Pontypridd, Wales
 

Just when I was getting to know my way about Cardiff, my daughter tells me she and her husband will be moving to Pontypridd in a few months. I'll be visitng her in Sept. and I would like to know more about this town.
I've gone to the website, but I would like to know more about the "feel" of the area. Can any of you special Fodorites help me out?
My daughter will be taking some Creative Writing classes at the University there and my son-in-law will still commute to his job in Cardiff.
Will the weather there be more like Cardiff or more upland? I live in Eastern Pennsylvania so I am used to unexpected weather!! Thanks for any insight and advice.
Minette

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Pontypridd is only 20 or so miles away from Cardiff. You mention that your son in law will be commuting, so it can not be that far expect exactly the same weather as in Cardiff. But as you are in Wales expect it to rain.

My husband was at the polytechnic there - oops, sorry, it's now a university :-) It's a former mining town & hasn't got much going for it - I found it quite depressing when I visited. But I've heard that property prices are going up fast in the valleys as young professionals move out from Cardiff, so I guess it's on the up. I suppose they can get a bigger house there, but personally I think they're mad ! (We really like Cardiff & have thought of moving there.)

It is just ten miles from Cardiff with frequent trains and buses. I was brought up in the area and "Ponty", as it was known to locals, was noted as a shopping centre, with a market on (I think) Wednesdays and Saturdays, and stores like Marks & Spencer which were not found in the smaller valley towns. It gets its name from the old stone bridge over the River Taff, but there aren't really any tourist attractions. The climate will be much the same as Cardiff. You'll be nearer to the mountains - you should visit the Brecon Beacons - but further from the coast.

It's been five years since I last stayed there, and I left feeling that it was a very grim and demoralised town.

But as Caroline said, it's meant to be revitatlised by the influx of young professionals.


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