Llantwit Major
Llantwit Major is a small coastal town and community in the Vale of Glamorgan, Wales, lying on the Bristol Channel shoreline. It is one of four towns in the Vale of Glamorgan and the third largest 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 arrived at the region from Brittany, Gaul. He started the abbey of Illtud and the college connected to it, Cor Tewdws, which would end up being among the most well-regarded Christian colleges of the times. At peak it pulled in over 2000 students, featuring princes and numerous prominent clergymen, some now revered as saints. The current town of Llantwit developed rather quickly in the 20th century to accommodate Royal Air Force workers from the base built at neighboring St Athan, however it keeps its medieval cobbled streets and buildings of the 15th and 16th centuries. Collugh Beach is a popular surfing destination and has the remnants of an Iron Age fort and a few of the finest examples of Jurassic-period fossils in Wales. The pebble beach and its impressive clifftops are part of a 14 miles (23 kilometre)-long shoreline protected under the Glamorgan Heritage Coast, which stretches from Gileston in the east to Newton Point beyond Southerndown in the west. Llantwit Major is largely dependent on regional retail and profits from additional afield. The majority of the residents commute to work elsewhere, primarily Cardiff or Bridgend. During the summer months tourism is essential to the town which has "The Precinct", Rainbow Plaza and multiple 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 renovations, make certain to identify credible contractors in Llantwit Major to make certain of quality.
