Merthyr Tudful Codi Pac

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-Welcome to Codi Pac.

-I'm Geraint Hardy,

-and I'm travelling across Wales...

-..to find some of our treasures.

-If you want a weekend away,

-you needn't travel far.

-It's all on the doorstep.

-Places to eat, places to stay,

-things to do and see.

-They're all here on Codi Pac.

-I need a few things for this

-journey, and they're all here.

-A notebook, pamphlets,

-an orange camera...

-..a mobile phone,

-water, bag and a car.

-I don't need my passport

-because I'm staying in Wales.

-Wales may be small, but there's

-plenty to do and see here.

-Over the next six programmes...

-..I'll visit

-six different locations.

-From Wrexham to Machynlleth,

-from Beaumaris to Merthyr Tydfil.

-I'll be looking at places to stay

-and places to eat.

-I'll learn some local history

-and try out some activities.

-From the exciting to the relaxed,

-there's something for everyone.

-During the Industrial Revolution...

-..Merthyr Tydfil was one

-of the world's largest towns.

-People flocked to work

-in the ironworks and coalfields.

-There are plenty of reasons

-to come here.

-I've come here on holiday.

-Merthyr Tydfil is just over there.

-According to the legend, the town

-is named after Saint Tydfil.

-She was the daughter

-of King Brychan of Brycheiniog.

-Some of the town's famous names...

-..include fashion designer Julien

-Macdonald, musician Joseph Parry...

-..and actor Steve Spiers from

-the series Stella and Cariad@Iaith.

-Before we find out

-more about the area...

-..I need to find where I'm staying.

-I've reached Merthyr Tydfil.

-This is where I'm staying

-over the next few days.

-It's quite a place.

-Unusually, I've come in through

-the back door not the front door.

-There's a reason for that.

-If you come here to cycle...

-..you can come straight in here from

-the mountain and clean your bike...

-..pump up your tyres and fix

-your bike if something's broken.

-I'm looking forward to staying here.

-In we go.

-This house is a miner's cottage

-from the 19th century.

-You can see similar ones

-at the St Fagans museum these days.

-I'm already a happy man.

-A very modern kitchen. What's here?

-There's a nice washroom.

-Look at this big open lounge.

-Plenty of room.

-You can relax,

-there's light through the roof.

-There's a bit of Merthyr

-and coal mine history here.

-What else do we have?

-A massive TV on the wall.

-Everyone's happy with a big TV.

-Solid wood and look at the artwork.

-It's a flash of colour

-to lift the room.

-I'm happy. The big question

-is where's the bedroom.

-I'm guessing it's upstairs.

-The stairs are a bit narrow.

-Wow!

-This is so nice.

-It's warm and cosy.

-Look how nice the beds are.

-This is special,

-a bike seat with handlebars.

-It looks similar

-to some of Picasso's work.

-The wallpaper is nice.

-I'll sleep well here.

-There's one thing left.

-Nice.

-There are plenty of other places

-to stay in the area.

-On the banks

-of the Taf Fechan reservoir...

-..an old church has been converted

-into a four-star B&B, Ty Taf Fechan.

-It has striking views over the

-water and surrounding mountains.

-Just off the A470 is Nant Ddu Lodge.

-Relax in the spa and pool,

-or head to the gym.

-There are loads of different things

-to do in Merthyr.

-One thing has caught my attention.

-A bit of adventure

-at BikePark Wales.

-Here I am, halfway up the mountain.

-As you can see,

-the view is incredible.

-Before I get on my bike,

-let's see what's here.

-To start, there's a wonderful little

-cafe where you can grab a drink.

-In the corner, there's a fire

-to warm you up if it's cold.

-There are several tracks of various

-standards so anyone can have a go.

-This poster says it all.

-The Welsh answer to Whistler which

-is one of the best places...

-..in the world for mountain biking.

-This is one of the area's main

-adventure attractions.

-It attracts

-thousands of bikers every year.

-The park was made

-by bikers for bikers.

-I've got a bike, helmet and my pads.

-These are all the courses.

-Green is the easiest

-and black the hardest.

-I'll start somewhere in the middle

-with yellow. Off I go.

-Wooh!

-This is where everyone plops their

-bikes on the back of the bus.

-That shows you how high up

-the mountain we're going today.

-I can hear a helicopter

-in the background.

-I hope nobody's hurt too badly.

-I don't want to be heading home

-in a helicopter today!

-I want to use my bike.

-Let's go for it!

-We've reached

-the top of the mountain.

-This is where everyone starts.

-There are a few options.

-We have Wibbly Wobbly, 50 Shades Of

-Black and my favourite, Popty Ping.

-The only option I have now

-is Melted Welly.

-See you at the bottom.

-There are so many nasty turns.

-Here we go, a straight part. Aargh!

-Around this corner, pump the legs.

-This is fast.

-Here's what they call an S-bend.

-Here's a little skid.

-Whoop! Into the forest.

-Woohoo!

-One thing I'm not going to do

-is sit down.

-It's not safe.

-It's so fast, I'm not sure if it

-comes across that way at home.

-Seriously, it feels like

-I'm thundering down this course.

-Wow, a corner.

-This is incredibly narrow.

-It's wet and slippery too.

-It's fun.

-There's nothing better.

-I can see Merthyr to my left.

-What a view!

-Here we are.

-We've reached the bottom.

-What a journey.

-That was wonderful.

-It was worth doing.

-Such fun.

-Yeah! Great!

-Amazing. Wonderful.

-If you feel confident

-after mountain biking...

-..you can venture to the Rock UK

-Summit Centre in Trelewis.

-It has 180 indoor climbing routes.

-Some of them

-are up to 18m in height.

-It's the perfect place

-to grab more adrenaline.

-One, two, three!

-I had so much fun cycling,

-I'd love to go into this water now.

-First, I need to meet someone who

-knows more about the town's history.

-As a post-industrial town, Merthyr

-is full of interesting history.

-I went to meet Lis Mclean

-at a special location.

-Cyfarthfa Castle

-is the jewel in the crown.

-This is the main thing

-that attracts people.

-There are also things that

-are associated with the castle.

-The ironworks and such things.

-Joseph Parry's cottage too.

-There's a lot of interest

-in history in Merthyr.

-The jewel in the crown

-is a wonderful description.

-Who used to live here?

-The Crawshays built the place.

-They owned the ironworks.

-They also felt that they

-owned all the people too.

-As a local person,

-despite the Crawshays living here...

-..and controlling the people...

-..is there a bad feeling about

-the building or do you enjoy it?

-It's very interesting.

-As it happens, everyone feels

-the park and castle belongs to them.

-It's a part of everyone's childhood.

-It's in the middle

-of Merthyr Tydfil.

-A lot of people visit the place.

-The whole history of Merthyr

-is in this building.

-A little bit of everything.

-You've got the history of local

-brass bands and the Romans.

-The main story

-is the Crawshay family.

-They ran all the steel

-and ironworks in Merthyr Tydfil.

-Think about it, all these things...

-..all this steel was made here

-and exported across the world.

-Incredible.

-After the mountain biking

-and history lesson...

-..I returned to the house to relax.

-I'll be back after the break.

-I'll have a trip on a steam train...

-..and meet

-some local Welsh learners.

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-After a wonderful night

-at Dan Y Coetir cottage...

-..I'm doing something different.

-I'm not travelling by car today.

-It really is a different way

-of travelling.

-Nothing beats an old steam train.

-I'm going to travel around the

-mountains to see the views on offer.

-Here we are, it's the reservoir.

-Isn't it wonderful?

-The Taf Fechan reservoir

-is near Pontsticill...

-..in the Brecon Beacons

-National Park.

-The reservoir, built in 1927,

-holds over 300 million gallons.

-The reservoir is popular

-with sailors, anglers and hikers.

-You can see now why 70,000 people

-come on this steam train annually.

-What a beautiful view.

-This line runs from Pant...

-..three miles north of Merthyr

-to Torpantau.

-It's on the original route

-of the Merthyr-Brecon railway...

-..which closed in 1963.

-Now that the train has stopped,

-we can relax and walk around.

-The engine will now change ends...

-..and go back around the carriages

-to pull us home.

-Here it goes! Choo-choo!

-As well as enjoying

-the wonderful views on the way...

-..there's a chance to relax before

-moving on to the next location.

-This place, Canolfan Soar...

-..is one of the places to come

-in Merthyr if you're learning Welsh.

-Gari, it's a pleasure to meet you.

-Thanks for letting us

-come to Canolfan Soar.

-Tell us a little of your history.

-Tell us a little of your history.

-

-I'm from Pontypridd originally.

-We've been living in this area

-for over 20 years now.

-I just feel like

-someone from Merthyr.

-You didn't speak Welsh

-when you were growing up.

-You've learned Welsh.

-Why learn Welsh in the first place?

-I wanted my kids to go

-to the Welsh medium school.

-The children went

-to Ysgol Rhydfelen.

-Then I realized that it was just me

-who couldn't speak Welsh.

-Everyone else, my grandchildren,

-everyone else is fluent.

-I didn't really have a choice.

-It was important

-to make the next step.

-Is there a lot to do here

-in Merthyr with the Welsh language?

-Yes, there's a lot. Canolfan Soar

-is the heart of Welsh in the area.

-It's important to know

-who can speak and where they go.

-They go to pubs.

-There's a walking club that starts

-at the museum every week.

-There's plenty to do.

-In 2015, you won the title

-of Welsh Learner of the Year.

-Did you expect to win?

-Was it a shock?

-Yes, I expected it! No!

-I'm still in shock now.

-A lot of people who entered

-were much better than me.

-We're at Canolfan Soar

-in the centre of Merthyr.

-What happens here?

-What's the purpose of the centre?

-It's to develop the language

-in the area.

-Not just in Merthyr

-but in the valleys.

-We do a lot of things

-through the Welsh language.

-We do ballet and other classes.

-We draw in a lot of people

-who are learning.

-We've got almost 20 classes here

-every week.

-It's just a special place.

-Alright?

-Alright?

-

-Yes.

-How often do you come to the centre?

-It's a wonderful place.

-I come here to learn about local

-history with other adults.

-It's every Tuesday.

-It's finishing up now

-before Easter.

-It's a wonderful place, the staff

-are great. There's a cafe.

-It's wonderful.

-People like Gari are wonderful.

-People like Gari are wonderful.

-

-Top man.

-He's like a saint.

-Saint Gari.

-Saint Gari!

-Saint Gari!

-

-Of course, yes.

-He's alright, yeah.

-He helps every day.

-Fair play. What's here?

-It's the cafe.

-Ryan is also learning Welsh.

-Hello, Ryan.

-Hello, Ryan.

-

-Hello!

-We help people if they come in...

-..for a cuppa and a chat.

-We're ready to help them too.

-Tomorrow, there'll be a class here

-and another one here.

-It's packed every week.

-All the classes are in there.

-This is the entrance

-to the theatre.

-This is the theatre, Theatr Soar.

-How many people does it hold?

-It's up to 250 now.

-Originally, when it was a chapel...

-..it could hold over 500 people.

-Right, up we go.

-Great, wow.

-It's wonderful, isn't it?

-It's wonderful at night

-when a show is put on...

-..and the lights come down

-and the sound system is on.

-It's a wonderful place.

-The theatre is special.

-Gari, before I go, I'm taking photos

-of some of the people I meet.

-Can I get a photo with you?

-Of course.

-A photo of Gari. Cheese!

-There we are. Wonderful.

-Happy with that?

-Great. That's special.

-After all the activity,

-I need to eat.

-It's time to find some food.

-There's something

-for everyone here...

-..from the traditional

-Italian cafe Viazzani...

-..to more modern places

-like Woodfired Pizza.

-It offers sandwiches,

-burgers and pizza, naturally.

-There are a lot of different places

-to eat in Merthyr.

-This place caught my eye,

-a beautiful corner building.

-I've heard good things about Jol's.

-Quality food

-and a relaxed atmosphere.

-These solid wooden tables

-tell me it's time for food!

-This will be tasty.

-Welcome to Jol's.

-This looks great.

-I didn't expect this for lunch.

-Very nice.

-Selfie, Jamie?

-Selfie, Jamie?

-

-Yeah.

-One, two, three.

-One for luck!

-Great, thanks very much.

-The food was wonderful.

-Gus, this is Red House, one of

-Merthyr's most historic buildings.

-Before we go in,

-we've got the red dragon here...

-..and a saying

-"Y Ddraig Goch A Ddyry Gychwyn."

-What's the significance

-of the dragon?

-It's interesting that they chose

-to use the red dragon.

-The red dragon and this mosaic...

-..was placed here before the dragon

-was officially on the Welsh flag.

-So this was on the floor here...

-..before the red dragon

-was on the Welsh flag.

-Yes.

-We're one of the first places to

-officially display the red dragon.

-There's a crack in the mosaic too.

-That wasn't the original intention.

-There's a story behind it.

-The mosaic is an original part

-of the building.

-We left the crack because it

-happened before the building opened.

-So it wasn't the artist's intention

-to make the crack.

-Yes, it happened naturally.

-Nobody knows why.

-It's nice. It works.

-Wow, what a building,

-it's very nice.

-It's striking.

-It's striking.

-

-Yes.

-Tell us a little

-of the building's history.

-Originally,

-it was the town hall and court.

-The council sold it to someone...

-..to turn into a nightclub

-in the '80s, '90s.

-After a while,

-it closed down as a nightclub.

-It closed down and eventually

-became an arts centre.

-That's what happens here

-on a daily basis now.

-What's in this building

-for visitors?

-There's a cafe if you want a cup

-of tea or something.

-There's a gallery with exhibitions,

-and a theatre too.

-It's worth seeing the building.

-There are portraits around.

-Who are all these people?

-They're heroes and villains.

-We have a book

-explaining who they are.

-They're people

-with a link to Merthyr.

-People who have created history

-and are from Merthyr.

-Yes, you can see Merthyr's history

-through the years.

-If I'm honest,

-before making this programme...

-..Merthyr wouldn't have been

-at the top of my holiday list.

-I've changed my mind.

-After packing, I've had a chance

-to relax, had some adventures...

-..learned some history

-and met interesting people.

-A perfect holiday,

-I'm sure you'd agree.

-Next time, I'll be

-heading to Betws-y-Coed.

-I'll see you then.

-S4C Subtitles by Testun Cyf.

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