Barry
The town's name comes from St. Baruc, who drowned in the Bristol Channel and was buried in 'Baruc's Island', now called Barry Island. Long before Baruc people had already been living in this area of Wales. There are Bronze Age burial mounds at Cold Knap and in Friars Road. Barry's early years were troubled ones, with constant Viking raids, and in 1087 raiders even set up their own base on Barry Island itself.
Later, the Normans came and divided the land into manors and parishes. Barry became a sub-parish of Penmark and by the 12th and 13th centuries it had grown into a village and port with its own watermill, church and castle. Fragments of the castle, dating back to the 13th century, can be seen on the hill above Romilly Park.
By the end of the 19th century, Cardiff had reached its coal exporting capacity and so Lord Bute levied an extra penny per ton for handling coal. Incensed by this, in 1889 a rival group of colliery and railway owners set up their own docks in Barry, leading to the saying that 'Barry was built for a penny'.
The newly found wealth of the town created a fascinating jumble of architectural styles, from mock-Tudor to 1930s modernist buildings and in time Barry grew to become the largest town in the Vale of Glamorgan.
The coal industry came and went, but Barry found a new lease of life in tourism based around nearby Barry Island, which is still an extremely popular resort for families.
The town has two main shopping areas. High Street is well known for shops and boutiques of individual character while Holton Road contains many popular large retailers and is particularly busy on Tuesdays when the open-air market comes to town. Both areas also boast a variety of cafes and restaurants.
In the past few years, the town has undergone a number of regeneration projects. The Town Hall, King Square and Central Park received a multi-million pound overhaul, while a new Waterfront development contains shops and is popular for its annual Waterfront Tall Ships Festival held every September.
No visit to the area would be complete without a trip to Barry Island, with its beaches and fun for all the family. Both Barry and Barry Island were featured in the BBC comedy 'Gavin and Stacey', so try and spot the arcade where Nessa worked or Gavin and Smithy's local pub!
To the west of Barry Island you'll find the quiet, relaxed atmosphere of The Knap, with its gardens and lake to the west beyond the old harbour, while nearby Porthkerry Country Park has 220 acres of green countryside and woodland to explore.
A wonderful way to discover Barry is on foot. Barry Town Trail links the town to the waterfront and the island and highlights place of interest along its 6 mile route.