Llantwit Major, open daily, free admission
Details
Accessibility:
Level roads and footpaths with car parking, including disability parking, dogs welcome.
For further accessibility information contact venue directly
Brief description:
Llantwit Major is a small coastal town and community in the Vale of Glamorgan
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Llantwit_Major
2024: "Llantwit Major (Welsh: Llanilltud Fawr) is a town and community in Wales on the Bristol Channel coast. It is one of four towns in the Vale of Glamorgan, with the third largest population (13,366 in 2001) after Barry and Penarth, and ahead of Cowbridge. It is 4+1⁄2 miles (7.2 km) from Cowbridge, 9 miles (14 km) from Bridgend, 10 miles (16 km) from Barry, and 15 miles (24 km) from Cardiff. It had a population of 9,530 in 2021.
Llanilltud Fawr, named for the Llan of Saint Illtud, was home to the Monastery of Illtud and the college known as Bangor Illtyd. It became one of the most esteemed centres of Christian culture in the Celtic world. At its peak it had over 2,000 students, including princes, eminent clergymen, and revered saints. The institutions were destroyed by the raiding Vikings in 987, but Normans rebuilt the monastery in 1111 and it continued to be a centre of learning until it was disbanded in 1539 during the Dissolution of the Monasteries. The 13th-century St Illtyd's Church, near the ancient monastery, is a Grade I listed building and one of Wales' oldest parish churches.
In the 20th century, the modern town developed rapidly to accommodate Royal Air Force personnel from the St Athan base. Remnants of the medieval cobbled streets can be seen adjacent to 12th century Old Swan Inn; and numerous buildings of the 15th and 16th centuries remain.
Colhugh Beach is a popular surfing venue and has the remnants of an Iron Age fort and some of Wales' finest examples of Jurassic Period fossils. The pebble beach and its clifftops are protected by the Glamorgan Heritage Coast, which stretches for 14 miles (23 km) from Gileston to the east to Southerndown and Newton Point to the west.
In the 20th century, Llantwit developed into a dormitory town and grew about 15 times in size to accommodate the Royal Air Force at St Athan.[13] Despite its modernization and rapid growth, it retains its pre-modern feel with its narrow winding streets, high walls, old town hall and gatehouse, and several inns and houses dated to the 16th century.[24] Llantwit Major railway station on the Vale of Glamorgan Line was reopened in June 2005. In 2014, it was rated one of the most attractive postcode areas to live in Wales.[25]
Llantwit Major is a small town which is largely dependent on local retail and earnings from further afield. The majority of the inhabitants commute to work elsewhere, especially Cardiff or Bridgend. During the summer months tourism is important to the town which has "The Precinct", Rainbow Plaza and several pubs and restaurants. Of note are the Old Swan Inn, Old White Hart Inn, The Tudor Tavern, and the 17th century West House Country Hotel Heritage Restaurant.[30]"
Address:
Llantwit Major, CF61
Email:
contact via webpage:
https://llantwitmajortowncouncil.gov.uk/contactus/
Phone:
Town Hall
Llantwit Major
Vale of Glamorgan
CF61 1SD
Telephone: 01446 793707
Website:
https://llantwitmajortowncouncil.gov.uk/
https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/cn012e2ylk1o
Directions:
From Bridgend take the A48 South East towards Cowbridge, take the B4268 South onto the B4270, follow to Llanwit Major
OS SO 967688
Opening Times:
Open Daily
Transport:
Bus: 303: Barry- Bridgend
X91: Cardiff- Llanwit Major
2024: Closest train station is Llanwit Major "Llantwit Major railway station on the Vale of Glamorgan Line reopened in June 2005. Passenger services are operated by Transport for Wales as part of the Valleys & Cardiff Local Routes network."
For more travel information visit https://www.traveline.cymru or call 0800 464 00 00
Amenities:
Llantwit Major has public toilets, a beach, public transport, shops, eating establishments, public park, post office, hotels and bowls club.
Llantwit Major Post Office
Pound Plaza
Llantwit Major
CF61 1PP
+ Llantwit Major Leisure Centre
2024:"Although it is much less known than Porthcawl further down the coast, Llantwit Major has considerable renown in South Wales as a surfing location. The beach has a lifeguard station funded by the Vale of Glamorgan Council, built in the late 1990s, functioning during the summer months.[27] There is a beach cafe and often organised walks.[31]
The Victorian Fair Day, established in 1983, is usually held in June on the Saturday nearest to the 22nd of the month, with a Victorian theme which attracts people from across southern Wales.[32] The town has several supermarkets including Co-op Food and Filco, and a town library. The local artistic community supports a number of arts and crafts shops, some selling locally made pottery and other ceramics."
Travel Information
For further travel information in Wales please see: www.traveline.cymru/travel-info
Or call Traveline Cymru on 0800 464 0000
Location
Nearest Venues
298 metres*
Boverton, Glamorgan, open daily, free admission
1,356 metres*
St Cattwg's Church, Llanmaes, Vale of Glamorgan
1,479 metres*
Great House Farm, Llanmaes, Vale of Glamorgan
1,590 metres*
*Distances are calculated in a straight line from the current venue, please allow extra time/distance based on available paths or roads.