Tel: 0118 971 4700
Essential Hotels > Wales > South Glamorgan
Glamorgan is one of the historic counties of Wales, a region which once stretched across the south of the country from Monmouthshire in the east to the tip of the Gower Peninsula towards the west. The country was later divided into the smaller counties of West, Mid and South Glamorgan. Broadly, West Glamorgan included Swansea and Neath Port Talbot, Mid Glamorgan had the Rhondda and Rhymney Valleys, and South Glamorgan contained Cardiff down to the coast. But even these no longer exist except as preserved county names following the change in Welsh unitary authorities in the 1990s. As part of this change, South Glamorgan was split into the districts of Cardiff and the Vale of Glamorgan.
The preserved country of South Glamorgan has a diverse geography and attitude, from the vibrant modern attitude of the Welsh capital, to the gently undulating countryside of the Vale of Glamorgan. The Vale of Glamorgan is the only region in Wales still actively carrying the name of the once great county of Glamorgan. It has little of the steep mountains, plunging valleys and industry associated with much of Wales. Instead, it has lightly sloping fields contrasted by sharp cliffs overlooking the Bristol Channel.
The Vale owes its scenic beauty to its humble beginnings over 200 million years ago. Much of the Celtic coastline was underwater, and compression of limestone formed dense sheets of rock, which were thrust out of the ocean by tectonic movement to create the craggy precipices that today line South Glamorgan. The lime found in the once-submerged land enabled the ground to be very successfully used for arable farming. The Vale of Glamorgan retains a strong agricultural community even now, and the area remains remarkably unspoilt.
The heart of the Vale is less than 15 miles west of Cardiff, but the difference between the two is striking. Unlike Cardiff, the population of the Vale is largely broken up into small picturesque villages. The area is perfect for enjoying long walks and exploring its geographical and geological heritage. However, it cannot be dismissed as simply a rural area. It holds several larger towns and a number of popular tourist destinations.
The preserved country of South Glamorgan has a diverse geography and attitude, from the vibrant modern attitude of the Welsh capital, to the gently undulating countryside of the Vale of Glamorgan. The Vale of Glamorgan is the only region in Wales still actively carrying the name of the once great county of Glamorgan. It has little of the steep mountains, plunging valleys and industry associated with much of Wales. Instead, it has lightly sloping fields contrasted by sharp cliffs overlooking the Bristol Channel.
The Vale owes its scenic beauty to its humble beginnings over 200 million years ago. Much of the Celtic coastline was underwater, and compression of limestone formed dense sheets of rock, which were thrust out of the ocean by tectonic movement to create the craggy precipices that today line South Glamorgan. The lime found in the once-submerged land enabled the ground to be very successfully used for arable farming. The Vale of Glamorgan retains a strong agricultural community even now, and the area remains remarkably unspoilt.
The heart of the Vale is less than 15 miles west of Cardiff, but the difference between the two is striking. Unlike Cardiff, the population of the Vale is largely broken up into small picturesque villages. The area is perfect for enjoying long walks and exploring its geographical and geological heritage. However, it cannot be dismissed as simply a rural area. It holds several larger towns and a number of popular tourist destinations.