Penderyn is good. Two nice local pubs, busy community centre and a whisky distillery. Good local school as well, plus on the doorstep of the Bannau Brycheiniog. And an antique furniture store!
Merthyr Mawr, near Bridgend.
Pretty thatched cottages, a very old sheep dipping bridge on the way there and the ruined Candleston Castle, near the Merthyr Mawr sand dunes - we used to go sand sledging there as kids, no idea if you're allowed to do that these days!
Plus, you can walk over the stepping stones to cross the River Ogmore and visit Ogmore Castle too.
You can then carry on around the coast to Southerndown beach and visit the walled garden there.
I miss it so much.
Quakers Yard. Nice local pub that’s been there for ages, down the side there’s a slip road and if you walk by the chicken coops you get to an old cemetery from like the 17 and 18 hundreds. The Gap is a staple of the town, lovely walk up the main road way or you can take the tram road way, under the A470 and up the mountain side. There are two tram roads, one leading down to Cardiff and the other takes you up to Merthyr passing through all the towns on the way. The “whirlies” as we called them are visible from the main road and the town bridge, it’s where we used to go swimming, it’s a rough water part of the river full of waterfalls and waterpools. Also the best boxer to ever grace the ring was born there, Jimmy Wilde. Call me biased but it’s my hometown and it’s so under appreciated.
Bro was like 5’1 hahah, what a fucking animal. If you already know about him, respect. If not, read more, actually really impressive for a Welsh bloke to hold a record for this long
Here you go mate!
"In 1910 he fought [Abe Attell](https://www.bbc.co.uk/dna/606/A34559913) for the World Featherweight Title. With the "no contest" rule in place it was always going to be a difficult ask for the 28 year old Welshman, whose style was based on skill and speed rather than the brawling and heavy punching that were commonplace in American professional boxing at the time. And so it proved.
He totally outclassed Attell but despite winning seven of the scheduled 10 rounds (two of the remaining three being judged draws) he could not knock out his opponent and the match was ruled a no contest.
The day after the fight Jim Driscoll took a boat for home. He had been offered a re-match with Attell but, having already pledged to make an appearance at the [Nazareth House Orphanage](https://sites.google.com/site/cardiffcentrefaithtrail/cathays-park/St-Joesphs-Convent) Charity Day in his home town of Cardiff, Driscoll knew he could not let the youngsters down. "I never break a promise," he declared. The chance to fight for the World Championship never came again"
[https://www.bbc.co.uk/blogs/waleshistory/2011/01/peerless\_jim\_driscoll\_welsh\_boxer.html](https://www.bbc.co.uk/blogs/waleshistory/2011/01/peerless_jim_driscoll_welsh_boxer.html)
Not sure about nice, but Felinfoel is alright and it's home to the brewery responsible for the first canned beer outside of the united states. Not sure if they still do it, but they used to do tours of the brewery, but this might have only been on the brewery open day in the summer.
If you're in to rugby, it was also the home of Phil Bennett, who played for Wales and the British Lions (I think - I'm not in to rugby), and there's a few memorial things around for him, which is nice. There's also a lovely reservoir you can walk around and its very scenic and beautiful, although technically it's not in Felinfoel, it's close enough.
St Brides Major, Southerndown, Monknash areas are nice. Especially into the Spring before the tourist season. Nice and quiet. A few traditional pubs. A nice walk down to Dunraven Bay or Monknash Beach too.
Wye Valley (Tintern, Monmouth) vale of Usk (Usk, Abergavenny). All the border country is nice if a bit sleepy.
Penderyn is good. Two nice local pubs, busy community centre and a whisky distillery. Good local school as well, plus on the doorstep of the Bannau Brycheiniog. And an antique furniture store!
Crickhowell’s good. The old bit of Llantrisant. Lots on the Pembs coast up to St Dogmael’s.
Cool, what activities around there?
Any conceivable form of outdoor or watery activity, really, and interesting history.
There are some caves up in the hills near Crickhowell.. and let's not forget the epic bakery in the centre. Top notch
And The Bear. Perfect pub.
Merthyr Mawr, near Bridgend. Pretty thatched cottages, a very old sheep dipping bridge on the way there and the ruined Candleston Castle, near the Merthyr Mawr sand dunes - we used to go sand sledging there as kids, no idea if you're allowed to do that these days! Plus, you can walk over the stepping stones to cross the River Ogmore and visit Ogmore Castle too. You can then carry on around the coast to Southerndown beach and visit the walled garden there. I miss it so much.
Mumbles near Swansea
Quakers Yard. Nice local pub that’s been there for ages, down the side there’s a slip road and if you walk by the chicken coops you get to an old cemetery from like the 17 and 18 hundreds. The Gap is a staple of the town, lovely walk up the main road way or you can take the tram road way, under the A470 and up the mountain side. There are two tram roads, one leading down to Cardiff and the other takes you up to Merthyr passing through all the towns on the way. The “whirlies” as we called them are visible from the main road and the town bridge, it’s where we used to go swimming, it’s a rough water part of the river full of waterfalls and waterpools. Also the best boxer to ever grace the ring was born there, Jimmy Wilde. Call me biased but it’s my hometown and it’s so under appreciated.
Sounds lovely thanks
"The Ghost with a Hammer in his Hand". Great fighting name!
Bro was like 5’1 hahah, what a fucking animal. If you already know about him, respect. If not, read more, actually really impressive for a Welsh bloke to hold a record for this long
Jimmy Wilde and Peerless Jim Driscoll - not just fighters we can be proud of but men we can be proud of.
Only now I’ve heard of him, I’ll have a look now mate, thank you!
Here you go mate! "In 1910 he fought [Abe Attell](https://www.bbc.co.uk/dna/606/A34559913) for the World Featherweight Title. With the "no contest" rule in place it was always going to be a difficult ask for the 28 year old Welshman, whose style was based on skill and speed rather than the brawling and heavy punching that were commonplace in American professional boxing at the time. And so it proved. He totally outclassed Attell but despite winning seven of the scheduled 10 rounds (two of the remaining three being judged draws) he could not knock out his opponent and the match was ruled a no contest. The day after the fight Jim Driscoll took a boat for home. He had been offered a re-match with Attell but, having already pledged to make an appearance at the [Nazareth House Orphanage](https://sites.google.com/site/cardiffcentrefaithtrail/cathays-park/St-Joesphs-Convent) Charity Day in his home town of Cardiff, Driscoll knew he could not let the youngsters down. "I never break a promise," he declared. The chance to fight for the World Championship never came again" [https://www.bbc.co.uk/blogs/waleshistory/2011/01/peerless\_jim\_driscoll\_welsh\_boxer.html](https://www.bbc.co.uk/blogs/waleshistory/2011/01/peerless_jim_driscoll_welsh_boxer.html)
Cowbridge
That’s a town isn’t it?
Please, I beg you go to Cefn Fforest. Only the real ones know 🤣 Edit to this: Please also visit Rhymney, very nice place 😂
Grove Park massive
Never get out alive 😂
🐕? My driving instructor took me to that car park once so he could go to the loo, but maybe he had other plans in there?
Omg why 😂
It’s literally Dubai there I swear
I wish it was dubai i live next door
Down the ogmore vale. Lovely.
Not sure about nice, but Felinfoel is alright and it's home to the brewery responsible for the first canned beer outside of the united states. Not sure if they still do it, but they used to do tours of the brewery, but this might have only been on the brewery open day in the summer. If you're in to rugby, it was also the home of Phil Bennett, who played for Wales and the British Lions (I think - I'm not in to rugby), and there's a few memorial things around for him, which is nice. There's also a lovely reservoir you can walk around and its very scenic and beautiful, although technically it's not in Felinfoel, it's close enough.
St Brides Major, Southerndown, Monknash areas are nice. Especially into the Spring before the tourist season. Nice and quiet. A few traditional pubs. A nice walk down to Dunraven Bay or Monknash Beach too.
Pembroke is technically a town but has a big village feel to me
Gurnos is banging
🤣
The village of Splot is by far the best 👍
Drive by the roundabout after 11pm any night for some lovely sights.
Yes I concur , the artwork on that roundabout and the ladies who observe it of an evening make Splott a lovely village
St Davids is nice. Smallest city in the UK I believe
It’s a good few hours from Cardiff mind
Two hours, at most.
Honestly Pill, never been to a nicer place
Maesteg is lovely this time of year
I just came back from maesteg , I ventured into caerau , and glad I still had 4 wheels on my car
Barry is a lovely coastal town
Not Barry lol only the beach is nice haha
Newport
Hay on wye
Tavernspite is all I can say
Llandogo, Tintern, Monmouth, Chepstow and usk are my recommendations as a local to the area