Llantwit Major is a small coastal town and community in the Vale of Glamorgan, Wales, lying on the Bristol Channel shore. 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, originated from the name of Saint Illtud, who came to the region from Brittany, Gaul. He established the monastery of Illtud and the college attached to it, Cor Tewdws, which would turn into among the most renowned Christian colleges of the times. At peak it pulled in over 2000 students, featuring princes and various distinguished clergymen, some now revered as saints. The modern town of Llantwit developed rapidly in the 20th century to accommodate Royal Air Force personnel from the base established at neighboring St Athan, but it preserves its medieval cobbled streets and buildings of the 15th and 16th centuries. Collugh Beach is a popular surfing location 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 remarkable 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 earnings from further afield. Most of the inhabitants commute to work elsewhere, especially Cardiff or Bridgend. Throughout the summer months tourism is essential to the town which has "The Precinct", Rainbow Plaza and several clubs 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 developments, make certain to identify trusted experts in Llantwit Major to make certain of quality.