Visit Southern Wales Blog

Event - Cwlwm Celtaidd, Wales' Interceltic Festival
Location - Porthcawl
Date - 27 February - 1 March 2015
Website

It's almost that time of year again when the seaside resort of Porthcawl reverberates to the sound of some great Celtic music.  It's time for the annual Cwlwm Celtaidd, Wales' Interceltic Festival.

Singers, dancers and musicians from Scotland, Ireland, Cornwall, Brittany, the Isle of Man and of course Wales descend on the seaside resort of Porthcawl and its Grand Pavilion for three days of concerts, performances and sessions. 

Although the pavilion is the base for the weekend's festivities, the whole town gets into the Celtic spirit with events happening throughout the resort.

To find out more, including which artisits are appearing and the programme for the weekend, please visit the website.

As well as its spectacular scenery, dramatic coastline, sandy beaches and world class golf, Bridgend is home to many events throughout the year - some quirkier than others. 

And 2015 promises to be no different, with plenty on offer to keep you entertained.

Here's a taste of what's coming up:

March - Cwlwm Celtaidd
A family festival of music, song & dance of the Celtic countries of Ireland, Scotland, Isle of Man, Cornwall, Brittany & Wales, with a packed programme of concerts, dances, workshops, street dance displays in the Town Centre and on the Esplanade on Saturday, our legendary sessions in the bar and Beach Ceilidh on Sunday.

April - Porthcawl Jazz Festival
One of the biggest Jazz Festivals in Wales returns to Porthcawl  this spring.  The Porthcawl Jazz Festival always attracts some star names and previous performers include Buddy Greco, Jacqui Dankworth and Digby Fairweather.  Numerous events will take place at a variety of locations throughout the weekend as well as the headline acts at the town's Grand Pavilion every evening.

October - Feastival, Wales' Alternative Food Festival
For two days Bridgend town centre will be alive with the sights, sounds, scents - and of course tastes - of some of the very best Welsh and local food and drink.  More than 40 exhibitors will be taking part offering a wide range of mouthwatering treats to try and buy, while the entertainment promises to amuse and surprise!

October - Porthcawl Elvis Festival
Every September thousands of Elvis fans descend on the Welsh seaside town of Porthcawl for a unique celebration of The King.The feature events take place in the magnificent Grand Pavilion, whilst the nearby Hi Tide Inn hosts over 100 shows during the weekend, many with free admission.  There are also over 20 venues around the town hosting events as part of the fringe festival.

December - Elf World Record Attempt
Bridgend's famous annual Elf-steddfod, taking place each December! Hundreds of Santa's little helpers gather in the town centre in an attempt to break the World Record for most elves gathered in one place.

For a full list of events happening in Southern Wales please visit our website

New mountain bike for Christmas? Then you'll obviously want to hurtle down a mountain at full speed to try it out won't you?

Luckily for you, we've got the Mynydd at Cwmcarn Forest near Caerphilly. A fearsome downhill track that fully tests the most experienced riders (and scares the rest of us).

Taking the steep drops, tight turns and huge jumps at break-neck speeds seems to be impossible. Yet they do and that is why this is considered to be one to the best tracks in the country by mountain biking enthusiasts.  It has been rated as a Black track, which means it is officially classed as severe and should only be tackled by experienced riders.

You daren't take your eyes off the track, which is a shame as the views from the top are stunning.

The Mountain Biking Wales website describes it as"a track which offers steep technical sections, a very fast open section near the bottom, jumps, drops, berms, infact probably one of the biggest berms you'll ever see, as well as some doubles and even a massive gap jump if you want to try it."

Discover the story of black gold as you explore one of the area's finest mining museums. The Rhondda Heritage Park is based on the site of the former Lewis Merthyr Colliery in the heart of the Rhondda Valley. 

Visitors are able to get a taste of what life was like as a collier with an underground experience tour in the company of a former miner.  Don your safety helmet in the lamp room, ride 'the cage' to 'pit bottom' where you will 'live the experience' of life as a miner and hear from your guide about the hazards and tasks miners endured as part of their daily work.

However, in the run up to Christmas, the tunnels and workings are transformed into Santa's Toy Mine.  Descend in the lift but instead of the usual mine tour, you will embark on a quest where you must follow the clues to find Santa's secret hide out.

Tours run daily right up until Christmas Eve.  For more information, please head to the website.

Still stuck for that final Christmas gift, then worry no more.  Festival Park is bound to have something suitable.

Located near Ebbw Vale, Festival Park is one of two branded designer outlets in Southern Wales.  It is home to over 40 high street shops all under one roof.   You will find some of the top brands selling some of their latest goods at discounted prices.

There's plenty to keep you occupied if shopping is not your thing.  It is situated in a 70 acre parkland setting in the heart of the Southern Wales Valleys.  There are cafes and restaurants to keep you fed and watered and even an owl sanctuary.

Visit the website for more details

Already host to the  Food Festival, one of the biggest and best annual food festivals in the country, the pretty market town this weekend (13 & 14 December) hosts their Christmas Food Fair.

Every culinary taste is catered for - rare and exotic, innovative or traditional.  There'll be over 80 specialist exhibitors selling everything from fresh and cured meats, cheeses, chocolates to local wine, ales and ciders.

There'll also be chef demonstrations and activities for children as well as plenty of seasonal music, choirs and bands to ensure a truly festive atmosphere.

Take a look at the website for more information.

One of the biggest and best Christmas markets in Wales gets underway this weekend.

The Caerphilly Christmas Fayre attracts visitors from far and wide to experience the festivities in this historic town.  With the giant medieval castle providing the backdrop, the fayre is sure to get you in the Christmas spirit.

Visitors will experience Christmas through the ages as the fayre embraces the traditions of Christmas past and present.

Over 100 stalls will be ready to tempt you, including a Farmers' Market selling the best local produce and a Continental Market, ensuring that you get a taste of a European Christmas.

Caerphilly Castle itself will also get in on the act as it is transformed into a Victorian fairytale castle full of decadence and romance.  There'll also be traditional fairground rides, mulled wine and of course a visit from Father Christmas himself.  There'll also be free entry to the castle for children.

For more information on the fayre take a look at the website or see what other Christmas events are coming up over the coming weeks by clicking here.

The Bridgend Elfsteddfod is back.

Back in 2010, the town of Bridgend took on mighty New York in the battle of the Elves. The Big Apple held the record for the most elves gathered together in one place.  Bridgend decided to take on the challenge and ended up smashing the world record with 794 elves gathering in the town centre.

Every year since then, Bridgend has successfully topped their record with more and more elves coming to the town to be part of history and the current record, set last year, stands at 1500.

Not one to rest on their laurels, the town is looking yet again to break its own record.

This Saturday, 13th December, people are being invited to gather in the town for a day of festivities which will culminate in the Elf World Record attempt. To take part, just turn up in a red or green jumper and collect one of the official elf hats that will be provided.

Who knows, you might end the day as a World Record Holder.

This is the village of Merthyr Mawr near Bridgend.  It's an idyllic little settlement, as picturesque as they come, with an outstanding collection of thatched cottages positioned around an old village green.

Despite being a relatively small village, there's plenty of interesting places to visit.  The 'Dipping Bridge' was built in the 15th century, the holes in the sides allowed farmers to push their sheep into the River Ogmore for a seasonal dip!

Just down the lane lie the remains of Candleston Castle, once a 15th century fortified mansion house, whilst nearby Ogmore Castle is probably the most picturesque castle in Wales.

Just beyond the castle is one of the biggest sand dune systems in Europe.  It once stretched for miles, right around Swansea Bay and some of the dunes are as big as small mountains.  The dunes are an important wildlife habitat and site of scientific interest, which shelters a rich variety of plants. Parts of the Hollywood blockbuster 'Lawrence of Arabia' were filmed here.

Every year, just before Christmas, hundreds of amateur athletes descend on the village for the annual Christmas Pudding Run.

The race is a challenging multi-terrain, six mile run that winds its way through the sand dune system.  The route starts with an ascent of the highest single sand dune in Europe - the fearsome Big Dipper. 

But it doesn't end there, the race then continues with even more climbs, over rough moorland and through several streams before eventually the runners get to the finish line.

And the prize for completing this gruelling course……a Christmas pudding of course!

We got the chance to visit the Guardian Mining Memorial this week.

Towering above the village of Six Bells, in the heart of the Valleys, the Guardian stands as a monument to the mining industry that once dominated this landscape and commemorates the lives lost in the 1960 Six Bells Colliery disaster.

Despite visiting several times in the past, the monument never fails to impress.  And this time we were lucky to get a guided tour of local expert Meg Gurney.

She has a wealth of knowledge on the Guardian - the process of building it, the history of the Six Bells site and the mining industry locally.  She also told us some poignant stories of those who perished in the disaster and those who had lucky escapes.  Hearing these stories added so much more to the visit.

If you're visiting, be sure to call in to Tŷ Ebbw Fach. The former coaching inn has been transformed into an information centre about Guardian, whilst also providing light snacks and refreshments in its excellent coffee shop.

For more information on the Guardian or Tŷ Ebbw Fach click on the links below.
Guardian
Tŷ Ebbw Fach