Visit Southern Wales Blog

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

This weekend sees Wales' biggest and best food festival come to Abergavenny.

The historic market town, which has a great reputation amongst foodies will be full of stands, stalls and exhibitors giving visitors, quite literally a taste, of Wales. 

Complementing the stalls are a variety of masterclasses, tastings and talks whilst there is plenty to keep the kids happy with workshops, story telling and live music.

Don't worry if you can't make it to Abergavenny, there are two more great food festivals coming up over the next few weeks. 

Look our for the Bridgend Food Feastival (26-27 September) and the Newport Food Festival (4 October)

Event - Porthcawl Elvis Festival
Location - Porthcawl
Date - 26 - 28 September 2014
Website

On the face of it Porthcawl seems to be a typical British seaside resort.  Just 30 minutes from Cardiff, the town has everything you would expect - sandy beaches, a fairground, seafront Grand Pavilion and of course fish and chip shops.

Every September, the otherwise tranquil town comes alive as the unlikely venue for one of the world's biggest and best Elvis Presley festivals.

The Porthcawl Elvis Festival sees the town swamped with fans, lookalikes and tribute acts all enjoying the atmosphere and the various concerts and events throughout the area.

The festival is centred on the historic Grand Pavilion, a traditional sea front theatre which is host to the main concerts but the whole town gets in on the act with various events happening throughout the resort all weekend.

The highlight of the weekend is the big Elvies award ceremony where the best Elvis impersonators are rewarded for their work.

Nestled at the heart of the Southern Wales is perhaps the most famous valley in the world. Once upon a time, the Rhondda Valley produced the coal that powered the world.

How times change, the pits and heaps have long gone to be replaced by glorious countryside and great mountain top views.

There are still reminders of the area's past, not least at the Rhondda Heritage Park, where in the company of an ex miner you embark on an Underground Experience Tour. Find out what life was like for the men (and indeed boys) who worked in the mines.

Up above the valley, the views from the mountain tops are spectacular. There are many walks and routes to follow, not least from the Dare Valley Country Park. Who knows, they might lead to historic sites or hidden waterfalls.

The valley actually stretches all the way up to the Brecon Beacons.  And it is here, in the foothills of the mountains that you will find the tiny village of Penderyn, home to the only whisky distillery in Wales.

They started production here in 2000 and the first bottle was released on St David's Day in 2004. It was the first whisky to be (legally!) produced in Wales since the 19th century. The distillery is situated on a natural spring and it uses this water, to produce the whisky.

The visitor centre opened in 2008 and gives visitors a tour explaining how the distilling process works. Even better, at the end of the tour you get the chance to sample the whisky (or vodka, gin or cream liquor that they also produce).

For more information on this region of Southern Wales, please visit the website.

It's all very well me writing this blog and telling you about all about the wonderful things you can do in and around Bridgend and Porthcawl.  After all that's my job.  But what do locals love about their area?

Well, our friends at BridgendBites have invited people to film their "Perfect Day" videos.

And what a range of videos they've come up with - golf, shopping, horse riding, mountain biking, quad biking, surfing.  Even fashion designer David Emanuel has got in on the act, reminiscing about how he spent his "Perfect Day" growing up in the area.

So take a look at all the videos by clicking here and let us know what would make your "Perfect Day"

Event - Seniors Open Golf
Location - Royal Porthcawl Golf Club
Date - 24-27 July 2014
For more information visit the website

The biggest sporting event of the year in South East Wales is almost upon us.  Golf's senior British Open gets underway at the Royal Porthcawl golf course next Thursday.  It will be the first time that Wales hosts a major championship.

Some of the sport's legendary figures are due to take part including Bernhard Langer, Tom Watson, Fred Couples, Ian Woosnam and Colin Montgomerie.  They'll all be competing to follow in the footsteps of 2013 champion, Mark Wiebe, and claim first prize in what promises to be an exciting weekend of top golf action.

For more information on the tournament, including how to secure tickets, please visit the website.

Event - Celts Survival Run
Location - Kenfig National Nature Reserve, Porthcawl
Date - 23 August 2014
For more information visit the website

This is most definitely not a gentle fun run.  It's not even a marathon with a few gentle challenges thrown in along the way.  Oh, no. This is the Celts Survival Run - an International Extreme Endurance Event.

At 50km long the course would be tough enough on its own, but this is not a straight forward race.  As well as running that extreme distance, competitors will be expected to overcome a series of brutal obstacles.

The route takes the competitors through the stunning scenery of the Kenfig National Nature Reserve and along the South Wales coast to the huge Merthyr Mawr sand dunes before finishing at Ogmore Castle, not that the runners will have a chance to appreciate their surroundings.

The race will put competitors in true survival mode and challenges along the route may include carrying, climbing, throwing, digging, building and swimming.  Not many people will finish the course; fewer still will have completed all the obstacles along the way.

Most of the challenges will not be revealed until the day of the race, so competitors will have to be ready for anything.

Are you tough enough to give it a go?

(Please note, this is an extremely tough and dangerous race.  It is only for very fit and very experienced ultra-marathon runners.  If that's not you, then do not enter)

This autumn, Southern Wales will be awash with food festivals, celebrating the very best in local food and drink.

The first festival of the season takes place in the picturesque surroundings of the St Fagans National History Museum on the weekend of 6-7 September.  Located on the outskirts of Cardiff, the 100 acre site houses many of Wales' most historic buildings and interspersed amongst them will be dozens of stalls serving up some hearty treats.  Cheeses, ciders and ice creams will be amongst some of the goodies you can indulge in.

Just two weeks later (20-21 September), the biggest food festival of them all hits Abergavenny. Now in its 16th year, the event is as popular as ever.

The historic market town, which has a great reputation amongst foodies, will be full of stands, stalls and exhibitors giving visitors, quite literally a taste, of Wales.  The various venues are situated close together and include the Market Hall, the Cheese and Wine Show, and Grillstock.

Complementing the stalls are a variety of master classes, tastings and talks whilst there is plenty to keep the kids happy with workshops, storytelling and live music.

The following weekend (26-27 Septemerb), it's time for something slightly different with Bridgend's Food Festival.  Called Feastival, and billed as Wale's Alternative Food Festival, there's always something different or unusual going on.  Previous years' activities have included the Giant Cauliflour Sheep (you really do need to watch this YouTube video), the Leaning Tower of Pizza and the Orange-utan.

Finally, it's Newport's turn with its festival on Saturday 4^th October.  Amongst all the usual stalls there'll be an array of talks, demonstrations and  workshops for you to enjoy.

For more information on any of these festivals, click on the links below
St Fagans Food Festival
Abergavenny Food Festival
Bridgend Feastival
Newport Food Festival

Event - Seniors Open Golf
Location - Royal Porthcawl Golf Club
Date - 24-27 July 2014
For more information visit the website

The biggest sporting event of the year in South East Wales is rapidly approaching.  Golf's senior British Open is coming to the Royal Porthcawl golf course, meaning that Wales is set to host a major championship for the first time.

Some of the sport's legendary figures are due to take part including Bernhard Langer, Tom Watson, Fred Couples, Ian Woosnam and Colin Montgomerie.  They'll all be competing to follow in the footsteps of 2013 champion, Mark Wiebe, and claim first prize in what promises to be an exciting weekend of top golf action.

For more information on the tournament, including how to secure tickets, please visit the website.

Event - Bridgend Mash Up 2014
Location - Bridgend Town Centre
Date - 17 May 2014
Further Details - www.thebridgendmash.com

The Mash Up essentially mixes (or "mashes") traditional athletics in the streets with contemporary urban street culture.  There are some things that you would expect in a town centre (such as skateboarding, parkour, street dance and even BMX) and there are other things that you would not - pole vaulting, high jump competitions, street sprinting.

'The Mash' is a collision between the contemporary and the traditional, between watching and doing. It's urban, it's sporty and different.

Take a look at what happened in previous a Mash Up