Welcome to Cardiff & Valleys Guide where the stories of South Wales come to life.
About Cardiff And Valleys Guide
I’m proud to say I was born in Cardiff, a child of the 60s, raised on the rhythms of a city steeped in industry, community, and culture. Over the years, I’ve watched it change beyond recognition – sometimes for the better, sometimes with a heavy heart. But my love for Cardiff and the South Wales Valleys has never wavered.
In the 1980s, I worked in and around the Valleys, and those years left a deep and lasting impression on me. The people, the pride, the humour – even in the toughest times – made it a place I could never forget. It was during those years that I truly began to understand just how special this part of the world is.
But the 80s were also a time of great hardship. With the closure of the coal mines under Thatcher’s government, and the knock-on collapse of the steel industry and supporting businesses, the Valleys were hit hard. Communities that had powered Britain for generations were left adrift. South Wales wasn’t alone – places like Yorkshire and Lancashire suffered too – but it felt deeply personal here.
The Valleys have never really recovered from that blow. Once full of life and industry, many towns are now shadows of their former selves, overlooked and too often forgotten. That’s why I started Cardiff & Valleys Guide – to remember, to celebrate, and to shine a light on the bustling heydays of the South Wales Valleys. The characters, the coal dust, the camaraderie – they all deserve to be remembered.
And then there’s Cardiff, the capital. It’s grown, it’s evolved, it’s transformed in ways we never could’ve imagined. From the rise of the Welsh Assembly Government to the sweeping redevelopment of the Docks and the complete disappearance of Tiger Bay as it once was – Cardiff has surged forward.
If you’d fallen asleep in 1985 and woke up today, you’d barely recognise the city centre. New shopping centres like St David’s 2, modern glass towers rising high above the skyline, and a very different kind of city than the one many of us grew up in.
Through this site, I want to share both sides of the South Wales story. The proud history and the modern reality. The valleys that shaped generations, and the city that continues to evolve.
Whether you’re a first-time visitor, a curious local, or someone with roots here looking to reconnect, Cardiff & Valleys Guide is for you. We’ll bring you fascinating stories, must-see landmarks, and insights into the lives and times of the people who made South Wales what it is.
This is more than a tourist guide – it’s a tribute.
Thanks for being here.
– Founder, Cardiff & Valleys Guide
