Llantwit Major
Llantwit Major is a modest coastal town and community in the Vale of Glamorgan, Wales, resting on the Bristol Channel shoreline. It is one of 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, is derived from the name of Saint Illtud, who arrived at the area from Brittany, Gaul. He founded the monastery of Illtud and the college connected to it, Cor Tewdws, which would turn into one of the most renowned Christian colleges of the times. At peak it drew in over 2000 students, featuring princes and many eminent clergymen, some now revered as saints. The modern 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 keeps its medieval cobbled streets and structures 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 impressive clifftops are part of a 14 miles (23 kilometre)-long shoreline safeguarded under the Glamorgan Heritage Coast, which extends from Gileston in the east to Newton Point beyond Southerndown in the west. Llantwit Major is largely reliant on regional retail and revenues from more afield. Most of the occupants commute to work elsewhere, primarily Cardiff or Bridgend. Throughout the summer season tourism is crucial to the town which has "The Precinct", Rainbow Plaza and many 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 of your home makeovers, be sure to identify reputable specialists in Llantwit Major to make certain of quality.