This is a beautiful little ruin of a castle in South Wales. It is the substantial remains of a…read moreNorman castle, built in the 12th century, complete with dry moat and small outer priory. This castle is unique in that the public are free to roam around it as they please. Even climbing through windows or up stonework is not forbidden, and a great many epic games of hide and seek have gone on here. Nearby there is a fantastic little cafe serving hot drinks, homemade cakes and pasties. There is also horse trekking to the beach available from Ogmore Farm, which is next door. By far the best things about the castle, however, are the amazing stepping stones that cross the river that flows by it. About 40 steps take you from one side of the river to the other, and are surprisingly stable and satisfying. The river is neither too fast nor deep to pose any threat other than getting damp. A word of warning however! Don't go expecting stepping stones if there has recently been heavy rain; you will be wellington boots to cross. Also, the car park here is small and liable to flood quickly.

Another of my favourite childhood haunts. I spent many a night camping out here when I was younger…read moreand, apart from occasionally getting creeped out and having to go home in the early hours of the morning, it's always been a pretty cool place. You can wander around as you please, which is good as you are free to explore it for yourself rather than having fenced off areas and whatnot. There's stepping stones dating from the 12th century behind the castle. These can be used to cross the Ogmore river and were originally placed there to aid a love-stricken girl who lived in the castle at this time. Her lover lived across the river in the nearby village of Merthyr Mawr and often they could only meet at the convenience of the tide. I have no idea if that's true but it adds a little pizazz to the place. It is this woman who is supposed to be the infamous "White Lady" - a ghost which has been spotted crossing the stones. It was that story which got me all spooked when I went camping. It's a beautiful part of the country and it's worth reading a bit of the history and checking it out. I don't know if camping is even allowed in the grounds of the castle but I dare you to last the whole night....

Beautiful spot, just behind the car park for the sand dunes near Merthyr Mawr village - hidden up…read morethe bank and easily missed. Not really a castle but an old fortified manor house built around 14th century and abandoned in 19th century - (why would they do that?? A ye olde pad by one of the biggest sand dune playgrounds in Europe, where scenes from Lawrence of Arabia were filmed??). Anyway, they did leave it and it's now a bit of a ruin but just as fascinating - you can crawl through little crevices, pick your way up a dank staircase and peer into the gloom of the dark cellar room. Shame they've blocked off access to the uppermost walls, that was fun and nicely dangerous - you'll just have to be more inventive. (These health and safety people perhaps should be hung out to dry, maybe from a high window!) Lovely surrounds, green and brown and red woodlands, huge golden sand dunes - bring a picnic (and maybe a thermal blanket) for out door dining needs, excellent.

This a ruined manor house within the woodland set amidst the Merthyr Mawr dunes a couple of miles…read morefrom Bridgend I used to play here as a child and still have very fond memories Worth having a look around if you can spare the time

There's not a lot to see at this site, but it must once have been quite impressive: this was…read moretypical of the many small castles built in this part of Wales after the Norman conquest to maintain control by local lords, but which fell out of use. Penmark Castle was built in the 12th century, overlooking a natural ravine carved by the Waycock River. Originally built in wood by Gilbert de Umfraville, it was rebuilt in stone in the 13th century. It passed into the ownership of Oliver de St John when he married the family heiress, Elizabeth Umfraville, in the time of Edward II. First documented in 1307, it was recorded as ruinous by 1622. According to the entry in the Topographical Dictionary of Wales (1849), it was ruined in the early 1400s during Owain Glyndwr's revolt. The remains lie just behind Penmark Church; somewhat overgrown, they comprise a 13th century wall around 1m thick around an oval courtyard area, 58m long by 40m wide, with one circular stone tower intact and the indications of a second. The stone tower has a square latrine block attached. Within the courtyard area are traces of other buildings, including a ruined late 18th century barn. To the west is an outer court with a thinner 16th century wall. To the east are the remains of a filled-in moat and mounds. It is best viewed in winter when the vegetation has died back.

A lovely wide sandy beach and nice place to visit for a walk, paddle, or even a swim or surfing if…read moreyou don't mind braving the cold! Lots of rock pools for children to explore. There are good views across the Bristol Channel towards Somerset too. There's a car park nearby which charges in season (pay and display). To find it, take the B4265 from Bridgend then the B4524 and follow the signs to Ogmore.

A broken down ruin this has nonetheless got some very interesting history attached to it…read more Reputed to have been the place where King Arthur gathered his forces prior to marching up to Mount Badon (Mynydd Baedon) a couple of miles away, it even has a memorial stone granting land to a nearby church by Arthur himself Worth an excursion if you like hidden Welsh history

I always forget how much I enjoy this place, then I go back and manage to be pleasantly surprised…read moreevery single time. Cosmeston Medieval Village is a fantastic place to visit with family and friends. The reconstructed village is in situated in Cosmeston Park, near their visitor centre and cafe, so you really can make the trip a whole day if you want to (I recommend wholeheartedly), but it can also only be a few hours. The tour takes you around a village, complete with barns, bakeries and roaming chickens. The guides are fun and informative, and there's a multitude of people all wearing bright Medieval garb. There is also, of course, a chance to dress up, if so required. This day is great fun and informative; a wonderful way to get kids and adults alike involved with history.

The reconstructed medieval village at Cosmeston has been put together really well, and is both…read moreeducational and good fun for children and adults. You wander around the 14th century Welsh village visiting different medieval houses and buildings, and encountering costumed people along the way, going about their daily routines - whether it's cooking, farming, or making crafts. In this way, you kind of step back in time and enter medieval village life. There are also a range of animals such as chickens, ducks and pigs that would have been kept in villages during that period. There are lots of special events taking place at the village throughout the year, too - from medieval fairs where you can buy crafts, play games, see falconry displays and have a go at archery, to Halloween at Cosmeston when you can experience the dark side of medieval life.

This is the main 'formal' park in Burnham on Sea. It's where my Mum used to take my brother and me…read moreas toddlers. (We have the ancient-looking black and white photographs to prove it!). The gardens and the whitewashed Manor House were sold to the then local council in 1904 and opened to the public a year later. They have been maintained as formal gardens ever since, with areas of lawn and formally planted beds, surrounded by trees, and a traditional stone wall at the rear. The bandstand in the middle was rebuilt in 1995 as part of the 50th anniversary celebrations of VE day. The Manor House was used by the Council as an office, but was sold in 2000 to a charitable trust. Adjacent to the gardens is the oddly-named Crosses Pen, added in 1943 to provide tennis courts, which are still there. AT one time there was a popular putting green here, but it is now a green open space with informal lawns and scattered trees. To the east of the gardens is Burnham's Bowling Green. The gardens are occasionally the venue for events such as jazz festivals, and can be hired.

.Love the Manor Gardens and visit often and would like it to be given a good sweep with a broom…read morefrom time to time !

This museum is absolutely amazing! It is a huge outdoor museum, although it does have a few…read moreexhibits in the main building. Once you step outside, you can feel yourself being transported back in time (if you overlook the paved walkways). There are buildings that have been moved here from all over Wales, with deep history and great staff available to answer any questions.

Genuinely an amazing staple of the outer Cardiff community. The staff in the restaurant and…read moreadventure climbing are incredibly enthusiastic and helpful. There are so many child friendly activities. Admission is free, and they often put on holiday related markets and other things. They put up the Gwalia and other shops, shops my Grandmother visited daily in the 50's. This is not only preserving Welsh local history, but also the story of my Grandmother. This is amazing, Great!

This place is lovely, a really nice place to walk around in and discover bits of welsh history…read more Free to enter, which is a novelty for an English girl like me, as places of this vain over the border such as blists hill and beamish charge entry. You can leave a donation, and there's a small fee for parking, but after that you're on your way. You can take a picnic, or you can eat in one of the cafes, get stuff from the bakery. We ate in the cafe, and had the welsh afternoon tea, welsh cakes, scones, sandwiches, all lovely, the bakery wasn't open as late as it said on the door, which was the only bummer, but the rest of it was great. A mock village made up of buildings of different eras, with a good number of buildings that illustrate history and culture. Livestock, shops, gardens, vehicles, all informative, with signs in welsh and English. It's open air, so its a family/couples/cultural friends day out for a pleasant day, you want to give yourself some time to get around it!

Set in over 40 acres of parkland around the 16th century St Fagan's castle, 4 miles (6km) west of…read moreCardiff, this was one Europe's first open-air museums. It includes over 40 buildings from across Wales which illustrate its history and culture, such as schools, workshops, churches, shops, civic buildings and of course a variety of dwellings. The museum has a range of activities taking place associated with the buildings, with craftsmen making a variety of products (food, pottery, metalwork) for sale. The farm features collections of traditional breeds of livestock. Some of the buildings also contain displays of historical objects, clothing etc. A nice touch is the row of mine-worker's cottages, each one furnished to reflect different periods from the late 1800's to the present day. The museum also hosts a number of festivals during the year, and there is a restaurant, cafe and tea-room. When I lived in Cardiff, this was a regular destination to take friends from outside the UK. It is an excellent introduction to Wales and Welsh culture: but allow a whole day to do it justice, and wear comfortable footwear...