Barry

Beach Volleyball

At Whitmore bay every August the Island hosts the UK Beach Volleyball Championship.This Blue Flag beach which catches the sun all day is a great day out for all the family.

Barry is the home of the "Gavin & Stacy" series.Why not do the tour of the film locations?

Tall Ships Festival

This is an annual event held in September attracting tall ships to Barry Waterfront. Activities include’ On Board ‘ tour, fun fair and a return to the age of steam with links to Barry Island on renovated steam trains. At Barry Harbour you may take a boat trip to Flat Holm where there is a programme operating throughout the year at its Nature Reserve.

Cowbridge

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.

Llantwit Major

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.

Penarth

Marina and Pier

Penarth is an elegant Victorian town.Not to be missed is the Pier and Pavillion where you can enjoy a trip on ”The Waverley” the last sea going steam operated paddle boat.

Cardiff Bay Barrage is an impressive piece of engineering which is ideally viewed at the Marina with trips around the bay arranged from here.

Local places of Interest

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.

The Welsh Hawking Centre

Less than 2 miles from the farm this centre seeks to show visitors birds of prey and how they were used by people during the medieval period in the UK and Europe. Opening hours 10 til dusk with displays 12.30 and 2.30pm

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 and a final use is yet to be decided, the exterior restoration works all help to restore the house it to its rightful place as the stunning centrepiece of the beautiful gardens.

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.

Adventureswales is their name and adventure is their game organised adventure from gorge scrambling,coasteering ,zip slides,quad biking, raft building and many more at Kenfig. 

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.

While you are here..

We are fortunate enough to be ideally suited for most visitors needs from walking along the coast and in the country, historic visits of local villages, towns, castles and medieval sites, to the fun at the fair. You name it and I’ll try and point you in the right direction.

Cardiff Castle.

A castle with history dating back to Roman times. www.cardiffcastle.com

Millenium 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. 

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.  

Techniquest

Techniquest is an interactive discovery centre where interactive exhibits are played out learn without realizing what an amazing world we live in. www.techniquest.org

Wales Millenium 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 http://www.wmc.org.uk

Within an hour...

RYDER CUP(availability) - venue within 30 min from farm.

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.