Out & About - Inland

Inland from Barry, on the way into the Vale, are the Welsh Hawking Centre and Dyffryn Gardens. Dyffryn Gardens are an outstanding Grade 1 listed Edwardian garden with formal lawns, fountains and pools, seasonal beds, feature garden rooms enclosed by yew hedges and walls. The extensive arboretum contains trees from all over the world including the original acer griseum collected by Chinese Wilson. Currently parts of the gardens are under restoration funded by the Heritage Lottery Fund. They are open March-October 10am-6pm and November-February 11am-4pm. At the Welsh Hawking Centre can be found birds of prey from all over the world. There are daily flying displays.

Near the centre of the Vale of Glamorgan is the market town of Cowbridge, a place of old-world houses, inns, shops and many historic buildings. In the grounds of the Old Hall is the Physic Garden which gives a fascinating insight into the curative propertis of plants. In the heart of the rural Vale in more than 20 acres of beautiful countryside is Llanerch Vineyard. To the west, towards Bridgend, is Ewenny Priory. Founded by Benedictine monks in the 12th century and extended a century later, the priory is open to the public and is well worth a visit.

At the eastern end of the Vale, near Cardiff, is the historic St Fagan’s Castle, the fascinating home of the St Fagans National History Museum. This is open free to the public daily throughout the year from 10am-5pm. The castle and its 98 acres of gardens, woods and parkland, uniquely illustrate the domestic life of typical Welsh people through several centuries.