------------------------------ Start of body part 1 I wonder if this would be helpful. It was actually written for two friends of mine with no knowledge of Wales. It focusses mainly on Mid-Wales and Gwent, as I come from Builth Wells, and enjoy visiting Gwent. It should be read with the aid of good maps (road & OS). Also, try the Welsh Tourist Board (in London) Tel: 071 409 0969. They're very helpful. Hwyl! Alun. ------------------------------ Start of body part 2 WALES OVERVIEW 1.0 GEOGRAPHY, GEOLOGY, CLIMATE 1.1 Geography Wales is situated on the West of mainland Britain. It is considerably more hilly than England. Snowdon, in North Wales, is the highest point in England & Wales and is 3,500- odd feet. The M4 motorway links Wales to England via the Severn Bridge: a suspension bridge built over the Severn estuary. The Sev- ern is the longest river in Wales (although for much of its length it is in England). There are fast rail links to Cardiff, Newport and Swansea from London (1.5 hrs London-Newport). Also there is a very slow, scenic Mid-Wales line from Swansea through the Heart of Wales to Shrewsbury. This passes through Builth Road, 2 miles from Builth. Most of Mid-Wales is uplands, the Mid-Wales plateau being cut through by several glacial and river valleys. The Brecon Beacons is a well-known upland area of around 250 square miles, and is a National Park. Pen-y-Fan, its tallest peak is 2,907 feet. Several deep valleys in Mid-Wales have been dammed and flooded to provide drinking water for Wales and Birmingham. eg Elan Valley. 1.2 Geology Mid-wales Many ancient Cambrian & Pre-Cambrian rocks as well as much sedimentary material: Silurian & Ordovician. The latter are often rich in fossils. The Brecon Beacons are of Old Red Sandstone, giving the soil around Brecon a red colour. South Wales is mainly limesone & coal: this natural resource was exploited by the coal industry from the time of the in- dustrial revolution. See "Industry". 1.3 Climate Mild, temperate maritime climate. Cool in Summer, mild on low ground in Winter. Virtually all of Britain's "weather" comes from the North Atlantic Gulf stream, and Wales, being in the West, gets it all first. If there is any weather going, Wales gets it. It gets a lot of relief rainfall. This gives lush grass in the lowlands, and several upland marshy areas which are river sources. Due to the topography, any snow falling in the hills tends to cut off towns and villages. 2.0 AGRICULTURE, INDUSTRY The economy of the South Wales coalfield area, driven by coal, encompassed steel making, heavy industry, chemicals and petrochemical industry, manufacturing, consumer goods etc. Coal mining was based in the valleys such as the Rhondda and the Rhymney and utilised the ports of Cardiff and Newport. Mid-Wales In Mid-Wales there is neither the number nor type of skilled or semi-skilled staff required for heavy industry. Nor is the area served by fast rail or road links. It is thus un- suitable for heavy industry. Mid-Wales Agriculture The economy is heavily agriculture oriented. Business serv- ices exist to support this: farming wholesale distributors, markets, banking etc. Upland areas (much of Wales) - apart from Pembrokeshire cannot support good arable cropping. Because of the height and climate of Mid-Wales the "pasture" is rough and supports cattle only with difficulty. Most livestock farming is, therefore based on sheep, which can tolerate the poorer pasture. Welsh lamb is considered to be the finest available. Builth is the permanent site of the Royal Welsh Agricultural Show. Forestry is a large business: large areas of upland Mid-Wales are owned by the Forestry Commission, which plant and manage fast-growing softwood trees such as Norweigan Pines etc. The wood is used for fencing etc. Tourism is an important industry, although on a fairly small scale. 3.0 HISTORY, POLITICS, LANGUAGE 3.1 History Llywelyn, the last real Welsh Prince, was killed near Builth. A monument commemorated the event at Cilmeri, just outside Builth. Llandrindod Wells, Builth Wells, Llangammarch Wells, Llanwrted Wells and the Glannau Wells were all spa centres in the Victorian era. Many people came to these spas to "take the water" to help cure medical conditions. Since the turn of the century these have become run down. 3.2 Politics Wales is a principality, supposedly ruled by a prince (Prince Charles). There is in fact no autonomy from the UK Parlia- ment in Westminster. Wales has a Secretary of State. Pro-Welsh-language extremists used to daub out English road- signs, disable English TV & radio transitters and burn rural cottages that were english owned. They have been quiet in the last few years. 3.3 Language Welsh is now actively spoken by less than 5% of the population. These Welsh speakers are concentrated in the main in Anglesey and Caernarvonshire in the north and Pembrokeshire in the south. Wales has its own Welsh-language TV channel: S4C, with many Welsh programmes on another two channels. It has one national and several regional radio stations. 4.0 POPULATION, CULTURE 4.1 Population Wales' population and population density is greatest in the south, and here are the major cities of Cardiff, Swansea and Newport, all originally major ports. Ribbon development along roads following the coal-mining val- leys leads both to high population density, and one town merging seamlessly into another, mile after mile. Miles of terraced houses hug the side of the valleys winding their way south. Mid-Wales Mid-Wales is sparsley populated, with people either living in small market towns, which provide agricultural services, or in farms. The uplands of the Eppynt is unpopulated; it is a military exercise area. Towns are very much smaller than in England. A typical sized "town" in Wales would be called a village in England. Mid-Wales suffers from rural depopulation. Most well quali- fied and young people leave the area to seek work. Many old people move into the area to retire. The towns are therefore full of young children and older people, with very few 18-50 year olds. "Major" towns in Mid-Wales are Brecon and Llandrindod Wells, both small by English standards. 4.2 Culture Wales is the land of song, and is famous for its Male-Voice choirs and the Eisteddfodau. The latter are cultural compe- titions where singers, choirs, dancing groups, reciters and the like compete. Builth hosted the Welsh National Eisteddfod in 1993. There are many castles in Wales, many built by English Kings such as Edward I to suppress the Welsh. There are many in Gwent: Raglan is a fine, large example. White Castle is small, picturesque and quiet, off the tourist beaten track. 5.0 TRADITIONAL FOOD & PASSIONS 5.1 Food & drink This includes fresh river fish such as trout and salmon, fresh seafood such as mussels. Leeks are a traditional welsh vegetable, and Cacen bach, or Welshcakes are a small scone- type cake. Welsh lamb is considered by many to be the finest in the world. Stews and soups ("cawl") are popular. Laverbread (a seaweed) features in some dishes. There are some fine cheeses; the Caerphilly made in the Court House pub in Caerphilly is excellent, as is the goat's cheese from Pant-Ysgawn farm near Abergavenney (they supply Sainsbury's). There is only one vineyard in Wales, one whisky distillery and two or three major breweries. Beers to look out for are Hancock's HB, Felinfoel Double Dragon, Brains SA and Bulmastiff's Son of a Bitch. 5.2 Passions Apart from music, and the chapel in some areas, the main pas- sion is for rugby. The decent teams are really confined to the South, and centred around the industial towns of Cardiff, Newport, Pontypool, Llanelli, Ebbw Vale and Neath etc. 6.0 GWENT & SOUTH POWYS 6.1 Market towns Abergavenney Crickhowell Brecon 6.2 Pubs Llantisilio Crossenney The Hostry Inn C15th Inn Pauline is a nutritionist Great food, beer in excellent condition The Halfway House B4233 Nr Llantilio (halfway between Abergavenney & Monmouth) Excellent value, good beer Llyswen The Griffin Inn 0874 754241 Fresh river fish particularly good Often has game Lydart The Gockett Inn 0600 860 486 Hard to find! A bit more expensive, bit more like a restaurant Excellent food Beer bland Crickhowell The Bridge-End Inn Brecon The Wine Bar (At the back of The Courtyard of the Wellington Hotel) Llanthony Priory Beer served from barrels by gravity Good solid food 6.3 Restaurants The Walnut Tree Just outside Abergavenney. One of the best restaurants in Wales, if not the country. In an old pub. Italian/Welsh influences. Good atmosphere, sublime cooking. Arrive the second it opens (or preferably half-an-hour beforehand). Grown men have been known to weep when the Porcini Lasagne (Vincigrassi) is unavailable. The Ffaldau Nr Penybont, 9 miles north of Builth. Small, intimate. Service, food and wine excellent value. 6.4 Hill Walks: for fine days only! The Sugarloaf (Nr Abergavenney) Pen-Y-Fan from Storey Arms (Beacons) 6.5 Lovely Drive Hay Bluff Start at Llanvihangel Crucorney Stop off at Llanthony Priory (ruin) Have a beer, if it's lunchtime or evening Carry on over the top of Hay Bluff (Wonderful views) 6.6 Accommodation The Hostry Inn Llantilio Crossenney Tel: 060 085 278 Run by Mike & Pauline Parker 1 twin room 1 double (VERY small) The Mill House Farm Llanvihangel-Ystern-Llewern (Nr Llantilio Crossenney) Tel: 0600 85 468 Kitty Anders Has room separate from the farm: your own key. 7.0 BUILTH WELLS Builth is a small market town, built on the banks of the river Wye. A Norman Motte and Bailey Castle once stood on a mound overlooking the river; now only the mound remains. There are no really old buildings in Builth, as it was razed by a large fire near the turn of the century. (Builth seems to have had a history of this - perhaps it breeds arsonists). There are a surprising number of pubs (13) considering the town's population (1,800). Thomas Kitchin, Geographer 1746: "Buallt is pleasantly situate in a bottom among woods on the river Wye, over which it has a very large wooden bridge, leading to Radnor-Shire. In the year 1690 near half of it was consumed by fire, but it is at present a considerable town, having two weekly markets well sup- plied with cattle and provisions and carries on some trade in stockings." 8.0 INTANGIBLE THINGS Roads are narrower and windier, go up and down more. The views nearly everywhere are prettier than in England. The pace of life is slower. You can't exist without a car. You have to drive 40 miles to get to the nearest Marks & Spencer (civilisation!). The towns and houses are distinctly "Welsh": very similar, yet subtly different. St Davids is the smallest city in Britain. ------------------------------ End of body part 2