South Wales Valleys, Valley network in South Wales, United Kingdom
The South Wales Valleys stretch from Carmarthenshire in the west to Monmouthshire in the east, forming a network of narrow valleys carved between steep hillsides. Towns and villages line the valley floors, linked by winding roads that follow the natural contours of the terrain.
Between 1850 and 1914, the valleys became one of Britain's most important coal mining regions, drawing thousands of workers from across the country to dig deep shafts into the hillsides. The coal industry declined sharply in the second half of the 20th century, leaving the region to rebuild its economy and identity.
Local speech here carries traces of the many workers who moved into the area from different parts of Britain and Wales, blending Welsh and English in everyday conversation. This dialect, called Wenglish, is still spoken in many towns and villages, making the cultural exchange between communities audible in markets, pubs, and on the street.
The valleys lie close to the M4 motorway, which runs along the coast and provides quick connections to Cardiff, Swansea, and Newport. A new transport system called South Wales Metro is gradually improving links between the valleys and the larger cities, making it easier to move around the region.
A former coal mine now houses an adventure center with zip lines and climbing walls, turning industrial ruins into a playground for visitors. Another site, a mountain biking park, runs trails through forests and over hills that were once shaped by mining activity.
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