The Big Bang, castles built on shifting sands, the rise of industry and the call of the collieries.

From the humble beginnings to Glamorgan’s place at the heart of the industrial revolution, there are compelling history lessons to take in wherever you go in South Wales. Much of its past involved building mighty fortresses, which is pretty handy when it comes to planning a great day out all these centuries on.

Cardiff

Norman Keep, Cardiff

Cardiff is partly named after its castle, and although it might be hard to believe in the buzzing capital these days, the city was a much smaller market town during medieval times. Cardiff Castle dates back to the Norman invasion of Glamorgan during the 11th century, but you can still see reminders of the first use of the site by the Romans, who set up a fort there around 1,000 years beforehand. They picked it because of the three rivers Cardiff lies at the centre of, but over in Glamorgan builders had a less straightforward time of things.

Castles built on shifting sands

Ogmore Castle, Glamorgan Heritage Coast by Paula J James

The sand dominating the seaside terrain made it difficult to secure foundations –Candleston Castle, for example, was almost submerged as nature took its course, although the 14th century manor house was narrowly high enough, thankfully, for you to still peep around it today.

It stands near the equally captivating Ogmore Castle, from the early 12th century, along the Glamorgan Heritage Coast, a glorious 14-mile stretch which has been compared to a desert thanks to its awe-inspiring natural dunes.