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Easily accessible by road and rail, the town of Llantwit Major sits neatly at the southern tip of Wales in the beautiful Vale of Glamorgan.
LLANTWIT MAJOR
What strikes the visitor to this charming town on the Heritage Coast is the friendliness of the local people and the surprising amount of history and activities available in and around the area. Llantwit Major boasts the historic church of St. Illtud, which is widely accepted as being on the site of the earliest seat of Christian learning in Wales. Much of the present church dates back to between 950 and 1400 AD.
The town itself can be loosely divided in two halves. The area around the church and town hall, referred to as the 'Old Part', has many historic buildings; these are marked with blue plaques which give a brief history of each. A twenty-minute walk around the blue-plaque trail is well worth the effort and for younger children a stop at the West End Pool is a must to see the fish.
There are several pubs in this area for those in need of refreshment or a meal. A visit to the town hall to obtain further information is recommended.
The newer part of the town contains the shopping area, which is also currently in the process of a regeneration project. Several nice cafés can be found in this area for those in need of non-alcoholic refreshment. The other big draw for visitors is the beach, located a short drive away or within walking distance for those with more time. The beach is famous amongst the surfing community and from it you can walk along the cliff-top paths, which provide spectacular views across the Bristol Channel and back out across the Vale of Glamorgan.
For keen walkers, heading west takes you on to St. Donats Castle and further on to the lighthouses at Marcross. Whichever direction you leave takes you out into the beautiful countryside of the Vale of Glamorgan or along the coastline with views across the Bristol Channel. This might also be part of the reason for the decision to hold the National Eisteddfod of Wales near the town in the summer of 2012.
Tony Bennett, Llantwit Major Town Hall
"There are great things happening in Llantwit Major
- a lot we can be really proud of. The redevelopment is good for the local economy."
MAJOR DEVELOPMENTS...
I asked a lot of people across the
Vale what they thought of Llantwit
Major in preparation for this piece.
The general consensus seemed to
be the same... "Great beach!"
But when I pressed them about Llantwit Major itself, I'd get blank expressions. It seems that those of you who head for the beach don't stop in the town and, if that's the case, you really are missing out on one of the Vale's most historic places. Llantwit has blue plaques aplenty and is steeped in history.
The brand new railway station has ensured the town is perfectly placed for commuters heading west to Bridgend and east to Cardiff and London, and sits squarely above the town centre which is now home to much redevelopment.
And, if you're thinking of buying a home in the Vale, you really should be considering Llantwit Major. It's been voted one of the top three places to live in the country. There's The Coalyard, a £5m development of twenty-four houses by Waterstone which will refocus the area to the east of the town.
There's also been a £300,000 regeneration of Boverton Road which is revitalising frontage and creating a boulevard-type feel along with other aesthetic improvements.
The other major project is the redevelopment of Filco, with a £1m makeover and a £500,000 retail extension which will include repaving, rescheming and signage. There are also further plans to build a café area which will provide a place for al fresco dining.
Filco is in its 65th year of trading and employs three generations of the family. Ian Hunt, Filco's Managing Director, is rightfully proud of the redevelopment. "This is a huge investment for us but we're confident that Llantwit Major will be the better for it. We have a loyal customer base who have been patient and understanding while we make the improvements. Our store and the other businesses around us are frequented by customers who want convenience, competitive pricing and, more importantly, to chat with staff and friends. Llantwit Major is a very close-knit and sociable community."
Ian is clearly excited about what he sees as a new dawn for the town. "We're redesigning the rear and all the frontage right down to Lloyds Bank and the chemist. There will be new pop-up shops for starter businesses with short lets to allow entrepreneurs to get their retail businesses. We want Llantwit Major to be a place where businesses can thrive. This phase should be complete by autumn and combined with events such as the Victorian Fair, Llantwit Major in Bloom and the Christmas illuminations, will ensure that the town continues to develop as one of the Vale of Glamorgan's best places to live and also as one of our most important tourist attractions."
LLANTWIT MAJOR
Work hard, think hard and have fun!
On a recent trip to St Illtyd Primary School, I must admit to being hit with a sense of calm and happiness from the boys and girls whose ages ranged from 3 to 11.
The school's head, Alan Smith, has created a team, and a curriculum, that reflects his vision of what a truly creative education should be about. As well as the usual subjects, the children also enjoy a variety of clubs within school hours including gardening, science and art. After-school clubs include netball, football and gymnastics.
But it's Wednesday afternoon's enrichment club that interested me the most. The younger and older children all work together on activities including golf, cookery, the Mabinogion, Junior Apprentice and Where The Wild Things Are. The older children wear green polo shirts so that the younger children, who wear red, can seek them out for help.
Trips are also organised throughout the year. Meals are hot, nutritious and tasty - even the teachers eat them! They also have a resource base for children who need extra teaching support.
The school accepts children from Llantwit Major, and the RAF camp and feeds into both Llantwit Major and Cowbridge Comprehensives. Any parent in the locality would be thankful for a school like this on their doorstep.
The Old Swan Inn
The Old Swan Inn is the oldest public house in Llantwit Major. Its bar and traditional pub dining room sit together easily within the 12th Century architecture of this local meeting place.
A roaring fireplace during the winter months and the sociable beer garden for warmer months has helped make this pub the hub of the community. A blackboard menu offers traditional pub food and daily seasonal specials, served up by relaxed and friendly staff. The bar serves an impressive selection of local guest ales, often changing, from a variety of brewers.
Church Street, Llantwit Major Vale of Glamorgan CF61 1SB
01446 792230 |
As Soon As Concierge
A new personal concierge and
lifestyle management service has
been established in the Vale.
Katy Williams from Llantwit Major aims
to solve the problem of there never
seeming to be enough hours in the day.
As Soon As Concierge promises a
solution to the tasks which take up so
much valuable time, such as Personal
Assistant duties, errands service, the todo
list and clutter-busting and a home
minding service is also available.
Blocks of time can be bought in
advance or as gift vouchers. "Let us give you the Gift of Time."
Health Conscious
Stocking the largest range of health products in Llantwit Major, Nicky, who was once a pharmacist, cares about your health, well-being and nutritional requirements and, with her extensive knowledge, can offer informed advice to help you obtain your desired goal of total well-being.
The store stocks all of the major, bestselling brands and also offers products that you can't find in any supermarket. If you have a health, well-being or nutritional problem and need help, then Nicky should be on your speeddial.
Pastures Green
This family-run business of 23
years offers friendly, professional
advice to both local residents and
customers from further afield.
Stunning, fragrant blooms can be
delivered locally or worldwide under
the careful and attentive service of
owners Kathleen Coates and daughter
Joanne David, with the additional help
of younger daughter Alison.
An Interflora florist, ordering is
available online, but why not pop in
and discuss your needs in person. You
could also pick up a gift from their
range of household gifts and jewellery.
Weddings are a speciality.
4 Pound Field, Llantwit Major CF61 1DL
01446 793052 |
Vale Solicitors
Hector the border terrier (above) represents the very best qualities of Vale Solicitors - loyal, tenacious, fearless, your best friend in a time of crisis - and there when you call.
They have looked after the legal affairs of businesses and individuals in the Vale of Glamorgan since 1867. Whatever your problem - they can help. Your first interview will be free and (like Hector) they are good listeners. Worried about a boundary or property dispute? Then try their new mediation and resolution service, www.boundarylawyer.co.uk
Jamima Bridal
Jamima Bridal
At Jamima Bridal you can be sure
of one thing and that's a one-stopshop for all things bridal.
Owners Janet and John Moisan offer a selection of stunning wedding dresses, shoes and accessories for the bride-tobe together with a wide selection of mother-of-the-bride and guests' outfits. Men aren't forgotten here with formal wear available to hire or buy. Jamima Bridal can also offer advice on make-up, nails and perfume needs. For enquiries or an appointment for trying on wedding gowns, please phone or email.
Shuttershade
With 35 years' experience in window furnishing, hand-crafted plantation shutters, unique conservatory blinds and award winning awnings, Shuttershade should be on your radar.
With the promise of summer sunshine, this also brings the age-old problem of glare and unwanted heat in your conservatories. Solve the problem with conservatory blinds, awnings and canopies. You can also freshen up your home with new garage doors and add another level of security with their range of security shutters.
The Beach Café
You don't need to be an ultra-fit surfie to visit The Beach Café, as this cult status beachfront eatery welcomes people all of ages.
With its well-deserved reputation for home-cooked food like sausage and mash, stews, pies and quiches, not forgetting breakfasts and roast dinners, it's no wonder that locals and visitors alike flock there. Also available are ice creams, fish and chips, confectionery, gifts, local postcards, books and beach toys. It's open all year round from 9am so head on down for an ice cream, takeaway or one of their daily specials and check out the fantastic view.
| Llantwit Major Vale of Glamorgan CF61 1RF 01446 792665 |
LLANTWIT MAJOR
Wyndham House A centre for excellence
Do you have one or more teeth missing? Are you worried about your smile? Do you want a permanent replacement you can trust?
With a Diploma in Implantology from the Royal College of Surgeons, the UK's gold standard qualification in dental implants and an advanced certificate in hard tissue augmentation, Simon Hill, principal dentist, should be your first port of call.
A recent customer, Ian Mills, a dentist and implant surgeon in North Devon and an Academic Clinic Fellow spoke to Vale Life of his recent dental treatment at the practice.
How did you hear about Simon?
Simon and I met while we were both studying at the Royal College of Surgeons for our Implant Diploma. We often worked together as partners and subsequently became good friends. I saw at first-hand how good his clinical skills were and was very impressed with his knowledge and attention to detail in treatment planning implant cases.
When I subsequently required implant treatment, I obviously wanted to have it done by one of the best implant surgeons in the UK and therefore asked Simon to undertake the work.
What prompted the call?
I had my front tooth knocked out when I was fifteen years old and had worn a denture ever since. Because of the time lapse since the injury, I had lost a lot of bone in the gap and my teeth had moved, which made implant treatment extremely complex.
I required orthodontic treatment to straighten the teeth and a bone graft to build up the missing bone. Simon grafted a piece of bone from my chin and the procedure was a complete success. An implant was placed six months later with a crown attached shortly afterwards.
Are you happy with the result?
Absolutely delighted! I now have a new front tooth which looks completely natural rather than having to wear a denture. The treatment was significantly more complex than normal, but it was carried out by Simon and his team expertly with no problems at any stage.
Many dentists offer implants, but few have the training, experience and attention to detail which Simon has, and I therefore have no hesitation in recommending Wyndham Dental Practice as a centre of excellence for implant treatment.
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SISTER MAGAZINES
 
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