK’s largest steel producer. The 2021 film sector turnover reached £575 million.
Cardiff’s Wolf Studios Wales supports the film industry. Seren Stiwdios, Enfys Studios, and Dragon Studios are key film hubs. Bay Studios in Swansea boosts film production. Royal Mint Experience in Llantrisant offers coin production tours. Small-scale businesses provide significant employment.
Language and Education
English dominates South Wales, but Welsh is spoken in Neath Valley. Swansea Valley communities like Ystradgynlais speak Welsh. Welsh is compulsory up to GCSE in Welsh schools. Ysgol Gyfun Llanhari in Pontyclun offers Welsh-medium education. Ysgol Gyfun Y Cymmer in Porth serves the Rhondda. Ysgol Gyfun Rhydywaun is in Penywaun.
Ysgol Gyfun Gwynllyw operates in Pontypool. Ysgol Gyfun Cwm Rhymni is in Blackwood. Ysgol Gymraeg Plasmawr serves Cardiff. Ysgol Gyfun Garth Olwg is in Church Village. Cardiff’s ethnic communities speak Punjabi and Bengali. Newport’s minorities use Arabic and Somali. Chinese and Polish are increasingly spoken.
Religious and Community Life
Nonconformist chapels, like Baptist and Independent, mark South Wales. Hengoed’s 18th-century chapel is near Ystrad Mynach. Calvinistic Methodists dominate as the Presbyterian Church of Wales. Groeswen and Watford chapels were visited by John Wesley. Church in Wales became autonomous on 31 March 1920.
Roman Catholics, like the Vaughans of Welsh Bicknor, survived persecution. Bracchi Italians from Bardi formed urban congregations. Cardiff and Newport have mosques. A Sikh gurdwara is near Abercynon. Evangelical and Pentecostal churches add diversity. Pontypridd’s “Pont” project twins with Mbale, Uganda. Fairtrade relationships support global producers.
Caves and Unique Attractions
Dan yr Ogof’s 10-mile caves feature stalagmites and stalactites. National Showcaves Centre includes Bone Cave and Cathedral Cave. Dan yr Ogof offers a dinosaur park and Iron Age village. The site provides camping and self-catering accommodations. Cotebrook Shire Horse Centre spans 50 acres. The Victorian farm showcases Shire horses and exotic species.
Food, Drink, and Festivals
Abergavenny Food Festival is held every September. Penderyn Distillery produces single malt whiskies.
Transportation
Great Western Railway operates from Swansea and Cardiff Central. Transport for Wales Rail manages the South Wales Main Line.
Conclusion
South Wales blends industrial heritage with green valleys and cultural vibrancy. From Hay-on-Wye’s literary festivals to Caerphilly Castle’s ancient stones, it captivates. The Brecon Beacons’ trails and Cardiff’s dynamic streets invite exploration. Whether delving into Big Pit or paddling the Wye, South Wales celebrates its past and future.
