Local Area
St Donats
St Donats is a small village and community in the Vale of Glamorgan in south Wales, and is set in picturesque countryside. The community includes the village of Marcross and the hamlets of Monknash and East and West Monkton.
Llantwit Major
St Donats is very close to the small town of Llantwit Major which is home to a number of local amenities including shops, supermarkets, restaurants, leisure facilities and has an excellent beach for taking part in water sports.
Bridgend
Bridgend is a large town approximately 9 miles from UWC Atlantic College and offers both retail and recreational opportunities from local and well-known brands.
Cardiff
Approximately 20 miles from St Donats, Cardiff is the capital city of Wales and provides the base for most national cultural and sporting institutions, including the National Museum of Wales, Wales Millennium Centre and Millennium Stadium. In recent years Cardiff has seen significant development with a new waterfront area at Cardiff Bay, which contains the new Welsh Assembly Building and Mermaid Quay. The city centre has undergone a major redevelopment in the form of a large world-class retail and leisure complex. International sporting venues in the city include the Millennium Stadium (rugby union and football), SWALEC Stadium (cricket) and the newly opened Cardiff City Stadium. The city was awarded with the European City Of Sport in 2009 due to its role in hosting major international sporting events.
Climate
South Wales experiences a temperate maritime climate. The prevailing south-westerly winds are moist and comparatively mild and are responsible for the annual rainfall of 700 mm, most of which falls in the winter months. Summers are warm with mean daily temperatures as high as 15° to 20°C, and while winter temperatures rarely fall below 0°C, it can feel colder because of the high humidity and wind.
Transport
A bus service operates from St Donats and further buses and trains are available from nearby Llantwit Major enabling travel to local towns and Cardiff where connections to all major UK destinations are available. Cardiff International Airport is also easily accessed from the college as it is located in the nearby town of Rhoose.
