Llantwit Major is a modest seaside town and community in the Vale of Glamorgan, Wales, resting on the Bristol Channel shore. It is among 4 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, stemmed from the name of Saint Illtud, who arrived at the region from Brittany, Gaul. He founded the monastery of Illtud and the college attached to it, Cor Tewdws, which would turn into one of the most well-regarded Christian colleges of the times. At peak it pulled in over 2000 students, featuring princes and many prominent clergymen, some now revered as saints. The modern town of Llantwit established quickly in the 20th century to accommodate Royal Air Force workers from the base built at close-by St Athan, but it preserves its medieval cobbled streets and buildings of the 15th and 16th centuries. Collugh Beach is a popular surfing venue 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 protected 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 regional retail and revenues from more afield. Most of the residents commute to work elsewhere, especially Cardiff or Bridgend. Throughout the summer season tourism is very important to the town which has "The Precinct", Rainbow Plaza and various pubs and eateries. 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 of your home renovations, make certain to identify trustworthy experts in Llantwit Major to make certain of quality.