We are traveling with a friend next September in Great Britain and France. His heritage is Welsh (although he doesn't know where specifically) he wants to spend two nights in Southern Wales. We will be training from London and then from Wales to Portsmouth so we can ferry to France. Any ideas on where to stay in Southern Wales to get a taste of the Welsh culture?
Posted by
Troy, Oh, USA
2776 posts
Chepstow is a nice area. Tintern Abbey is 4 miles from there and there is Chepstow Castle you could visit. You can get the train from Paddington Station in London to Chepstow. This is a website that you can see pictures of Chepstow......http://www.picturesofengland.com/Wales/Monmouthshire/Chepstow/pictures/1090587
Posted by
Pensacola
9110 posts
Chepstow is one of the smaller castles, but it's an excellent example of all the elements so you can see how a castle is supposed to work. The National Museum in Cardiff has an extensive collection of all elements of Welsh culture and history. Caerphilly, with a really great larger castle, is less than ten miles north and served by a train.
Posted by
OP
Salem, OR
33 posts
Thank you both so much. I am exploring these new options.
Posted by
Los Angeles, California
1986 posts
If its Southern Wales you need to find one of the coal mining sites; or slate mines. There are some coal mining museums and museums of preserved homes of the coal miners (How Green was my valley). (Unless you are convinced his family actually lived in the castles- which would probably mean he wasnt Welsh). For how the Welsh lived visit Bridgend and Porthcawl in Southern Wales- Porthcawl is a typical Welsh seaside resort. (South of Cardiff). Bridgend has a ruined castle in town and also a few more within three or four miles).
Bridgend also has a respectable rugby club which is truly Welsh You can get to Bridgend by train from London or Bristol or Cardiff
Posted by
Seattle, WA, USA
1068 posts
Caerphilly has an awesome castle. It's huge, it's medieval, it's amazing. And I adore the Vale of Glamorgan. The scenery is romantic and wild - just gorgeous. Try the Big Pit National Coal Museum at Blaenavon - it will give your friend a peek back into "How Green Was My Valley" times - very cool if he is searching for his roots.