| | Overview (Source: Frommers) |
South Wales No longer the dreary coal-exporting port as it was so often depicted in the 20th century, Cardiff, the capital of Wales, is hot and happening -- one of the most attractive cities of Britain to visit. Cardiff ( Caerdydd in Welsh) is a large seaport built on the tidal estuary of the Taff River. Enriched by the Industrial Revolution, it eventually declined after World War II with the closing of coal mines, railroads, and factories. The old industrial city long envisioned has been replaced by a progressive, inviting modern port, as exemplified by the new waterfront along Cardiff Bay. Here you'll find renewal at its best, with restaurants, hotels, and a hands-on exhibit, Techniquest. Cardiff can also be your launching pad for the treasures of South Wales. This area in recent decades has turned a bright, new face to the world and is no longer known for its depressing stories of slag heaps, dreary cottages, and denuded hillsides that were once proudly forested. In fact, it is imbued with some of the great beauty spots of Britain: the Brecon Beacons National Park, 835 sq. km (519 sq. miles) of beauty and pleasure grounds with nature reserves; Gower Peninsula, an area of outstanding natural beauty stretching for 23km (14 miles) from the Mumbles to Worms Head in the West; and, finally, Pembrokeshire Coast National Park, one of the smallest national parks of Britain (only 362 sq. km/225 sq. miles) but an area acclaimed for its coastal scenery.
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