talking point - Rhondda Cynon Taf

From Pontypridd - take the A473 to Trefforest
which was originally famous for its tinplate
works and is now the home of the University of
Glamorgan. The road now rises to Tonteg,
where we turn right at the traffic lights to head
across to Upper Church Village where the
Church of St Illtyd, although dating from the
16th century, is on the site of a much older
foundation. A holy man who came to Wales
from Brittany in the sixth century AD, Illtud also
gave his name to the village of Llantwit Fardre
(Welsh Llanilltud Faerdref).
24
Church Village
Turn left at the church and then right
onto the A473 which now runs along the
northern edge of the Vale of Glamorgan
towards Llantrisant. In recent years this
area has become a dormitory for Cardiff,
but narrow lanes off to the left lead
deeper into the Vale where a mild and
sunny climate makes for excellent
farming country: prize-winning “Cariad”
wines are produced at Llanerch at
Junction 34 of the M4, and just north of
the same junction lies the Miskin Manor
Country House Hotel.