Local Area
Victorian Fair
Held since August 1983 as the Towns contribution to the National Year of the Castle held throughout Wales. It attempts to recreate the impression of the Town, as it was 100 years ago. The closed off streets are lined with Victorian styled stalls manned and supplied by local organisation’s and traders.
All Stallholders are encouraged, by terms of their license issued to them by the Llantwit Major Victorian Fair Committee, to equip staff with Victorian period costume and this by common consent is widely imitated by the general public.
Food Festival
This is now becoming a very popular event in Cowbridge.Held every October in conjunction with the Beer Festival.The town centre is closed off and within local restaurants, pubs and marquees celebrity chefs and chefs of notoriety demonstrate their skills and local producers sell their wares.
St Donats Castle
Forms a very interesting part of the Vale’s history and it is the founder college of the group of international sixth form colleges, UWC of the Atlantic.
Fonmon Castle
Within 5 minutes of the farm. Ideal for children and families alike, Fonmon Castle offers a wide range of activities. Tel: 01446 710099.
Barry
Barry is the home of the “Gavin & Stacy” series. Why not do the tour of the film locations?
Cowbridge
Llantwit Major
Penarth
St Fagans
St Fagans opened on 1 July 1948 it has established itself as one of Europe’s foremost open air museums and become one of Wales’s most popular heritage attractions. The Museum shows how the people of Wales lived, worked and spent their leisure time over the last five hundred years, and over the past fifty years it has inspired generations of visitors with its exploration of Welsh history and tradition.
The Museum stands in the grounds of the magnificent St Fagans Castle, a late 16th-century manor house generously donated to the people of Wales by the Earl of Plymouth. This fabulous and unique museum is the centre of a number of events throughout the year that pick up on our Welsh heritage and we would recommend that visitors make time to check out this museum.
St Donats
Situated in the Vale close to Llantwit Major this castle has seen a rich and varied history. United World College, known locally as ‘Atlantic College’. is the founder college and home to around 400 students aged between 16 to 19 years and drawn from across the globe studying towards the ‘International Baccalaureate.’
Hollywood has played it’s part in this beautiful and coloured castles history.William Randolph Hearst the American newspaper magnate hosted many a Hollywood movie idol at his Welsh Retreat.
The St Donats Art centre within the castle grounds hosts “Borders” and the world renowned Storytelling weekends. The International Music Festival of the Vale is held here every September and offers a high quality programme.
Cosmeston Lakes and Medieval Village
Approximately 20 minutes from the farm by car this country park as its name suggests has a large lake where you can either laze away a summer day or partake in the wide range of activities that are available throughout the year. A visitors centre has a café and information centre.
The Mediaval village stands on its original site and hosts activities during bank holidays, weekends and through the school holidays such as Jousting,archery and crafts etc
Dyffryn Gardens
Within 20 minutes of the farm you will find the Edwardian Mansion Dyffryn House and Gardens. The Gardens features formal lawns, fountains & pools, seasonal beds, feature garden rooms enclosed by yew hedges and walls including the Pompeian, Paved court and Theatre garden.
Although the house is still closed to the general public the National Trust have now taken on the maitanance and restoration of the house it to its rightful place as the stunning centrepiece of the beautiful gardens.
The Vale of Glamorgan Churches
The Vale has some great number of historical and beautiful churches and buildings some dating back to the 5th century.St Illtyds is the first known school in the UK housing the Celtic stones in Llantwit Major,Ewenny Priory holds a palpitual screen and painting by J.M Turner and most recently the significant discovery of wall paintings at St Cadocs church in Llancarfan.Visitors to the area will be able to find out more by visiting www.visitvalechurches.com
Energetic Adventure outdoors
Paintballing, Karting, Kiting, Horse riding– Within half an hour to the west of the farm the energetic visitor can partake in either paintballing at Penllyn , go-karting at Llandow , superkiting at Porthcawl , horse ride through the dunes at Ogmore or take an adventure along the Millenium cycle route and other bikeroutes found through local forestries.
Capital Adventure Wales, Adventureswales and Blue Ocean Adventure; Activity is their name and adventure is their game organised adventure from gorge scrambling, coasteering , zip slides, quad biking, raft building and many more activities.
Why not join our local Valeways a walking group with organised events.The walkvaleways group has a festival weekend in May with organised varied walks.
Heritage Coastal Path
For those who are interested in fresh air and the outdoors south of the farm is the start of the Heritage Coast footpath which follows the coastline to the west for 14 miles. The Glamorgan Heritage Coast Centre situated at Southerndown is at the final end of this journey The walk takes in sweeping views of the Bristol channel across to the Somerset and north Devon coastline along its dramatic cliffs and rugged coastline. The whole of this coast line is served by local volunteers operating through the Lifeguards and the Coastguards.
City Tours
An ideal way to visit this dynamic city dropping down into the Bay with it’s rich history and its fantastic attractions. Here they film Dr.Who and Torchwood.
Millennium Stadium
Home to Welsh rugby. Here the 1999 World cup was held and many International games since including the F.A Cup finals as Wemberly was being re-built.This magnificent stadium has achieved world fame for its many Internatinal stars to hold concerts.
Techniquest
Techniquest is an interactive discovery centre where interactive exhibits are played out learn without realizing what an amazing world we live in.
Wales Millennium Centre
The clamshell or armadillo design of a building dominates the Cardiff Bay skyline.It is the bastion of Welsh arts and is the Welsh National Opera’s home. It hosts west end musicals,comedy and performances.
Within an hour…
Of leaving the farm you can visit a number of areas that have dictated the history of this part of South Wales. The port of Barry developed to service the need to export the anthracite coal that is synonomous with the Rhondda Valley and the Iron Ore and steel produced in Merthyr Tydfil. A stones throw from Merthyr is the Brecon Beacons National Park a Site of natural Beauty.
Travel west for an hour and the natural beauty of the Gower Peninsula is all yours to explore with its fabulous beaches many of which are known for their golden sands and excellent surf. Also worth a visit is the City of Swansea, situated on the eastern edge of the Gower, it is steeped in history with sites of interest that include the Dylan Thomas Centre, The Mumbles, Brangwyn Hall and the National Waterfront Museum.