South Wales

South Wales (Welsh: De Cymru) is in the United Kingdom.

Counties

These are historic counties used for geographic purposes. Due to the large populations of Glamorgan and Monmouthshire they are divided into twelve local authorities called "council areas", namely Swansea, Neath Port Talbot, Rhondda Cynon Taf, Bridgend, Vale of Glamorgan, Cardiff, Newport, Monmouthshire, Torfaen, Blaenau Gwent, Caerphilly and Merthyr Tydfil.

Pembrokeshire
Spectacular rocky coastline with a few good beaches

Carmarthenshire
Hill farming area, as well as sandy beaches

Glamorgan
Former industrial heartland of Wales, vibrant regenerated cities, spectacular coastline

Monmouthshire
hilly pastoral scenery and historic towns

Cities and towns

Cities

Cardiff GPS: 51.483333,-3.183333 (Welsh: Caerdydd) (Glamorgan) – the thriving and trendy capital city of Wales.
Newport GPS: 51.583333,-3 (Casnewydd) (Monmouthshire) – Wales' third-largest city.
Swansea GPS: 51.616667,-3.95 (Abertawe) (Glamorgan) – Wales' city by the sea and second-largest urban centre - spectacular sandy beaches await you.
St Davids GPS: 51.882,-5.269 (Tyddewi) (Pembrokeshire) – Britain's smallest city and home to Wales' most important cathedral.

Towns

Barry GPS: 51.405,-3.27 (Y Barri) (Glamorgan) – seaside/industrial town.
Carmarthen GPS: 51.856,-4.316 (Caerfyrddin) (Carmarthenshire) – market town
Chepstow GPS: 51.642,-2.675 (Cas-gwent) (Monmouthshire) – medieval walled town with castle, and gateway to the Lower Wye Valley.
Monmouth GPS: 51.81,-2.72 (Trefynwy) (Monmouthshire) – birthplace of King Henry V (of Battle of Agincourt fame).
Tenby GPS: 51.6745,-4.7044 (Dinbych-y-pysgod) (Pembrokeshire) – medieval walled town and elegant seaside resort.

More Destinations

Wormshead view 072006 rb - Worm's Head, Rhossili, Swansea

National parks

Pembrokeshire Coast National Park GPS: 51.833333,-5.083333 (Parc Cenedlaethol Arfordir Penfro) – Britain's only coastal national park

Designated areas of outstanding natural beauty

Gower Peninsula GPS: 51.5915,-4.216294 (Penrhyn Gwyr) (Swansea) stunning coastal scenery with wide sandy beaches.
South Wales Halal Travel Guide

South Wales is a very mixed area. There is stunning pastoral scenery in many parts of South West Wales and the Vale of Glamorgan near Cardiff and the beautiful Wye Valley in the historic county of Monmouthshire. Wales' two largest cities, Cardiff and Swansea, are both located in the historic county of Glamorgan and offer an excellent shopping, restaurants and entertainment opportunities. The coast around Pembrokeshire and the Gower Peninsula in Swansea, in particular, have stunning coastal paths and sandy beaches, and the area boasts an abundance of castles. In addition, South Wales has a proud industrial legacy, with Port Talbot being a major steel processing town, while the valleys in central Glamorgan were once the centre of the Welsh coal mining industry. Since the 1960s, Carmarthenshire and Pembrokeshire have been very popular with people involved in alternative and counter-culture; consequently South West Wales has become home to many communes and organic farms.

Local Language in South Wales

Welsh is commonly spoken in Carmarthenshire, northern Pembrokeshire and parts of West Glamorgan, but it is used much less in southern Pembrokeshire, Monmouthshire and the rest of Glamorgan, with the exception of some parts of Cardiff (notably Canton and Whitchurch). English is spoken natively throughout the region, and South Wales has a number of regional accents, including the distinctive Kairdiff dialect.

Travel to South Wales

By car

The M4 motorway links London and southern England to Newport (Monmouthshire), Cardiff, Swansea and near Carmarthen. If travelling from the Midlands and the North and the M50 and A40 are the best roads to use.

Muslim Friendly Rail Holidays in South Wales

Great Western runs a main line service from London to Swansea, with stops in Newport, Cardiff, Bridgend, Port Talbot and Neath. Arriva Trains covers the rural areas west and north of Swansea.

Buy a Flight ticket to and from South Wales

There is an international airport at Cardiff and a small airport serving private planes at Swansea

Book a Halal Cruise or Boat Tour in South Wales

There are regular car ferry services from Ireland to Fishguard and Pembroke.

Swansea offers mooring facilities for around 700 boats at the city's marina.

Travel on a Bus in South Wales

Cardiff, Swansea and Newport are connected to the National Express coach network, linking them to other major UK cities.

How to get around in South Wales

Trains connect all the main centres of population, and a local bus network links the stations to the smaller communities in the area.

What to see in South Wales

Coastal scenery - Gower Peninsula, Millennium Coastal Path in Carmarthenshire, Pembrokeshire
Museums and galleries - Cardiff, Swansea, Newport
Picturesque small towns/villages - Llandovery, Tenby and Oxwich, Port Eynon and Rhosilli on the Gower Peninsula.

Castles

Caerphilly in Caerphilly - has a leaning tower
Cardiff, perhaps Wales' most well-known castle, it is located in the heart of the Cardiff|capital.
Carmarthen in Carmarthen - the ruins of Carmarthen Castle are in the town centre
Carreg Cennen Castle - imposing castle near Llandeilo in Carmarthenshire
Chepstow in Chepstow
Kidwelly in Kidwelly
Llansteffan near Carmarthen
Manorbier near Tenby
Oxwich at South Gower, Swansea - near Oxwich Bay
Oystermouth at Mumbles, Swansea - commanding views over Mumbles and Swansea Bay
Pembroke in Pembroke
Pennard at Pennard, Swansea - the ruins of Pennard Castle overlook Three Cliffs Bay
Picton near Haverfordwest
Swansea - the ruins of Swansea Castle are in the downtown
Weobley at North Gower, Swansea - the castle offers views over the Loughor Estuary to Carmarthenshire

Best things to do in South Wales

Hiking - Carmarthenshire, Gower Peninsula, Pembrokeshire
Swimming - Swansea, Tenby
Water sports - Swansea

Work on organic farms - Wales is home to many communes and organic farms, and WWOOF can arrange for volunteers to work for free at some of these places in exchange for room and board. It is an excellent way to experience life in the Welsh countryside, make friends and learn a little about organic farming.

Festivals

Cardiff Singer of the World Competition, Cardiff
Dylan Thomas Festival, Swansea An annual event held between 27 October and 9 November (the dates of the poet's birth and death) to commemorate the works of Thomas. In addition and the festival hosts the awards' ceremony for the winner of the Dylan Thomas Prize - a biannual writing competition for most outstanding literary talent in English, aged under 30.

Dylan Thomas Fringe - Swansea. Compliments the main events at the Dylan Thomas Festival and is held at various venues throughout the city.
Swansea Festival of Music and the Arts - Swansea. An annual (October) three week bash of culture at various locations in Swansea, and the second largest such festival in the UK.

Halal Restaurants in South Wales

Laver bread is a purée made from seaweed and eaten for breakfast. It is a speciality of the Swansea area.
The Newport Lovely and Jann Split are two variants of Welsh Cakes particular to the South Wales region.
Caerphilly cheese, originally sold in the town that bears its namesake, is a hard white Cheese.

Stay Safe

South Wales does not have a high crime rate, though like anywhere is in the UK, caution is required, especially in urban areas.

News & References South Wales

Explore more Halal friendly Destinations from South Wales

Mid Wales
Bristol and Bath are just across the Severn Bridge in the West Country of England, and the equally English Forest of Dean is on the western side of the Severn.
Boat trips linking Swansea and Penarth with north Devon run during the summer months.