Things to do in The Vale of Glamorgan

It often surprises people how green, peaceful and remote the Vale of Glamorgan is, considering its proximity to Cardiff, our vibrant capital city. Here you can walk, relax and swim in peace at stunning locations across the county. 

Take your pick from quiet, sandy beaches ideal for a potter and a sandcastle, rolling countryside studded with crumbling castles and verdant gardens, or delightful walks through pretty villages with atmospheric pubs.

There are great walks for all abilities in the Vale. The Wales Coast Path winds its way along nearly 50 miles (80km) of coastline, offering sparkling views, hidden beaches and dune-backed coves. Inland there are walks through ancient forests and glacial valleys.

There's a handy series of 10 Vale Trails to help you explore. You can download the Vale Tales app which brings the stories of the trails to life whilst you walk. 

Dyffryn House and Gardens was the home of wealthy coal merchant, John Cory. These days the vast Victorian mansion is a National Trust property. Cory was a keen horticulturalist, and with the help of landscape architect Thomas Mawson he turned the 55 acres of gardens into a wonderland of fruit orchards, formal gardens and lakes.

Dunraven Gardens date back to the 16th century. The small, secluded series of fragrant gardens are surrounded by ancient walls, overlooked by the romantic ruins of a castle tower and gatehouse. The serene location is just a pebble's throw from the wide, sandy beach of Dunraven Bay, also known as Southerndown - a great place for coastal walks and a day on the beach. Surrounded by open countryside, there's no better place for a picnic, swimming, surfing and fossil hunting. 

Also in the area is the impressive Porthkerry Country Park, with 220 acres of peaceful woods and meadowland great for walking and tree-climbing! This park also backs onto a pebbly beach, and is home to an iconic viaduct. There are nature trails, picnic spots, barbecue zones and an adventure play area too - perfect for a family day out.

Slade Farm Gardens is ideal if you have kids in tow. Along with nine acres of wooded walks and leafy gardens, there's a working farm with opportunities for the little ones to come face-to-face with pigs, cows and sheep!

Fonmon Castle combines gardens with a variety of activities. Discover lost Victorian Gardens, magical woodland walks, a reconstructed medieval working farm and even a Dinosaur Experience.

Cosmeston Lakes and Country Park is an excellent choice for visitors, including those with mobility impairments. The flat, even paths are accessible for wheelchairs and prams, making this a great day out for all. Two flooded quarries are now tranquil lakes which attract vast numbers of waterfowl, and the park is also home to Cosmeston Medieval Village, where you can step back in time to the 14th century, hosted by 'villagers' in traditional costume.

Llanerch Vineyard and Glyndwr Vineyard are gardens of a different nature, probably more suitable for grown ups! Nestled in the Vale countryside, these two award-winning vineyards both offer wine tours and tastings. 

Llanerch is a great getaway location, with a stylish farmhouse hotel recently awarded the AA Hotel of the Year Wales 2022/23, offering 37 four-star rooms. The 2 AA rosette restaurant completes the package, serving exceptional food. Perfect for pairing with the vineyard's sophisticated wines!

Barry sprang to fame as one of the locations in the BBC TV series Gavin & Stacey, but it's not only fans of the show that enjoy this seaside town's charm! 

Barry Island offers the perfect day out at the seaside, with the golden sands of Whitmore Bay a beautiful spot for all the family to build sandcastles and paddle in the sea. The colourful, iconic Barry Island beach huts are available to hire for the day, or explore the dazzling lights of nearby Barry Island Pleasure Park. The bustling promenade is full of thriving cafés, traditional fish and chip shops and amusement arcades, and the free loan of beach wheelchairs for those who need them from Vale of Glamorgan Council make the beach more accessible for all.

And there's more to Barry than the seafront, including Barry War Museum, which includes a First World War replica trench and an Anderson shelter from the Second World War. Knap Lake and Gardens is a favourite spot for locals to relax near The Knap beach, and Goodsheds is a cool collection of independent boutiques, cafés and diners, ideal for a bite to eat and a spot of retail therapy. Retailers include Matthew Jones Ceramics, Wild Meadow florist and Goodwash sustainable Welsh skincare brand.

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Read more: Reasons to love Barry

Scattered across the Vale of Glamorgan, you'll find a gaggle of pretty villages, where time sometimes feels as if it has stood still. Ancient ruins, friendly pubs and quirky shopping all await.

The quaint town of Penarth is popular with locals and tourists. The elegant seaside town has an array of independent shops, its very own arcade and excellent eateries. Head east and you'll stumble across Penarth Marina and the Barrage, a stunning walk over to Cardiff Bay. Head towards the coast and you'll find the magnificent Art Deco Pier and Pavilion. The splendid Esplanades run the length of the seafront, offering a range of high quality shops, cafés and restaurants. After a morning of browsing, take a leisurely stroll through Alexandra Park in the afternoon. 

Penarth town centre is an affluent and ‘foodie’ seaside town, full of beautiful Victorian buildings, arcades, and independent shops, including Windsor Fruit Stores, cheesemonger La Fauvette, numerous bakeries, and butcheries such as Thompsons. For a real taste of fine dining in Penarth book ahead to visit Michelin-starred James Sommerin’s restaurant Home. As author Lowri Cooke discovered when she sampled the Michelin star restaurants in Wales, 'Nobody knows quite what to expect before ringing the restaurant’s doorbell. But once you’ve been welcomed through those luxury grey curtains, be prepared for an evening of high drama!'.

The market town of Cowbridge is an absolute delight, with historic town walls, a blue plaque trail to follow and lots of fashionable independent shops. The Physic Garden, which dates back to the 18th century, is a perfect spot to sit, relax and take a breather and there's a great range of cafés and delis if you fancy a bite.

Ancient buildings are everywhere in Llantwit Major, one of the Vale of Glamorgan’s most beautiful villages; the first church was recorded here more than 1,500 years ago. You can walk the Blue Plaque Trail here too, and lush countryside, caves and beaches make for glorious surroundings.

Nearby St Donat’s Castle is a feast of towers, battlements and dungeons. It’s home to UWC Atlantic, an inspiring educational academy with students from over 150 countries. There’s also lots going on  for visitors, including Christmas fayres, an outdoor cinema, castle tours and sporting experiences like kayaking, climbing and coasteering.

Here at the oldest working pottery in Wales, the Jenkins family have been creating uniquely lovely pots, dishes and vases for eight generations. They have quite a pedigree, as pot-throwing here dates back to the 15th century. You can see the family at work and take home your very own piece of iconic Welsh history, handcrafted on site at the Ewenny Pottery.

Engineer James Walker designed the Nash Point Lighthouse to protect the coast during the mid-19th century. It's thought that many hundreds of shipwrecks lie here beneath the waves. It was the last manned lighthouse in Wales before being automated in 1998. Opened to the public in 2007, it’s an excellent starting point for a cliff-top walk with dramatic views.

Ever dreamed of walking in the footsteps of Lawrence of Arabia? Sequences from the 1962 classic were filmed at the historic sand dunes here, overlooking the River Ogmore. The dunes form part of Merthyr Mawr Warren National Nature Reserve and there are a waymarked trails to help you explore the unique wildlife and habitats. Merthyr Mawr is also full of pretty thatched roofed cottages, the 19th century mansion Merthyr Mawr House and Candleston Castle, the romantic ruins of a 14th century fortified manor.

The ruins of Ogmore Castle sit on a bend in the gentle waters of the Ogmore River. The setting is idyllic, but what visitors remember most is the line of large stepping stones that go right across the river. See if you can get to the other side without getting your feet wet!

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