Beach Life
If sand and sea are your thing, there’s a full 14 miles of the Glamorgan Heritage Coast to explore nearby. Pick from sandy stretches, fossil-hunting and rockpools at Llantwit Major, Dunraven Bay and Ogmore-by-Sea to local quieter favourite Monknash. Go traditional with Penarth’s Victorian pier or book a sauna by the sea at Barry’s stunning Jackson’s Bay.
Food and drink in Cowbridge
We're rich in everything delicious in Cowbridge!
Top tips from our team: ice-cream at Fablas on the High Street, brunch or cake at the Penny Farthing - plus a pint in the town's oldest watering hole (that'll be The Bear!). And for Sunday lunch, we may be biased, but it's yours truly again! (Think bottomless gravy jug, the crispest roasties, locally sourced meats and Yorkshires as standard).
Gardens of Cowbridge
Tucked behind the High Street and an old stone wall is Cowbridge Physic Garden and its fascinating variety of plants and herbs that would traditionally have been used for healing, cooking and dyeing fabrics. Another haven behind the High Street can be found in the adjacent Old Hall gardens, encased by the old town walls.
Heritage walks in Cowbridge
A leisurely meander along the Cowbridge Blue Plaque Trail tells you about the points of interest from the town's Eastgate to Westgate, with plenty of shops, pubs and restaurants inbetween on the High Street. Slightly more demanding is the Iolo Morgannwg circular walk (4.5 or 6.5-mile options) - The Bear features in both, so finding your way back won't be a problem! If the little ones are with you, a visit to the local duck pond is a joy, and the play park a must - both just off the High Street. Cowbridge is very dog-friendly - as well as the walks, many pubs, restaurants, cafes and shops welcome your furry friends (including us, of course).
SHOPPING IN COWBRIDGE
This town has a well-earned rep as a shoppers’ paradise with a high street brimful of mainly independent shops offering everything from deli foods to gifts, designer clothes to home and garden accessories. Venture down a cobbled alleyway off the High Street to explore local makers’ wares at Verity’s Court – and there’s a super Farmers’ Market every Saturday morning across the lane just behind The Bear.