Beach walks, fossil hunting and a hike along the cliffs offer different coastal experiences in Llantwit Major. There is also the natural landscape of Cwm Colhuw, the narrow old town and the medieval St Illtyd's Church. When planning your visit, you can decide whether to focus most on the beach, nature, a cliff walk or history. The town's railway station and bus service 303 are also relevant for planning your journey and walk.

Old Town and Beach

Llantwit Major's old town has narrow streets lined with traditional stone houses and shops. This offers a different focus for your visit from the beach, where you can walk, look for fossils and take photographs. If you are interested in the townscape, the streets and shops offer specific points of interest; at the beach, outdoor activities take centre stage.

Coastal Paths and Nature Around Cwm Colhuw

The Wales Coast Path runs west from Llantwit Major beach along the cliffs. The beach activities are about spending time there; the Coast Path, by contrast, describes a route heading west. For a walk between Llantwit Major and Nash Point, local bus service 303 can connect the two ends via Marcross. Check the timetable if you plan to use this connection. Llantwit Major also has a railway station.

Cwm Colhuw Nature Reserve stretches along the cliffs west of the beach and back towards Llantwit Major. Cwm Colhuw is a Seaside Award beach. The Small Blue Butterfly, the smallest butterfly native to Britain, lives here. Vale Trails No. 3 offers a route for exploring the area around Cwm Colhuw. This allows you to distinguish between beach activities, a westward cliff walk and exploring the area around Cwm Colhuw.

St Illtyd's Church and Early History

St Illtyd's Church is a complex medieval church with origins in the 12th century. Its Western Church contains crosses from the 9th and 10th centuries, associated with the monastic foundation in Llantwit Major. The church also contains restored medieval wall paintings. The monastic college in Llantwit Major was founded around 508 AD. St David lived and studied in Llantwit Major during the early part of his life in the 6th century AD.

The dates therefore range from the founding of the monastic college and St David in the early Middle Ages to the crosses and the later origins of the church. The architecture, crosses and wall paintings each offer a distinct focus. If you are interested in history, you will find different points of interest here: early monastic connections, medieval artefacts and a church with restored wall paintings.

Discover More Destinations

Discover more destinations: Pontyclun, Peterston-super-Ely, Cowbridge, Penarth, Dinas Powys, Barry, Rhoose, Monknash

For the broader travel overview: Vale Of Glamorgan.