Living in South Wales
From the breathtaking views and beaches accessible by the 186-mile long Pembrokeshire Coast Path National Trail all the way across to the Wye Valley, South Wales is a true representation of the great outdoors. Whether it’s the many country parks and forests or the rugged terrain of the Bannau Brycheiniog (Brecon Beacons) National Park, South Walians are spoilt for choice with a huge range of scenic landscapes and the historic towns and villages nestled within them. Also scattered across the region are more than 30 castles, including Caerphilly Castle, which is the largest in Wales, and Chepstow Castle, regarded as the oldest fortification of its type in Britain. An overview of South Wales would not be complete without mentioning some of the worldwide stars of music, stage, screen and sport it has produced. Singers Shirley Bassey, Tom Jones, bass baritone Bryn Trefel and mezzo-soprano Katherine Jenkins all hail from the region, as do the bands Stereophonics and Catatonia, and actors Sir Anthony Hopkins, Catherine Zeta-Jones and Michael Sheen. Tour de France winner Geraint Thomas, British and Irish Lions captain, Sam Warburton, and footballer, Gareth Bale, are three others. Remarkably, they all attended Whitchurch High School in Cardiff at the same time for a short period.
With an enduring reputation for both its creativity and dramatic scenery, South Wales provides its people with an outstanding, and often interwoven, combination of history, culture, nature and sport.
This heady mix ensures you’ll be sure to find something for yourself and your family to explore near our new builds in South Wales.
One such attraction is St Fagans National Museum of History in Cardiff which is Wales’s most popular heritage attraction.
Featuring more than 50 historic buildings from all over the country that have been painstakingly rebuilt, it gives visitors unique insights into the people and places of Wales over the ages.
Meanwhile, the Big Pit National Coal Museum, which is located in the Blaenafon Industrial Landscape and designated UNESCO World Heritage Site, celebrates South Wales’s world renowned mining heritage.
For those that enjoy the arts, South Wales provides a rich seam of opportunity. Visit the Dylan Thomas Centre in Swansea to discover more about the poet and writer who was born in the city and famous for his play Under Milk Wood amongst many other things.
The Wales Millenium Centre in Cardiff, which styles itself as a creative home for everyone, hosts a variety of West End shows, operas and community art events. The ICC Wales in Newport also provides an excellent venue for live performances, including musicals, theatre and comedy.
There is also the annual Hay Festival Hay-on-Wye which brings together artists, policymakers, pioneers and innovators from across the world to explore global issues and launch fiction and non-fiction books.
For those wanting to explore the natural beauty of the region, you do not have to travel far to find yourself in the midst of it.
The Bannau Brycheiniog (Brecon Beacons) National Park is less than an hour north of Cardiff and comprises around 520 square miles of forests, lakes, mountains, moors and pastureland. It is also home to Pen y Fan, the highest peak in South Wales at 2,907 ft above sea level.
For those who prefer two wheels, Bike Park Wales in Gethin Woods has more than 40 trails for mountain bike riders so, whether you’re a beginner or pro, you’ll find what you’re after.
Sports fans need look no further than the Principality Stadium. Located in Cardiff city centre close to all the capital has to offer, the 74,500 seater arena is home to the Wales rugby union and football teams, and plays host to a range of world class sporting fixtures and concerts.
Transport in South Wales
Our new build homes in South Wales benefit from the ongoing implementation of the South Wales Metro project which aims to provide residents with a more reliable, faster and greener transport system.
The South Wales Metro project, run by Transport for Wales, is an integrated public transport service which utilises trains, trams and buses. In particular, it is focused on the core Valley lines that connect Cardiff with Aberdare, Coryton, Merthyr Tydfil, Rhymney and Treherbert.
In November 2024, electric ‘tri mode’ trains were introduced to passenger services for the first time as part of the South Wales Metro and more will be rolled out following an £800m investment in new trains.
The main road linking our new build homes in South Wales to the region’s cities is the M4, which runs from east to west taking in Newport, Cardiff, Bridgend, Port Talbot, Swansea and Pontarddulais.
The A465 Heads of the Valleys road that links Swansea to Monmouthshire has undergone a 28-mile, £2bn dual carriageway upgrade including 30 new bridges and six junctions.
The region also benefits from good rail links with Cardiff Central and Newport (South Wales) providing regular services between towns and cities. It is planned for Cardiff Central to undergo a transformation to help sustain future growth in the region via a £140m investment.
The South Wales Mainline is also being improved by a partnership involving Transport for Wales, Network Rail, Welsh Government, Department for Transport and the Western Gateway.
For international travel, Cardiff Airport, which is owned by the Welsh Government, offers direct flights to a popular range of European destinations and connecting flights to locations as diverse as Sydney, Australia, and Lima in Peru.
