Llantwit Major is a small coastal town and community in the Vale of Glamorgan, Wales, resting on the Bristol Channel shoreline. It is among four towns in the Vale of Glamorgan and the third greatest by population (13,366 (2001) after Barry and Penarth. The town's name in Welsh, Llanilltud Fawr, is derived from the name of Saint Illtud, who came to the region from Brittany, Gaul. He founded the abbey of Illtud and the college connected to it, Cor Tewdws, which would turn into among the most renowned Christian schools of the times. At peak it attracted over 2000 students, including princes and many prominent clergymen, some now revered as saints. The current town of Llantwit established swiftly in the 20th century to accommodate Royal Air Force personnel from the base established at neighboring St Athan, however it holds on to its medieval cobbled streets and buildings of the 15th and 16th centuries. Collugh Beach is a popular surfing area and has the remnants of an Iron Age fort and some of the finest examples of Jurassic-period fossils in Wales. The pebble beach and its dramatic clifftops are part of a 14 miles (23 kilometre)-long coastline safeguarded under the Glamorgan Heritage Coast, which stretches from Gileston in the east to Newton Point beyond Southerndown in the west. Llantwit Major is mostly dependent on local retail and earnings from more afield. The majority of the residents commute to work elsewhere, primarily Cardiff or Bridgend. Throughout the summer season tourism is necessary to the town which has "The Precinct", Rainbow Plaza and a number of bars and restaurants. Of note are the Old Swan Inn, Old White Hart Inn, The Tudor Tavern, and the 17th century West House Country Hotel Heritage Restaurant. For all your home refurbishments, make certain to identify credible professionals in Llantwit Major to make certain of quality.