Self catering Holiday cottages in all areas of South Wales

South Wales

An area with a rich industrial heritage, particularly in the valleys, but where there are now only small remnants of the traditional industries of steel and coal production for which the area became famous.

Coking coal from here was so sought after that it was shipped all over the world. One destination was the small town of Jerome, high on a hillside in Arizona, to which it was carried first by sailing boat across the Atlantic, round Cape Horn, up the west coast of the USA and finally on mule trains over mountains to be used in this centre of copper production.

Cardiff, capital city of Wales, is also home to the Millennium Stadium which hosts major rugby and soccer tournaments plus some fantastic music concerts. Cardiff's rich culture has a diverse range of influences, from the Romans and Normans of antiquity to the industrial revolution and the coal industry - which transformed Cardiff from a small town into a thriving, international city.

Pembrokeshire is an area of outstanding beauty with tremendous variety. From majestic cliffs to sand dunes, from broad river estuaries to cascading streams, from gently rolling arable land to rocky outcrop - all can be seen within a few miles of each other. To protect and preserve this beauty and the wildlife it supports we have the Pembrokeshire Coast National Park Authority, West Wales Trust and The National Trust .

Swansea is Wales own city by the sea, Swansea Bay was made famous by Dylan Thomas as an ‘ugly, lovely town’ but it has changed dramatically over recent years. Perhaps more traditionally Welsh than Cardiff, but just as lively, the waterfront has been redeveloped and the city has some fantastic museums and cultural landmarks. Outside the city is the broad sweep of Swansea Bay with some of the best surfing in the country and some picturesque landscapes to explore. There is also the waterfall country of the Vale of Neath, the gorgeous beaches and sights of the Gower Peninsula and pleasant resort towns like Mumbles and Oystermouth in which to spend some lazy afternoons.

Llanelli, the largest town in the county of Carmarthenshire and West Wales, sits on the Burry estuary, approximately 8 miles (13 km) west of the city of Swansea. Amongst other things, it is famous for its proud rugby tradition. Llanelli is a fast growing town with large residential, leisure and retail developments. This is in addition to the Llanelli waterside development that has seen the town expand further towards the sea.

Carmarthen is a busy and thriving Norman market town, situated in the heart of Carmarthenshire between the Brecon Beacons National Park and the beautiful green fields, rivers and woodlands to the west of the county. The town is renowned for the market in the precinct. Here you will find stalls selling produce from Swansea to Cardigan Bay, cheeses from Carmarthenshire, Ceredigion and Pembrokeshire, local organic foods, farmhouse salt bacon, sausages, delicious cockles from the south wales beaches and the renowned laver bread.

Anglesey

Although on the edge of Snowdonia, Anglesey does not have any mountains. Anglesey has been a centre of Celtic culture for thousands of years. The Druids made a major stand against Roman invasion on Anglesey, and even today most people on the island speak Welsh.

The scenery on Anglesey is a mixture of small farms and stone villages inland, and a rugged cliff coast of Anglesey is interspersed with sandy coves and wonderful bathing beaches.

Beaumaris

One of the prettiest towns in Wales, not just Anglesey. The castle was built in 1295 by that great builder of Welsh castles, Edward I, in order to guard the Menai Straits and Anglesey. The castle is moated, and originally boats could directly enter the moat from the sea.

The town has some interesting pubs, like the 15th century Old Bull's Head, and the Tudor Rose. There is a 17th century court house used on occasion by Judge Jeffries. Rows of Victorian cottages designed by Joseph Hansom (of Hansom Cab fame). Half timbered houses, and much more. They have their own web site

Cemlyn Bay

Right on the north shore of Anglesey, there is a deep bay and a sheltered beach. In addition, the National Trust own a two mile stretch of the coast here, which is run as a wildlife sanctuary. At nearby Cemaes Bay there is a picturesque stone quay, sandy beaches and cliff walks - more of the nice beaches on Anglesey

Holyhead

A causeway joins the Holy Island to Anglesey. Out to the west you can see Ireland. Holy Island has been known to have traded with Ireland for four thousand years. Anything from axes to gold came into Anglesey. Today the boats still run to Ireland from Holyhead harbour

When on Holy Island, be sure to climb Holyhead Mountain to get the benefit of the view to Ireland as well as to the Isle of Man, Cumbria, Snowdonia as well as Anglesey itself. There is also the cruciform church of St Cybi, dating from the 13th century