Passionate about South Wales - the best pubs, restaurants, hotels and places to visit

I recently discovered Stuart Herbert’s Photo Diary. Stuart is an excellent amateur photographer who concentrates on landscapes and Post-Industrial South Wales. He’s currently documenting the Merthyr Road – the legacy of the industrialisation of the South Wales Valleys from Merthyr Tydfil to Cardiff Docks. Stuart is great at capturing the essence of the industrial South [...]

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We visited St Augustine’s Church in Penarth last week.  The church is set high up on the headland between Cardiff Bay and the Bristol Channel.  Its prominent position means that it’s clearly visible for miles around. I see the church almost every day but have never visited it before.  It has stunning views back across [...]

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St Illtud’s church in Llantwit Major is a remarkable place. A church was first set up here by St Illtud in AD520 when he created the first collegiate church and monastery. It has often been called “the oldest university in the world”. Llanilltud Fawr became the centre of learning throughout Christian Britain.

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Unfortunately the Blue Anchor Inn in East Aberthaw has caught fire again last weekend. This is a great local pub with a huge amount of character.   The building dates from 1380.  It has caught fire a number of times in its history – a thatched roof and log fires don’t mix very well You can [...]

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Over the Christmas holiday period we had a trip to Pennard on the Gower.  We walked across the Pennard Golf Course to the ruins of Pennard Castle. The ruins date from the 13th century. If you fancy the walk to the castle then park in Linkside Drive (marked on this map). Park near the village [...]

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The village of Sigginstone (or Sigingstone) near Cowbridge is famous for two things – the Victoria Inn pub and the Llandow Plane Crash. On Sunday March 12th 1950 an Avro Tudor V was returning from Dublin with 78 rugby supporters on board.  The previous day Wales had won the coverted Triple Crown in Belfast.  75 [...]

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