Bryn-Y-Ddafad : Places to Visit : Cowbridge and The Vale
Cowbridge is an attractive place to visit and a fantastic place to shop and eat with a diversity and choice generally unexpected of a small town.
Cowbridge & The Vale
Visitors flock to Cowbridge at all times of year to enjoy its quiet appeal. The high street is lined with boutiques, gift shops, wine bars, restaurants and inns. A recent addition, the Physic Garden provides a colourful, fragrant and tranquil oasis and gives a fascinating insight into the curative properties of plants.
Annual Jazz Festival in July & Annual food festival in October
Just 3 miles from Bryn-y-Ddafad
www.cowbridgetown.co.uk
www.cowbridge.co.uk
Dyffryn Gardens, St. Nicholas.
The finest surviving Thomas Mawson garden in Britain set in 70 acres of spectacular landscaped parkland. Restoration funded by the Heritage Lottery Fund is nearing completion.
Just 6 miles from Bryn-y-Ddafad
www.dyffryngardens.org.uk
Llanerch Vineyard
Tours, tastings, walks and visitor centre at this award-winning vineyard (Cariad Label wines).
Just 2 miles from Bryn-y-Ddafad.
Welsh Hawking Centre, Barry
Home of over 200 Birds of Prey, daily demonstrations and falconry courses.
Tel: 01446 722166 to check display times
Barry Island Railway Heritage Centre
Train enthusiasts will love this collection dedicated to the age of steam.
Tel: O1446 748816
Fonmon Castle
One of the few medieval castles still lived in as a home. Surrounded by beautiful walled gardens.
Open April-September / Tuesdays & Wednesdays only 2.p.m-5p.m.
Penllyn Castle
Can be sighted from our resident's lounge, sun lounge and the Sheraton Room. Earliest part dates from 1100 AD. Not open to public.
St Quentin's Castle
Standing on a hilltop overlooking Llanblethian Village on the outskirts of Cowbridge are the ruins of the 14th C Castle, never completed but show it to be a fine example of a quadrilateral castle and is scheduled as a Monument of National importance.
St. Donats Church, Welsh St. Donats.
We do not know who St. Donat (or Dunwyd in Welsh) was. The earliest record of the church is in 1153. The church was restored in1891 and is in the Early English style with an ancient oak roof and a pre-Reformation Sanctus bell. Guests staying at Bryn-y-Ddafad can walk to the church (approx one mile) via the public footpath accessed directly opposite the house.