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Photo by http://www.flickr.com/photos/andysouthwales/
Our self catering holiday
cottages are situated two miles from the centre of Pontardawe, a
pleasant, historic town that first came into existence as a settlement
at the crossroads of two drovers' tracks, one from Swansea
to Brecon and the other from Neath
to Llandeilo.
The most famous landmark in Pontardawe is the
spire of St. Peter’s Church which stands
200 feet high and is visible from the fields behind our holiday
cottages. The church was built in 1858-1860 in British Gothic style
and paid for by William Parsons who said “he would build God’s
house higher than the stacks of industry as to aspire men to look
upward”. William Parsons was a pioneer of the iron and tinplate
industry, whose works began in 1835 and were the start of the rise
of Pontardawe.
Today, there is very little evidence of the town’s
industrial past - nature has survived and regenerated to create
a beautiful, even breath-taking holiday location. The town is closely
surrounded by steeply sloping hills that are covered in thick woodland,
commanding views of nearly the whole of the valley, as well as of
the opposite side. Pretty gabled houses look down on to the valley
bottom and the River Tawe (excellent
fishing) tumbles over boulders on its way down to Swansea, the
Gower peninsula and the open sea. The view back to Pontardawe and
St. Peter's Church reveals a backdrop of distant mountains and a
hint of the glorious Brecon
Beacons.
Pontardawe is a Welsh word and means "Bridge
over the River Tawe". The old stone bridge after which
the town takes its name lies alongside the town's most famed pub,
The Pontardawe Inn (The Gwachel to locals). The bridge was built
by William Edwards of Pontypridd, a famous bridge builder. He also
built the bridge at Pontypridd, which was the longest single-span
bridge in the world when it was constructed, and the bridge at Cenarth
in west Wales. He was also responsible for the design of Morriston
in the Swansea Valley for Morris, a local industrialist.
Pontardawe is famed for its three
major annual cultural shows. The Swansea Valley Show
focuses on the valley's agricultural roots is a well attended farming
and livestock event. The Cwmtawe Sevens Invitation Rugby
Tournament is Wales's top 7's event and attracts rugby
teams from all over the U.K. Gareth Edwards, thought by many to
be the greatest rugby player of all time, Robert Jones and Arwel
Thomas are all native of the Pontardawe area. The last event of
the year and the most spectacular is the Pontardawe International
Music Festival, which is held in August of each year. The
festival, which began in 1977, boasts a vivid past, rich in history
and incident. Dance troupes and singers come to Pontardawe from
all over the world to take part in the music festival. Crowds line
the streets for the highlight of the event when a torchlit procession
parades through the streets, bringing the town alive with dance
and song. The town has a rich history in the fields of poetry, prose
and music. Amongst its most well known personalities are Mary Hopkin,
singer, the late Rachel Thomas, actress, Dafydd Rowlands, poet and
prose writer and the late David James Jones (Gwenallt), poet, to
name but a few.
Pontardawe is a great base if you are planning
a walking holiday in
Wales. Picturesque walks along the Swansea Canal
and riverside walks through ancient woodland in Cwmdu Glen
all start in the town centre since both the river and the canal
run through the heart of the town. If you fancy taking a car, there
are some wonderful and little known drives on the
surrounding hills where the scenery is spectacular. There are suggested
routes in our self catering cottages.
Pontardawe is also a great destination for a
Welsh golfing holiday.
The local course is situated on a hill overlooking the town and
boasts magnificent views of the Brecon Beacons and the Bristol Channel
from the 16th hole. Visitors to our holiday cottages enjoy special
rates – if you want to play golf during your stay let us know!
Other attractions include Pontardawe
Swimming Pool and Pontardawe Leisure Centre,
which occupies the valley floor where Gilbertson’s furnace
and mill once produced iron, steel and tinplate. Herbert Street
is home to the Pontardawe Arts Centre which is
an art house cinema, concert venue and theatre rolled into one.
Pontardawe was twinned with the town of Locmine
in Brittany in 1986. See www.pontardawe.org.uk for more information.
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