My mum like a lot of mums I should think loves nothing more than spending a day out looking at…read moregardens. I went to the Cowbridge garden's with her for a nice free day out on a sunny spring day recently. I'm quite interested in the medicinal uses of plants and how they've been used in the years gone by and we have quite a history of it here in Wales so it was nice to learn a bit more about that. Overall though its just a beautiful old house with this gorgeous garden. The community has spent a lot of time and energy on these gardens and it shows. Nice spot to visit on an afternoon.

Feeling unwell? Excessive indulgences? Need a quiet, relaxing, herbaceous respite? Cowbridge Physic…read moreGarden might be just the place. On a warm sunny day, relax and sit on one of the benches taking in the colour and fragrance of the gently swaying herby garden plants. The central beds (for flowers, not hung-over recoverees) contain plants specific to a part of the body or particular illness, so those with over-exuberant nightly imbibing activities might naturally gravitate towards the ones relevant to the kidneys. The perimeter areas are devoted to medicinal and soothing plants. Only plants found in Britain before 1800 are included in the garden. On a not so warm and sunny day, a couple of shelters at either end of the garden provide hiding places from the weather. Not a huge garden, so not necessarily for a special day trip out but definitely worth a visit if in Vale of Glamorgan area. Open from 10.00 am to 6.00 pm in summer and 10.00 am to 4.00 pm in winter (except Christmas day and special events [the gardens are used to host private events on occasion]). Recommended for all, not just the queasy. Hope this is helpful.

Our third visit to these wonderful gardens. Each time we find something new and, I am sure, if we…read morevisited many times the same would be true. I must admit though, as we get older, there are parts that are strenuous to explore. Thank goodness we did the deeper parts earlier in our lives. One difference this time, which we didn't know about until we had parked up, is pre-booking. We had to book in on my iPhone and wait until a slot was available. No problem. Also, more food and drink outlets throughout the gardens.

Tourist trap. Poorly managed. All about the benjamins and they've let it go to s*** since the last…read moreTV show aired where they spent 10 minutes talking about the pineapple pit and they didn't even bother to keep it up/use it. Too difficult and costly? You know they did this before WWII... with less resources and technology than you have at your disposal, right? Really, just watch the TV show on the gardens because now instead of trying to restore it to its past glory, the management grow flowers to sell. If they took all the flowers in their gift shop and planted them in their gardens then maybe they'd be a step closer to restoring anything. But they've had this land for many many years now and they only do the bare minimum to get ppl there. Great history and potential but the management needs to step up! If you're a gardener, you'll be sorely disappointed.

Sultans Shisa Garden is one of a few Shisha smoking places on the City Road. Some of the others…read morealso offer outdoor smoking areas, but I know of at least one that allows the smoking of hookah pipes, with their scented tobacco, flavoured with all manner of fruits and other flavourings, to be done indoors. I'm none too clear on the technical aspects of the smoking ban, but I would imagine that, although entirely inoffensive, and nothing like the nasty smell of cigarette smoke, (and that's from a smoker!), the smoking of hookah pipes is also prohibited by law, as they use a tobacco based product. In reality of course, the smell is not too dissimilar to incense, which I believe is permitted... I guess that it's the carcinogenic properties of secondary smoke that the law aims to protect people from. Writing this has got me wondering... does the law prohibit smoking in Gentlemen's Clubs and Private Membership establishments too? I wouldn't be at all surprised if they hadn't created a loop hole specifically for these kinds of establishments... I'm cynical to the last! Sultans Shisa Garden restricts the shisha practice to the outside, but provides ample cover against the elements, which, I'm sure you will agree, is entirely necessary in Wales! It's a thriving little emporium style place, that's very pleasant and relaxed.