A Guide to Living in Mid Glamorgan

Mid Glamorgan is a county in South Wales, which gives it a unique local culture and dialect. The name derives from the Welsh “Cantref Gwaelod”, meaning “the hundred of well-watered land”. It is one of the most sparsely populated counties with only around 100 people per square mile. Despite this, the county has many beautiful places to explore. This guide will help you learn all about the area and the factors to consider when considering whether or not this is where you want to buy your home!

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Best places to live in Mid Glamorgan

HomeViews Top Rated Development ranking takes into account the Star Rating and HomeViews Transparency Rating of every development in the area

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Where is Mid Glamorgan?

Mid Glamorgan is in the southwest of Wales. The county covers an area of 1,361 square kilometres. It borders Swansea Bay to the west and north-west, Neath Port Talbot to the northeast, Bridgend to the east and Cardiff to the south-east. There are many towns within Mid Glamorgan too including Llantwit Major, Pontyclun and Pencoed.

Areas in Mid Glamorgan

Mid Glamorgan is a large county and there are many different areas to consider when looking to buy a home here. The north of the county is very rural, with rolling hills and farmland. The south-east of the county has more of an urban feel, with towns and cities such as Cardiff nearby. There are plenty of villages too in Mid Glamorgan, with amenities such as post offices and schools.

Some of the more popular areas for prospective home buyers include:

Llantwit Major – a popular area thanks to its beaches and coastal landscape, Llantwit Major has a lot to offer home buyers.

Cowbridge – a bustling market town, Cowbridge is ideal for those who want the convenience of a town centre with all its amenities, but also want to be able to escape to the countryside when needed.

Barry – located on the coast, Barry has great transport links and plenty of shops and restaurants. It’s also just a short drive to the Brecon Beacons.

Pontyclun – an up-and-coming town with great amenities, shops and pubs, Pontyclun has all you need for a relaxed lifestyle.

Porthcawl – with direct links to Swansea, Porthcawl is the place to go if you want quick access to Wales’ second city. It also has stunning beaches and plenty of parks.

Merthyr Tydfil – Merthyr’s location means it offers both rural and town living, with plenty of activities and amenities on offer.

Universities in Mid Glamorgan

There are no universities within the county of Mid Glamorgan itself but Swansea University is very close by to the northwest. If you want to study at an institution closer than that then Cardiff Metropolitan University may be a better choice – it’s located in the capital.

Top Schools in Mid Glamorgan

There are a few top schools in Mid Glamorgan, including Bryntirion School and Tonyrefail Comprehensive. However, if you’re looking for an independent school then Cowbridge Grammar School may be more to your taste.

Bryntirion School – Bryntirion School is a co-educational secondary school in Bridgend. The school has academy status and was founded in 1958. It takes pupils from the age of 11 to 18 years old and has around 1300 students currently enrolled.

Tonyrefail Comprehensive – Tonyrefail Comprehensive School is a large, mixed comprehensive school located in the village of Tonyrefail, near Rhondda Cynon Taf. The school has over 1600 pupils and is one of the largest in Wales. It takes students from the age of 11 to 18 years old.

Cowbridge Grammar School – Cowbridge Grammar School is a grammar school located in the town of Cowbridge, Vale of Glamorgan. The school has around 1300 students and takes pupils from the age of 11 to 18-years old.

Population of Mid Glamorgan

The population of Mid Glamorgan is around 423,200 people, with the majority of the population living in the larger towns and cities such as Pontypridd and Merthyr Tydfil.

Reviews in Mid Glamorgan

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My home

Verified Resident

Review Date May 2023

There’s a corner shop just up the hill right by the train station. Plenty of bus routes nearby and a playground behind

Please review your development:

Very pretty estate, sometimes the grass isn’t cut as often as it should be. Really nice area to live. Quiet for children to play in the street and everyone living here are really friendly . The houses are of a fair size for new builds. A few problems with the gardens though. Big size but not a lot of drainage

Please share one thing (or more) which you wish you had known before you moved in:

Nothing it’s everything I expected it to be living here

What is the best feature of your home:

The size of the bedrooms are great! Also really handy that the doors are wider than average so can get furniture in easy

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Lack of landscaping

Verified Resident

Review Date May 2023

Great transport links, 2 minute walk from the Merthyr Vale train station and on a bus route. Local leisure and GP surgery within walking distance. But a lack of restaurants and cafes within the town.

Please review your development:

The development has been let down by the landscaping, especially at the front of the estate. We were promised rows of hedges or trees for privacy and this has not been done. You can walk from the main road up onto the private road. The design of the estate is okay but wished there was more designated parking for visitors as cars are often left outside houses on the Main Street due to the small driveways

Please share one thing (or more) which you wish you had known before you moved in:

Cars speeding down the main road which can be very loud. The estate is full of young families which is great for socialising and play dates.

What is the best feature of your home:

Lots of windows allowing for natural light. The hallways are very spacious making it great for families with young children in prams. The layout of the home is lovely and having the kitchen at the back of the property makes the garden sociable for hosting.

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I love the layout of my house.

Verified Resident

Review Date May 2023

Close to train station and lovely waking sites. Close to community centre and recycling centre.
Loads of parking

Please review your development:

We have had issues with water getting into the garage which I feel is unacceptable given the price we paid for the property. Communication from the office is good and they do respond quickly. I feel that the ground service change could be lower also.

Please share one thing (or more) which you wish you had known before you moved in:

Wish that we knew that the garage was not waterproof as my partner and wants to put a gym in there but cannot as we get so much water coming in.

What is the best feature of your home:

Large Utility room with space for washer and dryer.

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Plumbing problems but nice area

Verified Resident

Review Date May 2023

The good things about the area is that there are 3 corner shops, a couple parks, two schools, a doctor surgery and train station all within walking distance.

Please review your development:

We’ve had problems with the way that the houses in the street have been plumbed into the sewerage, this problem caused our downstairs toilet to often back up and our neighbours downstairs toilet completely flooded. The layout is nice. The walls are difficult to hang things too.