New Ideas in Southern Wales

Most of our castles have histories that date back over 1000 years. But our youngest was built by the Ironmaster William Crawshay II in Merthyr Tydfil, giving him views across his industrial empire and showing off his wealth and influence to all.‍Cyfarthfa Castle was built in 1825, and 2025 is Cyfarthfa 200 - a year of celebration. The imposing, Grade 1 Listed Building is now a museum and art gallery, and it sits within a wonderful parkland. The video below gives you an insight into what your clients can enjoy during a visit, and if you'd like to know more about the history of this majestic building then take a video tour by following this link.Events are taking place at Cyfarthfa and across Merthyr Tydfil throughout 2025, including a day dedicated to one of the well known characters from the area, Laura Ashley.

Take a look at what Cyfarthfa Castle offers your groups and clients - a great insight into the art and history of Wales.

New exhibits: Rhondda Powered the World

Each visit to A Welsh Coal Mining Experience: Rhondda Heritage Park is unique - with former miners taking you around the site and giving you an insight into the danger and camaraderie of working in the coal industry. New displays have just opened with over 140 mining and Welsh history artefacts on display. These are combined with the incredible footage, touch screens, quizzes, puzzles and digitalised artefacts, telling the history of coal across the history of the South Wales Valleys, including topics such as the Rhondda Coal Rush and the involvement of Rhondda miners in the Spanish Civil War together showing how Rhondda powered the world. If you haven't visited The Mining Experience recently, then make 2025 the year that you book a visit for your group.

‍Remember, you can also make a combined booking with The Royal Mint Experience and Hensol Castle Distillery - Coins, Coal and Cheers.

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Events

As Cardiff gets ready to welcome Oasis on the start of their UK and World Tour (and as part of a summer of music in the capital), lots of other events are getting ready to welcome you.

• Royal Porthcawl Golf Club welcomes the AIG Women's Open 30 July - 3 August - the elite players will enjoy the wonderful links course.
• The Caerphilly Cheese Festival 30 - 31 August will bring food, fun and frollicks to the town and castle of Caerphilly.
• Tickets for the Abergavenny Food Festival are on sale now and the Newport Food Festival follows on the 11 October.
• The Porthcawl Elvis Festival will bring music and entertainment to the seaside town 26 - 28 September. Go on - pull on your blue suede shoes.
• And - Christmas plans are underway - you can book your tickets for Christmas at Bute Park in the centre of Cardiff - the display will be even brighter than previous years - and the Christmas Market will be a must visit.

AC Group Travel Fam Visit

Recently we were delighted to welcome Giorgia from AC Group Travel to Southern Wales.

The aim of the visit was for Giorgia to get to know the accommodation of the area - so we worked with her to plan 18 hotel visits over 3 days in and around Cardiff. We also managed to fit in a few attractions - Wales Perfumery near Monmouth, St Fagans National Museum of History and Cardiff Castle - giving a taste of what the area has to offer AC Group's clients.

The Southern Wales team love showing travel trade contacts around the area - there are lots of well known attractions but also hidden gems that might be just the thing for your clients. If you'd like to get to know more about Southern Wales then get in touch - we are here to help.

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This months newsletter focuses on how guides can add so much to your trip - as individuals or as a group. You can see the original newsletter here.