View and book great places to stay and the very best accommodation, choose this very popular area of Wales with luxury hotels, cottages, bed and breakfasts, caravan parks and campsites, check out our bargain breaks, late availability and enjoy a weekend, mid-week or short break, we have some very fine South Wales places to stay with fine restaurants, bars, country Inns and nearby activities and attractions to keep whole families entertained. Picturesque luxury accommodation is available from Newport in the South Wales Valleys down to the coastal resorts of Swansea Bay and the Gower Peninsula and Cardiff.
Best known as the industrial heartlands of Wales, the South Wales Valleys aren’t perhaps the most obvious choice for a holiday in Wales. Yet appearances can be deceptive and this region has plenty to offer holidaymakers, from historical places of interest to thrills, spills, and adventures for the outdoor enthusiast. The old mines, steel plants, and ironworks may no longer be operating, but this part of Wales still has a vibrant energy and a zest for life that is evident to all who visit.
The industrial past has shaped so much of the South Wales Valleys that it’s no surprise to see that heritage reflected in many of the region’s tourist attractions. The Big Pit National Coal Museum is fascinating and educational, and the underground tour shows visitors just what it was like to work so far beneath the colliery grounds. Nearby, the Blaenavon Ironworks, the setting for the BBC series, Coal House, offers an insight into what it was like to work and live, here. Further south, at Llantrisant, The Royal Mint Experience is one of the most exciting and fascinating museum experiences in the country, highlighting the history of British coinage through the ages, with a factory tour showing modern coins being produced.
Like the rest of Wales, the South Wales Valleys has its share of medieval castles to explore, and in fact, it’s home to the largest castle in Wales - Caerphilly Castle. Not to be missed, this vast, stunning castle is surrounded by lakes and moats and is every inch the stuff of legends. Not far away is an altogether more modern castle, Castle Coch, which looks like it has arrived straight from the pages of an 18th-century fairy tale.
If you are under the impression that the South Wales Valleys are perhaps scarred by their industrial heritage, it’s time to think again. Dare Valley Country Park is an excellent example of how former colliery land has been developed to become a stunning green space that attracts a wide range of wildlife, as well as locals and visitors who are keen to enjoy its many walks, cycle tracks, and open spaces. At Parc Bryn Bach, all sorts of outdoor adventures are on offer, including gorge walking, caving, bushcraft, kayaking, tandem paragliding, and white-water rafting. Excellent South Wales short breaks and South Wales accommodation can be found in this area.
The Valleys of South Wales are starting to attract a new generation of chefs and restaurateurs, who are bringing some incredible dining experiences to the area. The Bunch of Grapes, in Pontypridd, has won numerous awards, including the Welsh Pub of the Year and Best Roast Dinner in Britain. Other notable restaurants include Leicester’s in Bridgend and The Ruperra, in Bassaleg, near Newport. With many other superb venues throughout the region, eating out whilst staying in superb accommodation will be a real treat.
Why not give the Valleys of South Wales a try for your next holiday - we’re sure that you’ll be pleasantly surprised!
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