Rhondda

Once at the heart of Wales' Rhondda's last pit closed in 1990. Having seen growth on an unimaginable scale - it's population expanded from 3000 to 160,000 in 50 years at its peak.

As you might expect, most attractions concern mining - the Rhondda Heritage Park at Trehafod was set up by locals when the Lewis Merthyr pit closed in 1983. It contains a very moving and human account of mining and gives you the chance to explore most of the mine workings.

Rhondda, as the anthem Cwm Rhondda implies, is also famous for its musical heritage and Treorchy and Pendyrus male voice choirs are among the finest in the country. There is something utterly, hairs-on-the-back-of-the-neck-bristling about the power and emotion of a Welsh male voice choir in full flow.