Everything in one place !

South Wales Valleys are B E A U T I F U L !!

 

Abertillery Valley from the base of Guardian

They have everything !!

Coastal and inland scenery unsurpassed anywhere.
Huge beaches and tiny coves.
Tropical temperatures (well this summer, anyway!)
Short walks, long walks, upland walks, flat walks.

The largest miners' memorial in the world.

Guardian, Six Bells, (tall as Angel of the North, 20 mtrs.)

Excellent food.
Cream cakes, fresh fruit and veg., even a chocolate factory.
Good pubs with unusual local brews.
Variety of places to stay from camping to luxury hotels.
Waterfalls
Canals
Leaning Tower (more than Pisa)

Caerphilly Castle, home of the leaning tower

Cycle paths and off-road tracks

Sheep (not that many cows, but alpacas).

 Wide roads with easy driving and narrow roads with passing places.

Cultivated parks and gardens and wild mountainsides and common land.

Steam trains.

 

Shopping in cities or in small local boutiques and markets.
Towns with free parking.
Wonderful wild flowers and exotic cultivated species.

Nantyglo Round Tower

Castles and Manor Houses (ruined and otherwise)
Friendly people willing to chat, and those who are less so, (you get them everywhere).
Industrial heritage.
National and local museums.
Underground experiences with a fully trained coal miner.

Busy places.
Quiet places to be alone to think.

All this

concentrated

within an hour or two's drive.

View of Kidwelly

 

You can travel from Kidwelly in the west to Pontypool in the east in around one and a half hours. But think of all the wonderful places you'll pass by if you do that. 

http://www.fieldsintrust.org/Default.aspx

 

Ffos Las Racecourse, Carmarthenshire

The first racecourse to open for 70 years, Ffos Las has been the passion of Chairman Dai Walters.

                             "My motivation was driven by a passion for
                                                          horse racing."

Located in Carmarthen, West Wales, it competes with Chepstow racecourse, further east.

Raceday
With a variety of weekday, weekend and evening fixtures there is an opportunity for anyone interested in visiting the race course.  Experience the thrill of a raceday, the roar of the crowds and all the fun of a flutter amidst fine surroundings.


What to wear
Everyone knows Ladies Day at Ascot and the hats and outfits which cost a fortune.  Ffos Las operates a relatively relaxed dress code with customers recommended to wear smart/casual clothing.  Unfortunately trainers, ripped jeans, rugby and football shirts are not permitted to be worn in hospitality areas.

Parking & Admission
Parking is free, as is admission for under 18's accompanied by an adult. Prices range from £10-£20 dependant upon the fixture, and can be paid on the day or pre-booked.
www.ffoslasracecourse.com

Food & Drink
Refreshments are available to suit all pockets and tastes, at a variety of venues from Restaurants to fast foot outlets.

Pictures taken at racedays are welcomed on their website at:
www.ffoslasracecourse.com

There will be a winner for each quarter of the year.  This winner will be in with a chance of winning two hospitality tickets to a day at the races.  So get snapping.

For more information on race days, you can contact the race course office:
Tel: 01554811092
info@ffoslasracecourse.com
Post Code: SA17 4DE

discovercarmarthenshire.com/ffoslas


 

St Mary's Madonna, Kidwelly

 

 

St Mary's Church is an ancient building with tales going back into time - bullet holes in the tower, ancient peepholes for paupers, lepers or secret worshippers (who knows), a stone screen from the 1950's and a madonna which has moved around the building.

 

As you enter the church today, above the doorway you will see an empty niche.  This once was the location for a statue of the Madonna and child.  Ladies in their finery would bob a curtsy as they entered the church beneath her.  But one minister felt this smacked too much of idolatry and had her statue removed.  For years she remained unseen, during which time she became damaged and broken.

 

 

Now what remains of her image rests on a corbal next to the alter. 

 



 

Kidwelly, Carmarthenshire

A town on the most western edge of the South Wales Valleys, Kidwelly (Cydweli) has a different feel to the valleys ex-mining towns such as Abertillery and Ebbw Vale.

Industrial Museum

The Industrial Museum  covers a large area, with a variety of old machines and equipment, including those for cold rolling and tinplate.  An interesting DVD shows the old steelworks in operation.  The job of a "Doubler" was really dangerous.  A red hot sheet of metal would be tossed across the floor from another worker and the doubler would stop it, fold it over and then stamp on it to flatten it.  Apparently many "ex-doublers" were easily recognised walking through the town by their apparent limp, caused by injuries incurred at work.

The earliest castle in Kidwelly was built of earth and timber by the Normans, and the town was established around 1115AD.  By the 13th century the castle consisted of a stone building with the half-moon floor plan you see today.

Kidwelly Castle

In the 12th Century when South Wales was under Norman rule, Gruffudd ap Rhys, the rightful Prince of South Wales had been trying to reassert his claim.  While he was away raising funds for his cause, his wife, Gwenllian led their army and marched on the King's forces.  After a long and bloody battle her army was defeated and Gwenllian was put to death.  Gwenllian and Boudicca are the only women in history to have led a British army into battle.

Thomas Kymer built the canal and quay between 1766 and 1768. It allowed good to be transported along the canal and transferred across to sea-going vessels without having to wait for high tides.

Kymer Canal basin (Wonderful picnic area with sea views)