Latest news with #Cymraeg

Archive photographs of Newport, south Wales, show how it's changed

South Wales Argus

a day ago

South Wales Argus

Archive photographs of Newport, south Wales, show how it's changed

The city of Newport was officially recognized as a city back in 2002. Yn Cymraeg, Newport is known as Casnewydd which translates to "new castle" and is a nod back to its medieval past. It is currently home to 159,687 people and has changed vastly over the years. Take a look at these amazing pictures of Newport through the decades! From Commercial Street to the Castle to the Old Green Crossing how many of these iconic city locations can you recognise? Look how much the area has changed through the generations… We wonder how many you'll get right…

Cambrian News

4 days ago

Business
Cambrian News

Porthmadog brewery redesign causes stir

'On Facebook, concerns have been expressed on the inclusion of Welsh. All our bottles and cans continue to include elements of Cymraeg, along with the Welsh dragon, with some of the range being Welsh named such as Calon Lân and Glaslyn. We're one of the few Welsh breweries that include elements of Cymraeg on all our products, 90 per cent of our brilliant team are Welsh speakers, and we'll never see a day where our iaith isn't featured in our branding.

Historic market town is gateway to Wales' most thrilling drive or thigh-burning cycle

Wales Online

05-06-2025

Wales Online

Historic market town is gateway to Wales' most thrilling drive or thigh-burning cycle

Historic market town is gateway to Wales' most thrilling drive or thigh-burning cycle The spectacular route includes a famous section cyclists speak in hushed tones about - the appropriately named Devil's Staircase If you're an adventurous driver, you'll enjoy navigating one of Wales's most remote areas of countryside, passing sheep and gnarly trees and craggy outcrops. (Image: Aber to Amsterdam ) Located a short hop from Lampeter, this ancient market town in Ceredigion is the gateway to one of the most epic drives in Wales. Tregaron is one of the oldest market towns in Wales, with a royal charter dating back to 1292. It's proper Welsh through and through; over 60% of locals speak Cymraeg, making it a buzzing hub for our lyrical language. It's here that you can set off on a thrilling road trip along an old drover's track that features hairpin bends through a wild and rugged landscape. The Abergwesyn Pass is a 20-mile single-track route that runs from Llanwrtyd Wells to Tregaron. Within this lonesome road, you'll find a famous section known as "The Devil's Staircase". ‌ This is the aptly named section of the Abergwesyn Pass, featuring hairpin bends and steep inclines that are definitely not for drivers of a nervous disposition. If you're keen to avoid narrow and bumpy mountain roads impassable for two cars at the same time, this is not the road trip for you. ‌ The Devil's Staircase (Image: Wales Online ) If you are an adventurous driver, you'll enjoy navigating one of Wales' most remote areas of countryside, passing sheep and gnarly trees and craggy outcrops. Many driving enthusiasts have noted that the road is very steep, with a maximum gradient of 20.1% and carves through dense conifer forests to miles of wide, desolate valleys with a descent that will test your brakes to the maximum. Article continues below As a little-used single-track road winding through a sparsely populated landscape, it's worth remembering you're not Jeremy Clarkson, and this definitely isn't a road built for speed. Take it slow and steady and enjoy the view as you wind through the wilds of the Cambrian Mountains, where you might not pass a single soul for the entire drive. You can also cycle this road if your thighs are up to the challenge! You can also cycle this road if your thight are up to the challenge! (Image: Wales Online ) ‌ Along the Abergwesyn Pass, Soar y Mynydd, the most remote chapel in Wales, is well worth a short diversion. This is the most remote chapel in Wales, an understated, whitewashed church built in 1822 to serve a hugely scattered congregation of farmers. Strolling around this spiritual area, you might imagine that the chapel was long abandoned. In fact, guest preachers come from all over Wales to conduct services in the Welsh language. It's a peaceful place to have a picnic, as there's often no-one else around. Llyn Brianne Reservoir is also worth a visit to see a huge dam. You might not realise it, but this dramatic stone-built dam is the tallest in the UK, soaring 91 metres (300 ft) above the River Tywi. ‌ Located in the wilds of Carmarthenshire, Llyn Brianne Reservoir is one of Wales' best-kept secrets (Image: Getty ) Holding a staggering 64 million cubic metres of water at nearly 300 metres (990 ft) above sea level is an impressive engineering feat. However, it's not just for show; this lesser-known scenic spot is ideal for hiking, biking, and taking in sweeping views. Further south, past Llyn Brianne reservoir, is the utterly lovely RSPB Gwenffrwd-Dinas reserve. ‌ The reserve contains important habitats of oak woodland, wet alder woodland, and scrubland, all of which are characterised by high levels of rainfall and fast-flowing rivers. These conditions are ideal for woodland birds, and also provide the perfect habitat for important lichens and bryophytes. Tregaron Y Talbot in Tregaron was named the AA's best inn in Wales for 2024 (Image: Rolant Dafis ) ‌ Whether you start or end the route at Tregaron, you should take the time to explore this small Welsh-speaking town. Here, you'll find a livestock market, the Tregaron Red Kite Centre and Museum, and locally sourced food and cask ales in a lovingly converted 16th-century Welsh inn. Y Talbot is an independently owned hotel and Michelin Guide-listed restaurant with 2 AA Rosettes. This charming boutique hotel simply exudes a 'cosy country inn', vibe with its slate floors and inglenooks. The bar and restaurant, run by head chef Dafydd, who Marco Pierre White trained, serves local produce, including lamb, beef, and cheeses from the Teifi Valley, fish from Milford Haven, and shellfish from Cardigan Bay. From superstar gigs to cosy pubs, find out What's On in Wales by signing up to our newsletter here ‌ There are also several post-dinner stargazing options near Tregaron. Head to the nearby Dark Sky Discovery Site Coed Y Bont in Pontrhydfendigaid for peaceful stargazing in a community woodland setting. Nearby, you'll also find a forgotten Welsh abbey where princes are buried. Strata Florida Abbey (Ystrad Fflur in Welsh) near Tregaron is a significant site in Wales where history, royalty, and spirituality converge. Founded in 1201 by white-robed Cistercian monks, this sacred space was once one of medieval Wales's most important religious and cultural centres. Article continues below It's also the final resting place of several Welsh princes, including the legendary Llywelyn the Great, who famously held a council here to secure his son Dafydd's claim as the rightful heir to the Welsh throne. Once a powerful pilgrimage site, Strata Florida was second only to St David's Cathedral in importance to Welsh culture and faith. Fast forward to today, and the Abbey's impressive ruins remain a place of pilgrimage for those seeking spirituality in serene surroundings.

Extra support for areas with lots of Welsh speakers

South Wales Argus

29-05-2025

Politics
South Wales Argus

Extra support for areas with lots of Welsh speakers

This comes after ministers accepted recommendations from a report by the Commission for Welsh Speaking Communities, led by Dr Simon Brooks. The two-year study proposed several measures to protect Welsh as a community language. Welsh Language Secretary Mark Drakeford announced the plans at the Urdd Eisteddfod. The government will provide targeted support to areas with higher concentrations of Welsh speakers, ensure access to Welsh-medium education, and offer more guidance about the language across various policy areas. Recommendations were accepted in several areas, including the economy, housing, community development, and education. The government will work with local authorities and partners to discuss and implement these recommendations. Mr Drakeford said: "Cymraeg belongs to us all, and to every community across Wales. "I am grateful for the commission's hard work on this report, and I hope that by accepting their recommendations, we can strengthen Welsh in all our communities." "We agree in principle that areas of linguistic significance should be designated and will now progress this by working with partners to create tailored policies that respond to the specific needs of Welsh-speaking communities."

Welsh-speaking communities to get targeted support to strengthen Cymraeg