THE land of the dragon is ready to roar again. After years in the economic doldrums, the Principality is on its way back and even has a decent rugby union team to boot.

South Wales, just a few hours from Huddersfield by rail or road, is quickly becoming a weekend break of choice for many people.

And on a recent visit there I could see why.

After checking in at the very hospitable Crescent Guest House in Newport we went for dinner and drinks at the excellent Bell Inn in nearby Caerleon.

The award-winning pub combines Welsh cooking with cuisine from Brittany. a Celtic region of France with strong historic links to the Principality.

The result is delicious; I can’t speak highly enough of the fare on offer. Quite simply, it was food which seemed far too good for a pub.

And you can wash it down with a few pints of the Bell’s award-winning cider selection. They have great names like Barnstormer, Haymaker and Fiery Fox. But at around 7% you might want to space out your pints.

The following day we visited Tredegar House, near Newport. It was built in the 1600s and for centuries was the home of the Morgans, the most powerful family in the region.

Our excellent guide showed us around the many rooms, including the servants’ quarters, and explained the fascinating history of the Morgans.

Their slow decline from dominance to decadence led eventually to them having to sell the house to the Catholic Church, who used it as a school for 20 years.

But in the 1970s the local council bought the estate and has turned it into an intriguing tourist attraction.

Then it was on to Big Pit near Blaenavon, to see a very different side of Welsh history.

The former colliery is now home to the National Mining Museum of Wales. It’s much like the English version near Flockton, offering a tour of the pit by former mineworkers themselves.

Our guide explained that the museum has two canaries called Maggie and Arthur. But, judging by the number of chicks they have produced, the birds seem to get on rather better than their namesakes.

In Blaenavon itself, we saw how small businesses are trying to regenerate the town following the demise of traditional industries.

The Blaenafon Cheddar Company is a good example of this. This family-run firm makes eight forms of Cheddar and four types of goat’s cheese from a little shop in the town.

We got a chance to sample some of the delicious products, made with ingredients like white wine and whiskey. The Dragon’s Breath - Cheddar blended with chilli mustard and Welsh ale is well worth trying.

You can also learn how to dip cheese, coating it in a hard wax covering.

We got a further look at the future of Wales in Cardiff that evening.

The Wales Millennium Centre is an awe-inspiring new building by the bay, a defiant statement of optimism. Many West End plays are now performed at the arena.

We were lucky to sample an excellent performance of Nutcracker at this impressive arena.

The following day we returned to Caerleon to look at its Roman heritage.

The town was once home to a 50-acre fortress. An-oval shaped amphitheatre has been excavated to the south of the main site.

In its heyday some 6,000 people would have gathered there to see the gladiators

Then it was on to lunch at the Priory Hotel, which dates back to 1180.

Again the food was excellent; the little town of Caerleon is obviously something of a gastric hub.

During my short time in South Wales I got a sense of an exciting, modern country emerging into the post-industrial age.

Whether you’re interested in the past or the future the area is well worth a visit.