South Wales
The valleys and coastline of South Wales have long been documented in the works of Dylan Thomas and in the legendary songs of Tom Jones. Also renowned for its monumental castles, mining heritage, rugby and the tv hit series Gavin & Stacey. Expect to see daffodils and leeks worn on St David’s Day (1st March) and also by cheering supporters of Welsh rugby.
What to see and do in South Wales:
- Cardiff – the capital city of Wales, named one of the top 10 cities in Europe, with a population of approx. 350,000. It is a thriving, multinational city with the imposing and beautiful Cardiff Castle, Castle Street, Cardiff CF10 3RB standing proud right in the centre of the city surrounded by beautiful parks and greenlands, juxtaposed with the contemporary waterfront of Cardiff Bay on the other.
- Some would call the Principality Stadium,Westgate Street, Cardiff CF10 1NS, the heart of Wales, it is the home of the Welsh Rugby Team and has the first fully retractable roof in the UK. Host to many other sporting events and world-renowned music concerts.
- Castell Coch – ‘Red Castle’ named due to the red sandstone which it was built – Castle Road, Tongwynlais, Cardiff CF15 7JS. It is a beautiful fairytale castle just outside of Cardiff, beautifully restored and with excellent historic displays. Other splendid castles in South Wales are the Castles of Caerphilly, Chepstow, Cyfarthfa, Raglan and Fonmon.
- Merthyr Tydfil – perfectly placed between Cardiff and the Brecon Beacons National Park, the market town of Merthyr Tydfil is steeped in history…. Take the Taff Trail from Cardiff to Merthyr Tydfil and continue on to Brecon or jump on the heritage narrow gauge Brecon Mountain Railway, Pant Road, Merthyr Tydfil CF48 2DD from Merthyr into Brecon experiencing the beautiful countryside along the way.
- Big Pit National Coal Museum – The Big Pit, Blaenafon NP4 9XP, set in a unique industrial landscape and designated a World Heritage Site by UNESCO, the edge of the Brecon Beacons National Park, is Big Pit National Coal Museum. A real coal mine and one of Britain’s leading mining museums. Go 300 feet underground to get an insight on what life was like for thousands of miners in South Wales. Want to know more about Wales’s industrial heritage?.. then also worth a visit is Blaenavon Ironworks at North Street, Blaenavon NP4 9RN and museum.
- St Fagans National Museum of History – Michaelston Road, Cardiff CF5 6XB – stands in 100-acre parkland grounds of St Fagan’s Castle and is a magnificent testimony to years of painstaking work re-erecting over 40 original buildings from various historical periods. It is a working village with Welsh language spoken daily and displays the rich heritage and culture of Wales with traditional activities and crafts being produced and available to purchase. With native livestock grazing the pastures, demonstrations of farming tasks activities can also be viewed. Educational and fun for all ages.
- Cardiff Bay – is home to The Welsh Assembly ‘Senedd’ (housing the Welsh parliament), Welsh Government, Cathays Park, Cardiff, CF10 3NQ, UK Wales Millennium Centre (an international arts centre), the historic Norwegian Church & Arts Centre (where Roald Dahl was baptised) and a host of other attractions such as Techniquest Science Discovery Centre,Stuart Street, Cardiff CF10 5BW and the Red Dragon Centre. Here, the engineering feat of Cardiff Barrage was built which created a 500 acre freshwater lake with 8 miles of waterfront. It is an exciting area full of activity with an array of shops, cafés and bars.
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- Barry Island – travelling west along the coast from Cardiff Bay you will reach Barry Island not actually an island but a bustling historic beachfront and seaside resort. Also the location for the tv hit series Gavin & Stacey. For more tranquil beaches, head to Llantwit Major, Southerndown beach in Dunraven Bay, Ogmore-by-Sea. For a true island experience off the coast of South Wales, take a boat trip to Flat Holm Island, here you’ll reach the most southernly point of Wales. Alternatively, you could walk across to Sully Island at low tide. This is a small tidal island and a Site of Special Scientific Interest.
- The Royal Mint Experience at Heol-Y-Sarn, Pontyclun CF72 8YT Llantrisant is the only place in the world to see where your British pennies and pounds are made. Go on a guided tour and get an opportunity to press your own coins. Olympic medals are also made here, as are the armed forces medals.
If you are looking for family law advice in South Wales, we have found the following firms:
- Grant Stephens Family Law – 18Th Floor (South), Capital Tower, Greyfriars Road, Cardiff
- Alun Jones Family – Law 8 St Andrews Place, Cardiff ·
- Wendy Hopkins Family Law – Practice 13 Windsor Place, Cardiff
- Hurlows Family Law Practice – 176 Cowbridge Road East, Cardiff
- First Line Family Law – 28 Cathedral Road, Cardiff
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Are you thinking about separation or divorce?
For most people, when they walk down the aisle, divorce is the last thing on their mind. The wedding was tricky enough to plan, but the separation or divorce, well that’s even more complicated. You may have had some stress when you tied the knot, but untying it, well that’s another story and one which may require legal intervention in the form of a firm of Family Solicitors, McKenzie Friend or a good book!
Family Lawyers & Family Courts
Being a Family Lawyer is pretty lucrative as apparently 48% of marriages end in divorce for a variety of reasons. From affairs or domestic abuse, to unreasonable behaviour in the form of alcoholism or using recreational drugs; marriages can last a few months right up to many years.
It is well documented that the Family Courts are in chaos. As of 1st April 2013, Legal Aid for divorce cases in England and Wales was withdrawn by the government. Legal Aid funding is not allowed for divorce or family law cases unless the party applying is a victim of domestic violence. The rules are very strict and it’s all means tested. In many cases, the applicant has to be on what’s termed a “passporting benefit”, which is a benefit the applicant is receiving purely because they have no assets or other income.
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Legal Aid
With legal aid unobtainable for the majority, this leaves many people acting as LIP’s (Litigant in Person) in the courts and with very little legal knowledge, Judges are left guiding these poor folks through court cases where they don’t have the correct paperwork and documents or through cross-examining their ex. It’s sheer courtroom drama. Read more about divorce and getting legal aid here
We have financial planners across the country and Ceri Griffiths of Willow Brook Lifestyle Planning features in The Hug Directory for Cardiff
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