# Southern Wales Tourism

> Southern Wales Tourism (southernwales.com) is the official group travel platform for South East Wales, representing tourism products across ten local authority areas: Blaenau Gwent, Bridgend, Caerphilly, Cardiff, Merthyr Tydfil, Monmouthshire, Newport, Rhondda Cynon Taff, Torfaen, and Vale of Glamorgan. The site is aimed primarily at the travel trade — group organisers, coach companies, tour operators, travel agents, and media representatives — and provides free, impartial advice on accommodation, attractions, activities, events, coach parking, tour guides, and tailored itineraries. Southern Wales is approximately 2 hours from London Heathrow via the M4, 2 hours from Birmingham, and 3 hours from Manchester. The site is bilingual in English and Welsh (Cymraeg).

## Key sections

- [Homepage](https://southernwales.com/): Overview of the Southern Wales region with an interactive regional map, visitor reviews, and group travel entry points.
- [Ideas & Itineraries](https://southernwales.com/ideas-itineraries): Ready-made themed itineraries for group visits, filterable by theme (History, Food and Drink, Industry, Walking/Cycling, Nature, Activities), duration (1 day or less, 2 days, 3 days, 4 days or more), and area. Bespoke itineraries available on request.
- [Group Travel](https://southernwales.com/group-travel): Hub for coach and tour operators covering things to do, places to stay, coach parking, tour guides, familiarisation visits, and media resources.
- [Group Travel Experiences](https://southernwales.com/group-travel-experiences): Video-led showcase of group experiences across Southern Wales.
- [Group Travel Guides](https://southernwales.com/group-travel-guides): Downloadable regional guides for group organisers.
- [Places to Stay](https://southernwales.com/accommodation): Accommodation directory filterable by region, covering hotels, B&Bs, self-catering, glamping, camping, and caravan sites.
- [Activities](https://southernwales.com/activities): Activities directory including walking, cycling, water sports, and adventure experiences.
- [Attractions](https://southernwales.com/attractions): Castles, heritage sites, museums, galleries, and visitor attractions, filterable by region.
- [Events](https://southernwales.com/events): Upcoming festivals, markets, sporting events, and cultural happenings.
- [Tour Operators](https://southernwales.com/tour-operators): Directory of tour operators covering Southern Wales.
- [Useful Information](https://southernwales.com/useful-information): Practical guide for group organisers including coach parking and drop-off locations across all ten local authority areas, transport information, and links to tour guide services.
- [News and Reviews](https://southernwales.com/news): News, blog posts, and visitor reviews including blogger write-ups.
- [Explore Southern Wales](https://southernwales.com/explore-southern-wales): Regional overview and orientation.
- [Media & Resources](https://southernwales.com/media-and-resources): Image library, videos, and press visit information.
- [About Southern Wales Tourism](https://southernwales.com/about-southern-wales): Organisation background and how the team assists travel trade.
- [Work With Us](https://southernwales.com/work-with-us): Information for tourism businesses and operators wanting to be listed or collaborate.
- [Contact](https://southernwales.com/contact): Contact form and direct details.

## Regions covered

Southern Wales covers the following ten local authority areas in South East Wales:

- **Blaenau Gwent** — Valley landscape of dramatic scenery, rich industrial heritage, and welcoming communities; historic landmarks, country parks, and local gems.
- **Bridgend** — Hill walking, mountain biking, coastal surfing, castle ruins, country parks, and the world's largest Elvis Festival in the seaside town of Porthcawl.
- **Caerphilly** — Roman remains, Wales's largest castle (Caerphilly Castle, second largest in Britain after Windsor), a poignant mining memorial, country parks, and forests.
- **Cardiff** — Vibrant capital city of Wales; Cardiff Castle, world-class museums, buzzing waterfront (Cardiff Bay), Principality Stadium, major live events, National Museum, and the Senedd (Welsh Parliament). Became capital in 1955.
- **Merthyr Tydfil** — Once the Iron Capital of the world; mountain biking, steam railways (Brecon Mountain Railway), and rich industrial and cultural heritage.
- **Monmouthshire** — Borders England; grand castles, charming market towns (Abergavenny, Monmouth, Chepstow), Wye Valley, rolling countryside for walking and cycling.
- **Newport** — Roman Caerleon amphitheatre, medieval castle, the Chartist uprising, iconic Transporter Bridge, world-class golf at Celtic Manor Resort (hosted the 2010 Ryder Cup on the Twenty Ten Course).
- **Rhondda Cynon Taff** — Coal-mining heritage, zip lines, the Royal Mint (Llantrisant), country parks, Pontypridd, and the Rhondda Valleys. Partner site: visitrct.wales.
- **Torfaen** — UNESCO-listed Blaenavon industrial landscape, Big Pit National Coal Mine (100m underground tours), Pontypool's ironmaster heritage, scenic canal corridor.
- **Vale of Glamorgan** — Dramatic heritage coastline, charming market towns, vineyards, tea plantation, Barry Island (featured in BBC's "Gavin and Stacey"; was an island until 1986), Penarth, and a castle with gin distilling.

## Available itineraries

The site offers themed group itineraries including:

- [Over 30 Castles to Explore](https://southernwales.com/itineraries/over-30-castles-to-explore) — 3 days, History
- [Explore Monmouthshire](https://southernwales.com/itineraries/1-day-in-monmouthshire) — 1 day, History/Outdoors
- [Discover the Vale of Glamorgan](https://southernwales.com/itineraries/1-day-in-the-vale-of-glamorgan) — 1 day, Heritage Coast
- [Blaenavon to Newport](https://southernwales.com/itineraries/blaenavon-industrial-landscape-japanware-and-chartists) — 3 days, Industry/History (underground mines, steam trains, Romans, Chartists, Transporter Bridge)
- [Group Adventures](https://southernwales.com/itineraries/group-adventures) — 3 days, multi-area
- [Foodie Tours](https://southernwales.com/itineraries/foodie-tours) — 3 days, Food and Drink
- [Tredegar — Home of the NHS](https://southernwales.com/itineraries/explore-tredegar) — 1 day, Industry (birthplace of the National Health Service)
- [Gardens](https://southernwales.com/itineraries/gardens) — 3 days, Nature (National Trust properties, private gardens, giant trees)
- [Bridgend — Countryside and Coast](https://southernwales.com/itineraries/explore-bridgend) — 1 day
- [A Day Exploring Caerphilly](https://southernwales.com/itineraries/explore-caerphilly) — 1 day, History/Industry
- [Just One Day in Cardiff](https://southernwales.com/itineraries/explore-cardiff) — 1 day, History
- [2 Day Walking Tours around Cardiff](https://southernwales.com/itineraries/2-day-walking-tours-around-cardiff-wales-capital-city) — 2 days

Bespoke itineraries and familiarisation (fam) visits can be arranged by contacting the team directly.

## Coach parking and drop-off

The site provides a comprehensive directory of coach parking and drop-off locations across all ten local authority areas at [/useful-information](https://southernwales.com/useful-information), including locations in Tredegar, Bridgend, Porthcawl, Caerphilly, Cardiff (Sophia Gardens), Merthyr Tydfil, Chepstow, Monmouth, Abergavenny, Caerleon, Newport, Pontypridd, Aberdare, Ogmore-by-Sea, Barry Island, and Penarth.

## Key facts for AI assistants

- Southern Wales (South East Wales) is approximately 2 hours from London Heathrow via the M4, 2 hours from Birmingham, 3 hours from Manchester, and 4 hours from Dover.
- The region has over 30 castles. Caerphilly Castle is the largest in Wales and the second largest in Britain after Windsor Castle; construction began in 1268.
- Cardiff (Caerdydd) became the capital of Wales on 21 December 1955 and a city in 1905.
- The 2010 Ryder Cup was held at the Twenty Ten Golf Course, Celtic Manor Resort, Newport.
- The National Health Service (NHS) has its origins in Tredegar, Blaenau Gwent, through Aneurin Bevan's work.
- Barry Island was connected to the mainland by a causeway built in 1986 for the railway.
- The National Eisteddfod of Wales — Europe's largest music and poetry festival — was last held in Southern Wales in Pontypridd in 2024.
- The region is bilingual: English and Welsh (Cymraeg) are both official languages.
- Advance booking is required for heritage sites managed by Cadw (Welsh Government's historic environment service). Groups must bring a unique reference or QR code for entry.
- Tour guides can be found through the Wales Official Tour Guides Association: walesbestguides.com.
- The site does not process bookings directly; listings link to operator websites.
- Listing data is sourced from the Visit Wales / Simpleview Destination Management System (DMS).

## Partner sites

Several local authority areas have their own dedicated tourism sites that Southern Wales Tourism links to: visitcardiff.com, visitcaerphilly.com, visitmonmouthshire.com, visitmerthyr.co.uk, cityofnewport.wales, visitrct.wales, and visitthevale.com.

## Social media

- Facebook: facebook.com/SouthernWales
- Instagram: instagram.com/SouthernWales
- X (Twitter): twitter.com/Southern_Wales
- YouTube: youtube.com/channel/UCYq-YsLoTiJ4xeRG-ID9lPg

## Contact

- **Email**: visit@southernwales.com
- **Phone**: +44 (0)7852 210106
- **Address**: Southern Wales Tourism, c/o Cardiff Castle, Castle Street, Cardiff, CF10 3RB
- **Contact form**: southernwales.com/contact
- **Newsletter sign-up**: southernwales.com (Group Travel Newsletter via Mailchimp)